NJ Transit supports efforts to promote safe Pokemon Go playing

NEWARK, NJ — NJ Transit has announced its support of a joint letter released by the Federal Railroad Administration and the Association of American Railroads urging safe behaviors in or near railroad tracks, stations and railyard facilities in light of the popular Pokemon Go game.

Last week, the national railroad organizations sent the letter to John Hanke, chief executive officer for Niantic Labs Inc., the maker of Pokemon Go. In it, they recommend that the Niantic Labs team consider ways to promote safety, particularly by avoiding the placement of Pokemon and virtual points of interest in the game on or near railroad tracks.

“The public needs to be aware that NJ Transit is an active system, with buses, trains and light rail vehicles moving constantly,” interim Executive Director Dennis Martin said in a press release. “With a 24-7 transportation operation, a distracted pedestrian could unintentionally find themselves in harm’s way.”

There have been no instances of anyone being injured on or near the NJ Transit system as a result of playing this game, but NJ Transit urges all game players to use extreme caution. NJ Transit has been involved in an active campaign to increase the public’s awareness of potential risks while playing on or near the system. Social media tweets urging players not to get lured into danger and an increased safety campaign, such as posters reminding the public to “look up from their phones” were put into place soon after the game’s release earlier this summer.

“Safety is the No. 1 priority here at NJ Transit for our customers and personnel,” Gardner Tabon, NJ Transit’s chief of the Office of System Safety, said in the release. “If you are going to play Pokemon Go, we want you to catch them all, but do so safely when around trains and buses.”

To view the letter, visit https://t.co/OgRWQqlxp2.

  NJ Transit, Pokemon GO