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Don't Want To Be 'Pulverized', 'Headless' Or 'Mangled'? Metro Has Some Train Safety Tips

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Metro kicked off a new safety campaign Wednesday to remind riders of the potentially dangerous conditions in and around Southland train tracks and stations.

The "Safetyville" video series tackles issues such as running late for a train, not paying attention while driving a car near tracks and failing to follow posted safety instructions.

But it's how Metro hopes to drive home its message that's stirring up controversy.

One video entitled "Heads-up Or Headless?" depicts a stick-figure commuter scrambling to catch a train that takes off before he can safely board, leaving him decapitated near the train tracks.

"Uh-oh, it looks like Jack took quite a spill," a female narrator says over the video as a headless figure lays holding a cup of coffee. "Never run to catch the train. Safety begins with you."

Another video portrays a smartphone user wearing headphones and wandering past the yellow safety line commonly seen in Metro stations. The train hits the commuter at a high rate of speed, leaving his limbs severed and spilled across the train platform.

Officials say the campaign was designed to be edgy in the hopes of drawing more public attention to rail safety.

"We want people to be safe around trains and we think these provocative messages will help riders as they use the services," said Metro CEO Phillip Washington. "In the past few months we have expanded the Gold Line from Pasadena to Azusa and the Expo Line from Culver City to Santa Monica, places where many people are unaccustomed to interacting with trains."

Metro says the video campaign was inspired by the "Dumb Ways to Die" PSA produced by the Melbourne Metro in 2012.

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