With millions of Canadian children heading back to school and spending more time alone outside walking to classes, extracurricular activities, and friends’ homes, now’s the time to stress the importance of being safe around railway property and at railway crossings. Both kids and adults can use a reminder to never play on railways or take shortcuts across the tracks.
with constable William Bijl
“Rail safety is everyone’s responsibility. By looking out for each other and working together, we can help keep our communities safe and prevent fatalities and injuries on or near railway property,” advises Stephen Covey, chief of police and chief security officer at CN. “It is important to remember that when you ‘See tracks? Think train’.”
Trespassing on railway property, including railway yards and bridges, is illegal and dangerous. Yet it continues to cause avoidable deaths and injuries across the country. In 2015, there were 53 trespasser accidents in Canada that caused 31 fatalities and 18 serious injuries.
“Trespassing fatalities along railway tracks are entirely preventable, and tragedies at railway level crossings can be avoided by simply obeying warning devices. Together we can save lives and help bring crossing and trespassing accidents down to zero,” says Covey.
Every year, CN police officers make hundreds of safety presentations in Canada and the United States. Officers talk to more than 300,000 children and adults at schools and community events about the importance of safety and the dangers of walking or playing on or near railway tracks. Kids and parents are encouraged to help keep our communities safe by taking a safety pledge online and sharing safety tips.
If you see unsafe behaviour on railway property, report it by calling CN Police at 1-800-465-9239 or by contacting local emergency services. Find more information on rail crossing safety visit www.operationlifesaver.ca.