Another tragic month for trespassing incidents

July was a deadly month for rail trespassing in Canada; six Canadians lost their lives while trespassing on railway tracks or property over the course of the month. The tragic part: every one of these incidents could have been prevented—if Canadians knew and followed the rail-safety rules.
 
Don’t be a statistic. Help Operation Lifesaver #STOPTrackTragedies by learning—and following—these simple rail-safety rules:
 

• Stay off railway tracks, trestles, and equipment. You could be seriously injured or even killed in these locations. They’re also private property, and trespassers can be fined.
• Stay alert. Take your headphones off and put your phone away when approaching or crossing railway tracks.
• Keep your distance. Trains overhang the tracks by a metre on each side and can carry loads that may extend even further. If you’re next to the tracks, you could be hit.
• Look for another train before crossing the tracks. Only use designated rail crossings, and don’t cross the tracks immediately after a train passes. Wait until all signals have stopped, any gates have been raised, and ensure you can see clearly in both directions before crossing.
• Be aware that trains don’t follow set schedules. Trains travel up to 160 km/h and can come at any time, from either direction, on any track.
• Never assume a rail line is abandoned. You might never see a train on a particular section of track, but that doesn’t mean it’s abandoned. Often tracks can be deactivated and reactivated, so trains can appear on once-quiet tracks at any time.

 
For more tips on how to prevent rail crossing and trespassing incidents, check out our resources page. Together, we can #STOPTrackTragedies.