Nov 19, 2014 was the
National Day of Remembrance for road crash victims in Canada. A formal event in Toronto was held in honour of those who lost their lives.
Every day
five people die on Canadian roads. This adds up to roughly 2,100 people who will lose their lives and an estimated 165,000 who will be injured this year—a sobering reminder for drivers that a life can be cut short in an instance.
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Photo credit: ccmta.ca[/caption]
Rail and road safety starts with everyone
The only way to make an impact on these stats and not become part of the 2,100 is to take a hard look at our driving habits, especially near the tracks. A good place to start is by putting the cell phones away, not drinking and driving, not speeding, avoiding fatigue, and not doing drugs. Pretty simple, right?
The
penalties for impaired driving vary from fines to jail time in Canada, and all 10 provinces now have
penalties for distracted driving. This alone should discourage this kind of behaviour, but unfortunately there are still some who try to push it.
YOU can help prevent collisions: Don’t let rail safety go by the wayside
Operation Lifesaver encourages all drivers, young and old, to act safely when they’re behind the wheel and at highway-railway crossings.
Learn and pass-on these key rail safety tips:
- Expect a train on any track at any time. Any time is train time.
- Never drive around the gates. If the gate is down, or in the process of being raised or lowered, do not cross the tracks.
- Never race a train to the crossing because even in a tie, you lose!
This is just the tip of the rail safety iceberg. We have a wealth of engaging online, free and downloadable
rail safety resources, many with information tailored specifically for drivers.
Please! Take some time to reflect on the significance of the National Day of Remembrance and learn all you can about safe practices on the road as well as near the tracks. Doing so could save lives – including your own.
Look! Listen! Live!