Canada’s commuter railways carry more than 79 million passengers each year. Commuters in metropolitan areas like Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver depend on them as a quick, reliable and environmentally friendly way to get to work and school every day. But unfortunately, when passengers don’t follow the rail safety rules, commuting can be deadly.
In 2017, according to the Transportation Safety Board, there were 223 rail-related crossing and trespassing incidents in Canada. Seventy-two people lost their lives and another 44 were seriously injured. These incidents are not only devastating for the individuals involved, as well as their friends and family, but they also have a lasting effect on railway employees, first responders and communities. The tragic thing is, virtually all of them could be avoided.
That’s why Operation Lifesaver (OL) and Metrolinx, the provincial agency that runs GO Transit, have launched
a new virtual reality (VR) video to try to stop incidents like these from happening.
The new video shows just how scary the consequences of unsafe behaviour around trains and tracks can be. The fifth VR video in OL’s continuing
Look. Listen. Live. rail-safety campaign, it gives the viewer a first-hand—and hopefully, unforgettable—view of just how quickly and quietly a commuter train can sneak up on someone.
“There is no question that the video is shocking. But we hope it will help get across our message to rail passengers: that railway warning signs and signals are there to keep you safe. So, obey them. Failing to do so could have terrifying—and even deadly—consequences,” says Sarah Mayes, National Director of Operation Lifesaver Canada.
Help us stop needless incidents from happening. Watch OL’s new rail-safety VR video, then share the video on social media, along with the hashtag #SHARETHESCARE, to help us ensure commuters across the country get where they need to go safely.
To learn more about how to stay safe around passenger trains and tracks, check out
OL’s tip sheet.
Canada’s commuter railways carry more than 79 million passengers each year. Commuters in metropolitan areas like Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver depend on them as a quick, reliable and environmentally friendly way to get to work and school every day. But unfortunately, when passengers don’t follow the rail safety rules, commuting can be deadly.
In 2017, according to the Transportation Safety Board, there were 223 rail-related crossing and trespassing incidents in Canada. Seventy-two people lost their lives and another 44 were seriously injured. These incidents are not only devastating for the individuals involved, as well as their friends and family, but they also have a lasting effect on railway employees, first responders and communities. The tragic thing is, virtually all of them could be avoided.
That’s why Operation Lifesaver (OL) and Metrolinx, the provincial agency that runs GO Transit, have launched
a new virtual reality (VR) video to try to stop incidents like these from happening.
The new video shows just how scary the consequences of unsafe behaviour around trains and tracks can be. The fifth VR video in OL’s continuing
Look. Listen. Live. rail-safety campaign, it gives the viewer a first-hand—and hopefully, unforgettable—view of just how quickly and quietly a commuter train can sneak up on someone.
“There is no question that the video is shocking. But we hope it will help get across our message to rail passengers: that railway warning signs and signals are there to keep you safe. So, obey them. Failing to do so could have terrifying—and even deadly—consequences,” says Sarah Mayes, National Director of Operation Lifesaver Canada.
Help us stop needless incidents from happening. Watch OL’s new rail-safety VR video, then share the video on social media, along with the hashtag #SHARETHESCARE, to help us ensure commuters across the country get where they need to go safely.
To learn more about how to stay safe around passenger trains and tracks, check out
OL’s tip sheet.