This Halloween, avoid the horror of being killed by a train

Halloween is only five days away and kids and teens are no doubt getting excited for a night of costumes, candy and tricks. For older kids and teens, Halloween can mean spending an evening with friends, without parental supervision. Of course, this also means an irregularly high volume of young people walking the streets and the potential for mischief. While it's common to remind kids/teens of the importance of being careful when crossing the street while out trick-or-treating or heading to parties, railway safety is sometimes overlooked. This Halloween, share these important reminders with your kids and teens and make sure they come home alive.

• When walking, pay extra attention at highway-railway crossings. Kids and teens are often excited at Halloween and may be tempted to run through crossings - remind them to take the time to observe warnings, look both ways and only cross when it's safe to do so. This is especially important at night when visibility is limited.
• For many teens, Halloween isn't just about the treats - they may be tempted to try their hand at some tricks too (think: toilet paper, spray paint, eggs). Make sure teens know that there are legal penalties for vandalizing private property, and that includes railway property. Remind them that railway property is never a safe place to be and that trespassing is not only illegal, it can also be deadly. A Halloween prank is never worth your life.
• For teens who are able to drive, remind them to observe and obey all warning signals and devices at highway-railway crossings. There may be extra traffic and pressure to drive around barriers or race a train. This is never a good idea. Always wait for the train to pass.
• Make sure your kids/teens wear a "safe" costume. It should be brightly coloured and/or include reflective materials. Ensure that there are no trailing materials that may be easy to trip on - railway tracks are no place to fall.

Halloween is meant to be a day of fun. By following rail safe behaviours, kids and teens can be sure to live to enjoy it again next year.