Trespassing incidents down in September
Operation Lifesaver just wrapped up its 20
th annual Rail Safety Week; from September 18-24, OL promoted campaigns and held events across the country to foster safety-conscious attitudes towards railways, and to encourage Canadians to obey railway signs and signals. Ultimately, the goal of this is to save lives. But sadly, our rail safety message doesn’t always have the instant impact we’d hope.
Although trespassing incidents were down 50% in September compared to the year before, railway crossing incidents doubled year over year. Two Canadians were killed in crossing incidents last month, compared to just one person in September 2022.
Getting these numbers to zero
Behind these numbers are real people—and every rail-related incident is a tragedy. Through education and public awareness campaigns like
Rail Safety Week,
#STOPTrackTragedies, and
Train to Drive, OL is working hard to prevent these incidents. But we need the help of each and every Canadian.
Whether you’re driving to work or school, on a cross-country road trip, or running to the corner store, make sure you follow these rules when you get behind the wheel:
- Obey all crossing signs and warning devices, such as lights, bells, and gates.
- Never drive around lowered gates at a crossing—not only is it illegal, but it could be deadly.
- Look and listen for trains when approaching tracks, and slow down so you can stop safely, if necessary.
- Don’t text or talk on your cellphone, and avoid other distractions while driving.
- Don’t get trapped on tracks. Be aware of the traffic in front of you, and only cross tracks if you’re sure you can completely clear them without stopping.
- Always drive at a speed that allows you to stop within the distance of your headlights, so you have a clear view of the road ahead.
- Never try to race a train to the crossing. Even in a tie, you’ll lose.
Check out our
resources page for other tips on how to stay safe around railway crossings, tracks, and trains. And make sure you and the people you love know the rail safety basics. It could save lives.