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Public Rail Safety

When it comes to 10,000 tons of moving steel, there is no compromise.

When it comes to 10,000 tons of moving steel, there is no compromise. Motor vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists are no match for a moving train.

People continue to take chances, for instance trespassing on CN tracks and property. Trespassing fatalities in Canada are at a three-year high.

Trespassing is the leading cause of railway fatalities, resulting in 55 deaths in 2010.

More than 90 per cent of trespass accidents result in either fatalities or serious accidents.

CN Police across Canada are issuing a call to action. The initiative is called “See it, report it.”

You can save a life. CN Police urge anyone who sees dangerous or illegal behavior on CN tracks or property to call the CN emergency line at 1-800-464-9239.

CN Police feel it is time to engage the public in fighting unsafe activity.

According to the Canadian Transportation Safety Board, there was 261 grade crossing and trespass accidents across Canada in 2010, causing 79 deaths and 47 serious injuries.

These numbers are higher than 2009 stats.

At CN, we will not tolerate people who put their lives and lives of others at risk by disobeying railway signs, signals or by trespassing on railway property. CN Police officers will be identifying high-risk trespass areas and develop a target enforcement strategy. CN Police will be reaching out to the public through eduction, engineering and enforcement. In British Columbia, trespassing on CN Property carries a fine of $115.

Operation Lifesaver is a unique public-private partnership that promotes awareness to help save lives and reduce suffering from injuries incurred at highway/railway crossings and from trespassing on railway property.

Our goal is to create safety-conscious attitudes toward railways and to promote safe driving skills, attention and adherence to signs and warnings. This will result in fewer collisions, fatalities and injuries.

Even with increased train traffic, more railways, and more vehicles on the road, the number of deaths and injuries along Canada’s railways is being reduced. The volunteers and dedicated supporters in several organizations have made OL the best public safety program in Canada and it has made Canada a better and safer place to be.

Operation Lifesaver began operating in Canada as a public education program, jointly funded by The Railway Association of Canada and Transport Canada in 1981.