24 April 2006
CPR Police to Work on Raising Safety Awareness During Railway Safety Week in Canada
The Canadian Pacific Railway Police
Service will be out this week reminding motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians
about the important message of staying safe around railway property, in
particular at railway crossings. Statistics indicate, a motorist is 40 times
more likely to die in a vehicle-train accident than a vehicle-vehicle
collision.
As part of Railway Safety Week in Canada, which runs from 24-30 Apr 2006,
CPR police will be conducting safety awareness blitzes at a number
of crossings and railway locations.
"Canadian Pacific Railway and its police service are dedicated to
promoting rail safety awareness, preventing tragic consequences from happening
and creating a safer situation for everybody," CPR Police Sergeant Bill Law,
the railway police's national Community Services Coordinator. "During Rail
Safety Week in Canada, our officers across our system have the opportunity to
further educate the public."
In Quebec, CPR police officers will be conducting awareness enforcement
blitzes in five different Montreal locations, Beaconsfield and Pincourt.
In 2005, the Transportation Safety Board reported 174 people in Canada
were either killed or seriously injured in incidents involving trains, a
decrease from 193 people in 2004. However, according to Sergeant Law, the
statistics are still too high, "When you take into account the many near
collisions that take place each year at crossings or on rail tracks, as well,
we clearly must remain focused on building public awareness."
In addition to risk of death or serious injury, people who trespass on
railway property or fail to yield the right-of-way to an approaching train at
a crossing are subject to being charged under the Rail Safety Act, which
carries a maximum fine of $10,000.00 and/or one year in jail. The public is
asked to assist in reporting offences occurring at crossings and on railway
property by contacting the Canadian Pacific Railway Police Service at:
1-800-716-9132 or their local police.
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