From September 23 to 29, 2019, Canada marked the 17th annual Rail Safety Week – and the Railway Association of Canada (RAC) took the opportunity to remind the public that everyone has a role to play when it comes to preventing rail-related deaths and injuries.

“Crossing and trespassing incidents affect so many people – from the victims’ loved ones, to the locomotive engineers and first responders involved, to entire communities,” said RAC President and CEO Marc Brazeau. “Rail Safety Week is a chance to work together to help prevent these tragedies by reminding our family, friends and neighbours to be rail safe.”

This year, Operation Lifesaver (OL), a national rail safety program co-sponsored by Transport Canada and RAC, is launching five new public-awareness videos as part of their ongoing #STOPTrackTragedies campaign. Each video tells the personal stories of people who have been affected by rail crossing or trespassing incidents. The videos are a harsh and powerful reminder for Canadians that taking risks near railway tracks and trains could cost them a limb, or even their life. See more at operationlifesaver.ca.

Every year, approximately 2,100 North Americans are seriously injured or killed when they engage in unsafe behaviour around tracks and trains. Rail Safety Week is a way to help stop these needless incidents from happening by educating the public about the risks. Throughout the year, RAC also advocates for increased rail infrastructure funding, fewer grade crossings and widespread municipal adoption of the FCM-RAC Proximity Guidelines, among other measures. 
For more information, visit www.railcan.ca.