Rail Safety Week starts April 27.
When you #SeeTracksThink #Danger
CALGARY, April 26, 2015 /CNW/ - Canadian Pacific (CP)
and the Canadian Pacific Police Service (CPPS) will be educating
the public during Rail Safety Week about safety in and around
railway property and how to stay safe for the balance of the
year.
From April 27 through May 3, CP
and CPPS will conduct rail safety blitzes in communities across our
network – from Montreal to
Vancouver – with participation
from other police agencies and schools to educate motorists,
pedestrians, and the public about the role we each play in staying
safe.
"When people use railway property or tracks as walking paths,
they are risking their lives," said Laird Pitz, Vice President and
Chief Risk Officer. "Rail safety requires vigilance 24 hours a day,
seven days a week, 365 days a year. We are asking everyone to
consider their own safety around railroad property. The impact of
an incident can have tragic consequences for all concerned,
including family, friends and community."
Despite the decline in incidents, one accident is one too many
since they are all preventable.
Crossing accidents in Canada
declined in 2014 from the five-year average but trespassing
accidents did not improve, totaling 58 last year, unchanged from
2013. While crossing and trespassing fatalities declined from the
five-year average, more work remains to be done.
Operation Lifesaver (OL), a not-for-profit organization
sponsored by Canada's railway
industry and Transport Canada, has organized Rail Safety Week for
12 years. This year, OL has planned over 500 activities during the
week, including presentations in schools, mock collisions and
crossing blitzes.
"When people see tracks, we want them to think 'danger'," said
Mike Regimbal, National Director of
OL. "Ignorance around railway property can result in a serious
injury or death, and could have a serious impact on you, your
friends and family, your community and railway employees."
Operation Lifesaver spreads its motto of "Look, Listen and Live"
through its many year-long initiatives that complement RSW,
including interactive websites, online new and professional driver
education modules, and social media outreach. Additionally, OL's
network of volunteers conducts more than 500 rail safety
presentations and activities across Canada each year.
"Last year, we saw year-over-year improvements in certain areas,
including reductions in crossing and trespassing fatalities," said
Regimbal. "The rise of serious injuries is concerning. The
statistics involving British
Columbia and trespassing incidents in Alberta are also troubling. The worst part is
that all incidents are preventable."
Learn more by following the hashtags #RSW2015 and
#SeeTracksThink and by joining the discussion on the channels
below:
Facebook.com/oplifesaver
Twitter.com/oplifesaver
Instagram.com/oplifesaver
Note to newsroom: high-res broll is available on request.
About Canadian Pacific
Canadian Pacific
(TSX:CP)(NYSE:CP) is a transcontinental railway in Canada and the
United States with direct links to eight major ports,
including Vancouver and
Montreal, providing North American
customers a competitive rail service with access to key markets in
every corner of the globe. CP is growing with its customers,
offering a suite of freight transportation services, logistics
solutions and supply chain expertise. Visit cpr.ca to see the rail
advantages of Canadian Pacific.
About Operation Lifesaver
Established in Canada in 1981, Operation Lifesaver is a
national public-rail safety program sponsored by Transport Canada
and the Railway Association of Canada. Through partnerships with provincial
safety councils, police, railways, the trucking industry and
community groups, Operation Lifesaver is dedicated to saving lives
by educating Canadians about the hazards surrounding
highway/railway crossings and trespassing on railway property.
SOURCE Canadian Pacific