Airdrie, Alberta – Every year, dozens of Canadians are killed or seriously injured in collisions at railway crossings. In fact, there were 129 such incidents in Canada in 2020, which killed 18 people and seriously injured another 12. Sadly, virtually all these tragedies were preventable.
Today, Operation Lifesaver (OL) Canada, in partnership with HUB Surface Systems and the City of Airdrie unveiled 16 new rail safety decals at Veteran's Blvd., 1 Ave., Railway Ave. and Yankee Valley Blvd. as part of OL’s Look. Listen. Live. Community Safety Partnership Program.
Through the program, OL works with municipalities to identify locations where rail-safety decals can be installed to remind people to be situationally aware around crossings. Each bright yellow decal features a black silhouette of a train, as well as the words “Look. Listen. Live.”—OL’s important rail-safety message. The goal of the decals is simple: to prevent tragic crossing incidents by making pedestrians, cyclists and drivers more aware of the need to be vigilant around railway crossings.
“Most people don’t consider railway safety until it impacts them personally and unfortunately our community has seen the tragic impacts first-hand,” said Mayor Brown. “We want to encourage residents to educate themselves and their children about staying safe around railway tracks. Only use designated railway crossings, obey signs and signals and stay off the tracks.”
“Incidents at railway crossings are tragically common across this country and each one affects the victim’s family and friends, as well as railway employees, first responders and broader communities,” said Sarah Mayes, National Director of Operation Lifesaver Canada. "This program aims to make the public more aware of the hazards around rail crossings, which will hopefully save lives. We want people to slow down, look in both directions, listen for approaching trains and obey all railway warning signs and signals.”
Vancouver, B.C., and London, Ont., became the first Canadian cities to sign onto the Community Safety Partnership Program in 2018, and were swiftly followed by seven more municipalities in 2019, and 36 additional communities in 2020.
“Rail safety is a shared responsibility and we’re pleased that so many communities have joined forces with us to promote it through the Community Safety Partnership Program,” said Mayes. “We hope to build on the program’s momentum, and work with even more municipalities to spread the rail-safety message and save lives.”
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Media Contact:
Erin Murray
Communications Advisor
403.815.2117
erin.murray@airdrie.ca
About Operation Lifesaver Canada
Operation Lifesaver Canada is a national public rail-safety program sponsored by Transport Canada, the Railway Association of Canada and its members, including CN, CP, VIA Rail, Metrolinx, exo, West Coast Express, and Genesee & Wyoming, among others. Through its national network of Rail Safety Ambassadors, partnerships with safety councils, police, the trucking industry and community groups, and innovative tools such as its virtual-reality Look. Listen. Live. campaign, Operation Lifesaver Canada works to save lives by educating Canadians about the hazards of rail crossings and trespassing on railway property. Canadians can keep up-to-date on the latest rail safety news by visiting operationlifesaver.ca.