19 April 2006
Elk Valley P.A.R.T.Y. Program and CPR Team Up on April 29th to Promote Rail Safety in Fernie
The Elk Valley P.A.R.T.Y. Program and Canadian Pacific Railway will stage a mock vehicle - train
collision in Fernie on Saturday, 29 Apr 2006 and at the same time promote the importance of safety around rail tracks.
P.A.R.T.Y. stands for Prevent Alcohol and Risk Related Trauma in Youth. "At P.A.R.T.Y., we focus on making smart choices and we
show the consequences of bad choices. We use reality education to encourage students to examine their attitudes, decisions and
actions," said Mary Jane Leppard, Coordinator of the Elk Valley P.A.R.T.Y. Program. "The P.A.R.T.Y. Program is a prevention
program geared towards youth and funded through generous contributions from the Elk Valley."
In addition to P.A.R.T.Y. Program volunteers and CPR police and field operations' personnel, RCMP, Fernie Fire Rescue and B.C. Ambulance
will be participating in the exercise, which will simulate a car proceeding across a crossing in an unsafe manner, striking the train
before it could stop. Volunteering as crash victims are four P.A.R.T.Y. students who will be trapped in the vehicle, requiring rescue.
"We are supported by our many volunteers from the Valley which include, Fernie Fire Rescue, BC Ambulance, Doctors, Nurses,
R.C.M.P., Drug and Alcohol, Injury Survivors, Cherished Memories Funeral Directors, and community volunteers," added Leppard.
"These volunteers take time off or come in on days off to speak, and share a part of themselves with our Youth. We feel that if we
can save just one life, it's worth it."
"The exercise will give all of us a chance to practice emergency response procedures in the event a situation like this does
actually occur and to showcase the dangerous consequences of what can happen if a motorist is not careful," said CPR Police
Constable Dave Boggiss, who welcomed the opportunity to team up with P.A.R.T.Y. in the Elk Valley to promote rail safety awareness.
"This is an important safety message for CPR, because unfortunately, there are many instances where motorists proceed through rail
crossings in an unsafe manner, resulting in deadly consequences in too many cases."
The mock incident-response exercise in Fernie will take place during Rail Safety Week in Canada, which runs from
24-30 Apr 2006.
In 2005, the Transportation Safety Board reported 174 people in Canada were either killed or injured in incidents involving trains.
Constable Boggiss noted that a motorist is 40 times more likely to die in a vehicle-train accident than a
vehicle-vehicle collision.
In addition to risk of death or serious injury, motorists who fail to obey railway crossing rules are subject to being charged under
the B.C. Motor Vehicle Act, with a fine of $109 for an out of court settlement. Persons charged and convicted under the Rail Safety Act
could face fines to a maximum of $10,000.00 and/or one year in jail.
The public is asked to assist in reporting offences occurring on railway property by contacting their local police or Canadian Pacific
Railway Police Service at: 1-800-716-9132.
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