Calgary Alberta - With the return of the school year, Canadian Pacific Police Service (CPPS) is reminding students, parents, and care givers that
the safe route to school does not include trespassing on railway property.
From 7-14 Sep 2016 CPPS will be conducting its annual "Back to School Rail Safety Campaign" across Canada and the U.S.
Officers will be paying extra attention to public railway crossings and railway rights-of-way in and around school zones.
"As students head back to school, we must remind them that any route that includes illegally and dangerously crossing railway tracks is the wrong
route," said Ken Marchant, CP Police Chief.
"Parents, teachers, and care givers must lead by example and educate about the dangers associated with railway property and equipment."
According to Transportation Safety Board (TSB) statistics, from January to July in Canada this year, there have been 29 trespasser fatalities and eight
crossing fatalities.
This compares to 31 trespasser fatalities and 10 crossing fatalities in all of 2015.
"The increase in trespassing-related deaths in the last seven months is extremely concerning to us," said Sarah Mayes, Operation Lifesaver's National
Director.
"These incidents have a huge impact on families, friends, communities, and railway employees, and they're entirely preventable, if people would just heed
the warnings around railway property."
Year-round, Operation Lifesaver, a safety partnership with railways and other safety groups, helps to deliver the message that when people "See
Tracks" they should "Think Train".
This year, an extra challenge has presented itself with Pokemon GO.
"With the launch of Pokemon GO this summer, geo-tagged sites have appeared where train operations and related activities occur leading to increased rates
of trespassing on CP property," said Marchant.
"We continue to remind the public about the hazards of playing Pokemon GO, and that tracks and trains are a No-Go Zone."
For more resources on practicing rail safety, including materials for teachers of various age groups, please contact Operation Lifesaver.
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