Hundreds of Decals and Signs Unveiled as Part of OL Canada's Rail Crossing Safety-Awareness Program

OTTAWA, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Every year, dozens of Canadians are killed or seriously injured in collisions at railway crossings. Today, as part of its 20^th annual Rail Safety Week (September 18-24, 2023), Operation Lifesaver (OL) Canada is pleased to announce that 20 additional communities have joined its “Look. Listen. Live.” Community Safety Partnership Program as a way to prevent these senseless tragedies from happening.

This national initiative encourages municipalities to install bright yellow rail safety decals or signs near railway crossings; each features a silhouette of a train as well as OL’s rail safety motto, “Look. Listen. Live.” The decals and signs help to alert pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists of the need to exercise caution around railway crossings—with the aim of preventing tragic incidents from occurring.

“It’s heartbreaking to see Canadians killed or seriously injured in preventable collisions at rail crossings each year,” says Sarah Mayes, National Director of Operation Lifesaver Canada. “Our hope is that these decals will act as a constant reminder for people to be extra vigilant when they’re approaching crossings.”

OL’s first decals were installed in Vancouver, B.C. in 2018. Since then, close to 100 communities have signed on to the program. In the coming days, more than 200 rail safety decals and signs will be unveiled in communities from Revelstoke, B.C. to Grand Bay-Westfield, N.B.

The Community Safety Partnership Program is just one of the many ways that OL Canada is working to #STOPTrackTragedies. Earlier this week, OL unveiled two new videos that highlight the personal stories of people affected by rail crossing and trespassing incidents. One of those videos tells the story of 16-year-old Jacob Hicks who died after he was hit by a train at a rail crossing in Oshawa, Ont. in 2012. Jacob had been listening to music on his headphones while walking home, and was looking down at his phone at the time of the incident. The crossing lights were flashing, and the bells were ringing, but Jacob didn’t see or hear the train coming. His tragic story is precisely the type of incident that OL’s Community Safety Partnership Program is aiming to prevent.

Municipalities can find out more or sign up for the Community Safety Partnership Program by visiting OL’s website.

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, CPKC, 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 trespassing on railway property and failing to exercise caution at rail crossings. Canadians can keep up-to-date on the latest rail safety news by visiting operationlifesaver.ca.