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Even though fatalities at railway crossings or along rights-of-way are
a fraction of what they were a decade ago, railway safety awareness is still a
matter of life and death. Operation Lifesaver is a partner of Transport Canada in the
quest for greater rail safety.
Ongoing efforts across Canada to improve railway safety
The key to railway safety is public awareness of the dangers at highway/railway
grade crossings and on railway rights-of-way.
Operation Lifesaver has helped lower crossing collisions by more than
60 per cent since its founding in 1981. This public education program spreads
its message through volunteers who visit schools, malls and community groups
across Canada. Operation Lifesaver is co-sponsored by the Railway Association of
Canada and Transport Canada.
A second awareness initiative, Direction 2006, is aimed at a 50
per cent reduction in collisions and trespassing incidents over the 1996-2006
period.
In addition to its support for Operation Lifesaver and Direction 2006, Transport Canada also invests some $7.5 million annually to upgrade safety at
Canada's railway crossings. Upgrades can include additional flashing lights and
signals, coordination of crossing signals with nearby traffic lights, or new
operating circuits or timing devices at crossings.
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