Public-rail safety is important to everyone, but particularly to those who teach children, protect the public, lead community associations and clubs (like snowmobilers), or make transportation their careers. More rail safety information is at http://www.operationlifesaver.ca

1. www.operationlifesaver.ca

2. Look Listen and Live
BACKGROUND
In 1974, there were 1,074 collisions
between trains and motor vehicles
at highway/railway crossings in of rail or highway and urban road
Canada, resulting in 114 deaths networks. Similarly, aircraft have
and 664 injuries. The resulting millions of kilometres of air space
number of needless fatalities and in which to fly. However, a
injuries were further compounded highway/railway crossing has a
by numerous other trespassing precise location where a collision
incidents. between a train and a motor
vehicle is most likely to occur – the
Many of the injured were perma- intersection of the railway track
nently disabled. Property damage and the highway.
from these collisions was extensive.
It is no exaggeration to say that the A large number of collisions at
direct and indirect costs of these public crossings occur at crossings
incidents amounted to several equipped with active warning
million dollars annually. devices such as gates, lights and
bells; many of these collisions
The greater tragedy, however, lies involve the motor vehicle striking
in the fact that virtually all of these the side of the train.
incidents could have been avoided.
In most circumstances, motorists
Highway/railway collisions are, themselves were responsible for
in fact, one of the most predictable these collisions. They disregarded
of all transportation hazards. the horn and bell warnings of
Trains and motor vehicles travel on approaching trains. They ignored
hundreds of thousands of kilometres the flashing lights and bell warnings
at crossings and sometimes, they
even drove around lowered barriers.
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3. To address these issues, the railway
industry joined forces with the
Railway Transport Committee of
Studies consistently indicated that,
the (then) Canadian Transport
despite the installation of gates
Commission as well as with provin-
and other automatic warning
cial and municipal governments in
devices, pedestrian crossovers and
ongoing and aggressive programs
stricter trespassing enforcement,
to improve railway-related safety.
there was a surprising lack of
However, there was a need for a
knowledge about the potential
national focal point to collect
hazards.
information on all program efforts
These same reports, however, could and to coordinate and assist all
not explain why people chose to stakeholders in preventing high-
trespass on railway property. way/railway crossing and trespassing
incidents. Therefore, to educate the
Studies have shown that trespassing public and deal with this problem,
incidents often take place when the Operation Lifesaver program
people walk, lie down, cross or sit was implemented in Canada in
on the tracks. Incidents also occur 1981.
when recreational vehicle users,
cross-country skiers and hunters
use railway property as a recre-
ational playground.
Any time is train time
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4. OPERATION LIFESAVER
Operation Lifesaver (OL) is a
national public awareness program
aimed at reducing railway related
incidents resulting in fatalities and
injuries. By using various initiatives,
OL promotes safety at highway/
railway crossings for drivers as committee include representatives
well as for pedestrians. Emphasis from Transport Canada, The
is placed on dangerous behaviour Railway Association of Canada,
such as trespassing on railway Canada Safety Council, Canadian
property or disobeying railway National Railway, Canadian
signs and signals. Pacific Railway, VIA Rail Canada,
GO Transit, Railway Police, Royal
WHAT IS OPERATION Canadian Mounted Police,
LIFESAVER? Ontario Provincial Police, Sûreté
OL is a partnership between the Québec, First Nation’s Police
Railway Association of Canada and Association, Brotherhood of
its members, Transport Canada, Locomotive Engineers, United
the Canada Safety Council and the Transportation Union and an edu-
provincial safety councils/leagues, cation specialist.
unions, police, public and commu-
nity groups. Provincial OL committees, made
up of various stakeholders, work
● OL Structure on local issues and coordinate
Operation Lifesaver is guided by activities within each province.
a National Advisory Committee,
which provides advice to the
National Director regarding the
development and implementation Don’t get stopped dead
of the program. Members of the on the track!
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5. ● Certified Presenters
The backbone of the OL Program Railway tracks
is its volunteers. These include are for TRAINS!
Master Trainers, Presenter Trainers,
Presenters and Associates. Presenters
and Associates are required to Trespassing is a leading cause of
complete a certification process, railway related fatalities. Railway
which includes a police reference tracks and bridges are private
check and training. Presenters property and any unauthorized
deliver the Operation Lifesaver person who is on railway property
program and Associates support the which is not designated as a cross-
program by staffing displays and ing, is committing an offence
participating in other OL activities. under the law. Whether you are
Similar Operation Lifesaver pro- walking along the tracks, riding a
grams exist in the USA, Mexico, snowmobile or an all-terrain vehi-
Argentina, England and Australia. cle, or you are simply crossing a
track at a location not identified
WHY OPERATION as a crossing, YOU ARE TRES-
LIFESAVER? PASSING. This is very dangerous
In Canada, a train collides with a and also illegal; you can be subject
vehicle or a person almost every to a warning, a fine or worse. You
day. Many people are unfamiliar can pay with your life.
with the warning devices designed
for their safety. They are unaware Operation Lifesaver is committed
that trains cannot stop quickly or to working with the community
swerve to avoid a collision. and with the general public in
an effort to reduce the number of
Statistics reveal that many people fatalities and injuries due to tres-
are also unaware that trespassing passing and dangerous behaviour
on railway property is both dan- at crossings.
gerous and illegal.
This lack of awareness emphasizes
the need to educate the public on
the dangers surrounding railway
property.
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6. HOW DOES
OPERATION LIFESAVER
MEET ITS GOALS?
The very strength of Operation
Lifesaver lies in its railway/govern- ● (1) Education
ment/community co-operative Operation Lifesaver educates people
effort. The program seeks to of all ages about the potential
join all federal, provincial and dangers at highway/railway cross-
municipal authorities, enforce- ings and the seriousness of tres-
ment agencies, railways and their passing on railway property. The
unions and various public safety methods used to reach the public
organizations in a nationwide include the production and distri-
effort to reduce deaths, injuries bution of educational material,
and property damage resulting safety presentations to schools,
from railway-related incidents. industries and community groups
Participation by all these members and the staging of media events.
is essential to the success of the ● (2) Enforcement
program. Operation Lifesaver promotes
To achieve its goals, Operation enforcement of laws governing
Lifesaver focuses on Education, motorist and pedestrian responsi-
Enforcement and Engineering – bilities at highway/railway cross-
the Three E’s. ings and on railway property. The
program works in partnership
with enforcement agencies to
heighten public awareness of the
hazards which exist along railway
property.
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7. ● (3) Engineering The OL program is designed to
Operation Lifesaver promotes increase general public awareness
research aimed at ensuring a high of potential hazards at highway/
level of safety at railway crossings railway crossings and of the dangers
and on railway property. Operation associated with trespassing on rail-
Lifesaver also informs the public way property. This program can be
of federal, provincial and other pro- adapted to any age group and is
grams aimed at improving railway given in the form of a presentation.
safety.
Presentations can last between 30
By focusing on these issues and and 60 minutes, depending on the
identifying emerging concerns, audience and its needs. If your school
Operation Lifesaver has been or organization is interested in
able to help reduce crossing colli- booking a free presentation or if you
sions and trespassing incidents by would like to get involved, contact
over 60 percent. your Provincial Safety Council/
League or the national office at
PRESENTATIONS (613) 564-8100 or visit our website
Operation Lifesaver has special at www.operationlifesaver.ca.
audio-visual programs and printed
material available to help. The key For more information, contact your
to the success of Operation local Safety Council/League:
Lifesaver is through active partici-
pation, which can be simply familia-
rizing yourself and others with the
appropriate warning signs.
Help us to save lives!
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8. Always expect a train
OPERATION LIFESAVER
WOULD LIKE TO THANK
THE MANY VOLUNTEERS
WHO CONTINUOUSLY HELP
DELIVER THIS PROGRAM
AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE
FOLLOWING PARTNERS
FOR THEIR SUPPORT:
3M Canada
Agence métropolitaine de transport
Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions
Alberta RailNet Ministère des Transports du Québec
Alberta Safety Council Montreal Alouettes
Amtrak New Brunswick – Department of
Arnaud Railway Company Transportation
Athabasca Northern Railway New Brunswick East Coast Railway
B.C. Rail New Brunswick Safety Council
Barrie-Collingwood Railway New Brunswick Southern Railway
British Columbia Safety Council Newfoundland & Labrador Safety Council
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Norfolk Southern Corporation
Burlington Northern (Manitoba) Nova Scotia Safety Council
Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Ontario – Ministry of Transportation
Calgary Flames Ontario Northland Transportation
Calgary Stampeders Commission
Canada Safety Council Ontario Provincial Police
Canadian American Railroad Company Ontario Safety League
Canadian Federation of Agriculture Ontario Southland Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway Operation Lifesaver Inc. (USA)
Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway Ottawa Central Railway
Capital Railway (operated by OC Transpo) Ottawa Valley Railway
Cartier Railway Company Quebec Gatineau Railway
Central Manitoba Railway Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway
Central Western Railway Quebec Safety League
Charlevoix Railway Company Quebec Southern Railway Company
Chemin de fer Baie des Chaleurs Roberval and Saguenay Railway
Chemin de fer de la Matapédia et du Golfe Royal Canadian Mounted Police
CN Saskatchewan Safety Council
CSX Transportation South Simcoe Railway
Digital Video Productions Southern Manitoba Railway
Dimension 4 Multimédia Southern Ontario Railway
Direction 2006 Southern Railway of British Columbia
E & N Railway St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad (Quebec)
Edmonton Eskimos Sûreté du Québec
Edmonton Oilers Sydney Coal Railway
Essex Terminal Railway Company The Railway Association of Canada
Ferroequus Railway Company Toronto Terminals Railway
GO Transit Train Touristique “L’Express de La
Goderich-Exeter Railway Matapédia”
Great Canadian Railtour Company Transport Canada
Great Western Railway Trillium Railway
Huron Central Railway United Transportation Union
Kelowna Pacific Railway VIA Rail Canada
Lakeland & Waterways Railway VIACOM Outdoor
Mackenzie Northern Railway Wabush Lake Railway
Manitoba Safety Council West Coast Express
White Pass & Yukon Route Railway
Windsor & Hantsport Railway
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