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During this years annual Rail Safety Week, CN Police officers will conduct safety blitz operations at commuter stations and railway crossings across Canada and the United States.  Officers will send clear messages to motorists and commuters about the importance of safety at grade crossings and warn them about the dangers of trespassing on railway tracks and property. 

CN Police are launching their SEE IT? REPORT IT! You Could Save a Life public awareness campaign.  It is a call to action to everyone to help put an end to accidents.  They are asking the public to help save lives by calling CN Police at 1-800-465-9239 whenever they witness unsafe behaviour on railway property.

How can you help?

Talk to your children about the importance of safety at railway crossings and about the potential danger of walking or playing near tracks. Visit Obie's website for kids to learn more and play games with safety messages.

Write to your provincial Minister of Transport or state legislator to ask for mandatory grade crossing safety education for new drivers and truck and school bus drivers and stiffer penalties for violations at crossings and for trespassing.

Safety Rules

For Pedestrians, Motorists and Cyclists

Cross at a designated crossing.

Don't walk, ride your bike or drive your car, ATV or snowmobile on 
    or beside tracks.

Obey the lights, warning bells and train whistle at crossings.

Wait for the crossing gate to be fully raised before crossing tracks.

Never take shortcuts across tracks or through railway property. It's not
    worth risking your life.

For New Drivers

Look both ways before you cross the tracks. Trains come at any time in
    any direction.

More than one track means more than one train may be coming. You
    may not be able to see or hear that second train coming on the other
    track.

Obey all railway warning signs and signals when approaching the
    crossing. Flashing red lights mean stop; a lone crossbuck means yield.

Trains cannot stop quickly. By the time the engineer can see you, it is 
    already to late for the train to stop in time.

It is an optical illusion that trains appear to be traveling much slower
    than their actual speed.

For Truck Drivers

When approaching a crossing, slow down by shifting to a lower gear
    (manual transmission) and test your brakes.

Stop five metres (15 feet) from the nearest rail.

When waiting for the train to pass, put on your emergency brakes
    so you won't move onto the track.

Before crossing the track, make sure there is enough room on the other
    side of the track for the whole unit to clear the tracks, including your
    truck's overhang.

Use a gear that will let you cross the tracks without shifting.

Check the crossing signals one final time before proceeding across the
    tracks.

If the crossing lights begin to flash after starting over the tracks,
    KEEP GOING. It is safer to continue forward than to reverse.

For School Bus Drivers

When approaching a crossing, slow down by shifting to a lower gear
    (manual transmission) and test your brakes.

If a train is approaching, STOP.

Stop five metres (15 feet) from the nearest rail.

Place the transmission in neutral and press down on the service brake
    or set the parking brakes.

If your laws and policies permit, open the service door and driver's
    window. Look and listen for an approaching train.

Check the crossing signals again before proceeding.

At a multiple-track crossing, stop ONLY before the first set of tracks.
    When you are sure no train is approaching on any track, proceed
    across all of the tracks until you have completely cleared them.

Cross the tracks in a low gear. Do not change gears while crossing.

For Children

Only cross at marked railway crossings. Always look both ways before
    crossing the tracks.

Obey all signs and signals. Listen for a warning bell or train whistle.
    Watch for flashing lights.

Never try to cross the tracks if a train is coming. Trains are very large 
    and heavy, and take a long time to stop!

When a train is coming, stand at least 10 giant steps away from the
    tracks. If one train passes, make sure another one isn't coming.
    Trains can come     from any direction at any time on any track.

Get off your bike and walk it across the tracks. Don't forget to wear
    your helmet when you ride your bike.

Walking or playing on or near railroad tracks is dangerous.

Ask your children some questions about being safe around trains, such as:

How long does it take for a train to stop? (At least 20 football fields.)

Where should you cross the railway tracks? (You should cross at the
    railway crossing.)

What do you do before you cross the tracks? (You should look both
    ways, even if a train has just gone by.)