Rail Safety Week 2017: Innovation used to raise public awareness in campaign to save lives

MONTREAL, April 24, 2017 /CNW/ - Fatalities along railway tracks in Canada rose last year with 65 people killed in 202 trespassing and crossing incidents. To put a stop to these preventable tragedies and as part of its year-round effort to save lives, CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) today kicked off its renewed railway safety awareness campaign at the beginning of Canada's Rail Safety Week.

"Too many people die while trespassing on railway property across Canada and those fatalities are entirely preventable," said Stephen Covey, chief of police and chief security officer at CN. "These tragedies can be avoided by staying off railway tracks and by simply obeying crossing signals."

In 2016, there were 69 trespasser incidents across Canada that resulted in 46 fatalities and 20 serious injuries. Level crossing accidents represented another serious type of rail incident. There were 133 crossing accidents in Canada in 2016, resulting in 19 fatalities and 24 serious injuries. A year earlier, 30 people were killed while trespassing and 15 died in crossing accidents.

During Rail Safety Week, CN Police Service (CNPS) will be out in communities across Canada raising awareness of the potentially devastating consequences of trespassing on railway tracks and disregarding railway safety signs and devices at level crossings.

CN Police officers will have custom virtual reality viewers to demonstrate 360° rail safety videos to the public. Visitors to CN's Rail Safety Pledge website can view the videos on a desktop, laptop or mobile device, and visitors with access to any Google Cardboard viewer can experience this immersive virtual reality environment.

CN is encouraging the public to take the Rail Safety Pledge online which they can easily share with their Facebook friends and Twitter followers.

The Rail Safety Pledge asks people to share rail safety tips in their community, talk about rail safety at their local schools, or report unsafe behaviour around trains or railway property.

"Rail safety is everyone's responsibility," said Covey. "By looking out for each other and working together, we can help keep our communities safe and prevent fatalities and injuries on or near railway property. Together we can save lives and help bring crossing and trespassing accidents down to zero."

Get rail safety tips, take the Rail Safety Pledge, and live the 360° rail safety experience on your computer or mobile device at: www.mysafetypledge.com.

CN has been promoting railway safety for more than 25 years through its All Aboard for Safety community education program. Every year, CN employees make hundreds of All Aboard for Safety presentations and talk to more than 300,000 children and adults at schools and community events in Canada and the United States about the importance of safety and the dangers of walking or playing on or near railway tracks. For more information about CN's Rail Safety Week initiatives in your area, click here.

About CNPS
Every year, CN Police Service responds to hundreds of events along CN's network across eight Canadian provinces and 16 U.S. states. In addition to patrolling CN property, CNPS officers deliver rail safety presentations to schools, trucking agencies, bus operators and community organizations. By rolling out strategic educational initiatives and conducting targeted operations, CNPS aims to promote safe behaviours and increase awareness of rail safety. CNPS is committed to making CN the safest railroad in North America.

SOURCE CN