The public is being urged to be careful around railway tracks in response to an increase in the number of crossing and trespassing accidents across the country.
In 2012, there were 261 such incidents according to Operation Lifesaver, a national public-rail safety program sponsored by Transport Canada and the Railway Association of Canada.
Moreover, 78 of them ended up in fatalities and a further 53 in serious injuries.
Year-over-year, the numbers represent a 10 per cent increase in accidents, an 11-per-cent increase in fatalities and a 23-per-cent jump in serious injuries. And the rates of fatalities and serious injuries were both higher than the five-year average from 2007 to 2011.
On the bright side, incidents in British Columbia declined or held steady across nearly all categories. However, no one should get complacent because the consequences can be disastrous.
"Disobeying railway crossing signals or trespassing on railway property is dangerous and illegal. We cannot tolerate that individuals put their lives and those of others at risk," CN Police Chief Stephen Covey said.
"Through a combination of education and enforcement, we aim to change attitudes and behaviors towards rail safety. We must reduce injuries and fatalities on or near railway crossings, tracks, and CN property."
Operation Lifesaver, meanwhile, has posted a series of rail safety tips for each of several groups, including ATV and snowmobile riders, cyclists, and snowplow operators. They can be found at www.operationlifesaver.ca.
The numbers were released during public rail safety week, which ends Sunday.
