Motorists and pedestrians are being urged to get on board a campaign about railway safety.
Const. Peter Tallvio of the CN Police Service was recently in council chambers when Mayor Jonathan Cote proclaimed Sept. 23 to 29 as Rail Safety Week in New Westminster.
“During this period we do a lot of safety and educational outreach,” Tallvio told council. “We have some outreach events planned for the 26th and 27th of September in the vicinity of Front Street and also Braid Street, where we hand out safety material and speak to motorists about being safe around railway systems.”
On Sept. 18, CN is also taking part in an Operation Lifesaver event at Begbie and Front streets.
According to Operation Lifesaver, more than 100 Canadians are seriously injured or killed each year as a result of railway crossing or trespassing incidents. Operation Lifesaver, a public private partnership that aims to raise rail safety awareness, advises people to stay at a safe distance from trains and off railway property and tracks, to avoid using train tracks as a shortcut and to always obey railway signs and signals.
The City of New Westminster’s proclamation regarding Rail Safety Week aims to raise awareness about the dangers of ignoring warnings at level crossings and trespassing on rail properties in order to reduce death, damage and injuries.
Cote noted that a lot of rail lines and rail traffic passes through New Westminster and the public can sometimes underestimate the dangers.
“I think it’s very important to be getting the word out,” he said.
