CP reminding people about rail safety

The Canadian Pacific Police Service (CPPS) has been out educating the public about safety around rail operations in Moose Jaw as part of Railway Safety Week.
CPPS Const. David Mess said Canadian Pacific Railway is striving to be the safest rail line in North America, which means educating and enforcement are needed to create compliance, which may mean laying a few charges.
"Awareness helps prevent tragic consequences from occurring and creates a safer situation for everybody," said Mess.
"We have the opportunity to further educate the public to deter risk taking behaviour, through enforcement activities."
Mess, along with other members of law enforcement, have conducted traffic enforcement blitzes at railway crossing in the city.
"People are getting it as far as Moose Jaw is concerned, although some charges were laid, " said Mess.
Mess said the problem is people become complacent when it comes to railway tracks as they travel over the same tracks day in and day out and stop paying attention.
According to Mess, the deadliest railway intersections are not the busiest and accidents usually occur at uncontrolled crossings.
"In Saskatchewan we have the bulk of (railway) crossings in Canada. The majority are going to be uncontrolled crossing," said Mess. "We have a lot of near collisions and our job is to remind people (about railway safety)," said Mess.
In 2008, Transport Canada reported 214 crossing collisions across Canada. Of those 214, there were 26 fatalities and 36 serious injuries. These numbers do not include the near collisions that took place.
Mess would also like to educate people about trespassing on railway property. Last year, there were 101 trespasser incidents including 56 fatalities and 27 serious injuries.
"Trespassing is a very dangerous activity," said Mess. "In Moose Jaw, we have people trying to cut through the yard, climbing over or under trains."
The danger, according to Mess, is that the yard moves or shunts trains by remote and the operators are not aware there may be someone walking through the yard.
People who trespass on railway property or fail to yield to an approaching train at a railway crossing are subject to being charged with a number of offences under the Rail Safety Act.
Mess said the CPPS needs the support of the RCMP, municipal police, the highway traffic board, or any law enforcement entity to help educate and enforce the rules. Mess encourages the public to become more vigilant about railway safety and report offences at crossings and on railway property by either contacting the CPPS at 1-800-716-9132 or the local police service.

Colin Dewar can be reached at 691-1263.