(The following article by Jordan W. Charness was posted on the Montreal Gazette website on June 7.)
MONTREAL — This is the time of year when the Railway Association of Canada and Transport Canada team up with the Canada Safety Council, provincial safety councils, unions, police, public and community groups to promote Operation Lifesaver. The goal of this program is the reduction of collisions between trains and cars at railway crossings, as well as any other incidents that can result from trespassing on railroad tracks.
I met with two of the group’s spokespersons at Central Station where they were presenting information on railway crossing safety and rules. Constable Michael Melanson of the CN police force was joined by Constable Mark Hawkhurst of the Canadian Pacific Railway police service.
These officers know first-hand what happens when a train and car collide. They don’t want it to happen again.
The two are part of a specialized police force charged with making sure the rules of the rails are followed. There’s even a law making its way through the political system that would allow railway police to ticket motorists for breaking the relevant portions of the Highway Safety Act.
The most important railroad related section reads as follows:
Level crossing
411. At a level crossing, the driver of a road vehicle, or any person riding a bicycle, must stop his vehicle not less than five metres from the railway where a sign or signal, a lowered gate or a railway employee signals an approaching rail vehicle, or where the driver or cyclist sees or hears a rail vehicle approaching the level crossing.
The penalty for breaking the five-metre rule is death – at least it could be. The Highway Safety Code sanction for failing to abide by this law is a $200 fine and three demerit points. That is, of course, if you don’t get hit by the train.
There are more than 330 collisions with trains every year in Canada, resulting in numerous fatalities and serious injuries.
A freight train with 80 cars travelling at 90 kilometres per hour requires about 1.6 kilometres before it can come to a complete stop. This makes it highly unlikely a train would be able to stop in time before hitting your car if you decide to ignore the flashing lights and barricade.
Melanson told me that if you are crossing railway tracks when the bells start to ring, your safest bet is to continue crossing the tracks so you are safely away from the train when it arrives at the crossing.
Hawkhurst was quick to add that if your car happens to stall on the railway tracks with a train coming, you should get all the occupants out of the vehicle and away from the track immediately.
He suggests you do not run, but walk quickly to a point at least 30 metres away from the track. This will prevent you from being struck by flying debris if the train hits the stalled vehicle.
Surprisingly, more than half of collisions involving highway railway crossings happen at crossings equipped with lights, a warning bell and gates.
Trying to race a train by scooting around the gates is illegal and stupid. Don’t forget that in this race, even if there’s a tie, you will be the one to lose.
Studies show the majority of accidents involving trains and cars are caused by the drivers of the car and not by the locomotive engineers.
It’s your responsibility as a driver to yield to trains at any crossings and follow the motto of Operation Lifesaver, which is: “Look, listen, live.”