Staff
District residents are being reminded to stay safe when crossing railroad tracks in conjunction with “Rail Safety Week.”
The theme for this year’s campaign is “No compromise: no accidents-no injuries-no fatalities,” noted local CN police officer Cst. Pete LeDrew.
Local CN police, with the help of Treaty #3 police and the OPP, will be holding safety blitz operations at district locations this week, including one today at Manitou Rapids.
Another blitz is planned at the railway crossing on Couchiching First Nation on Wednesday, and a third at the McIrvine Road crossing here in town on Thursday.
This year’s campaign is focusing on education and prevention, as well as getting tougher on enforcement.
Across Canada last year, there were 250 accidents at railway crossings, which resulted in 71 fatalities and 36 serious injuries, noted Cst. LeDrew.
“That’s a lot across the board,” he remarked.
“In [this] district, we didn’t have any [fatalities] last year, which is good, but there’s so much train track going through Fort Frances, it worries you because you don’t want anything to happen,” LeDrew added, noting there still are people climbing through trains and trespassing on CN property.
“It is dangerous, it is illegal,” LeDrew stressed, saying people should be using the designated crossings, such at Portage Avenue, McIrvine Road, Williams Avenue, and at Pither’s Point.
And when crossing at these points, people—including both motorists and pedestrians—should be obeying all the lights, warning bells, and whistles.
At crossings like on McIrvine Road, where there are two tracks, people should be aware there is the possibility of a second train going in the opposite direction once the first train clears.
As well, people should not be walking, riding their bikes, or driving their cars, ATVs, or snowmobiles on or besides the tracks, LeDrew said.
