Did you know?
According to ILCAD:
“Level crossing accidents account for only 1.2% of road deaths but 29% of all rail fatalities based on European statistics.”
These stats are alarming and while they’re specific to Europe, they also indicate a global need to focus on rail safety (for Canadian stats, check out our rail safety infographic
Want even more proof? Check out this film produced by UNECE, the Federal Office of Transport of the Swiss Confederation (FOT) and the International Union of Railways (UIC):
With this in mind, on June 3, 2014 countries across the globe will come together to support International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD)
, a day dedicated to spreading level crossing awareness in an effort to change the behaviour of drivers and pedestrians near the tracks.
The most important stop of the day
As in previous years
, Operation Lifesaver Canada is proud to be supporting the sixth edition of ILCAD, focused on professional driver rail safety education and awareness
. This year’s theme, “The most important stop of the day”, serves as a reminder that of all the stops professional drivers make during their workday, taking the time to stop, look and listen at a level crossing could be the difference between life and death.
Lifesaving rail safety resources for professional drivers
Operation Lifesaver has developed many free downloadable rail safety resources
specifically designed to arm professional drivers with the rail safety information that will get them home safe to their families at the end of every day.
- Check out “Alive and Truckin’”, a free and downloadable rail safety training program tailored for professional truck drivers.
- Next, for emergency first responders, there’s “Live to Help Another Day”, a rail safety resource that will help ensure ambulance and fire truck drivers don’t lose their lives while trying to save others.
- We trust these professionals to get our kids to and from school in the safest manner possible. “Make it a Round Trip” is the go-to rail safety resource for the school bus driver.
- And don’t forget traintodrive.net, our computer-based training website for professional drivers.
Please—listen to the advice of Operation Lifesaver and ILCAD
Bottom line: too many people fall victim either fatally or critically around the tracks. So mark June 3rd
, 2014 in your calendar and remember, make every time you encounter a level crossing the most important stop of the day – your life depends on it! And always: Look, listen, live!
[caption id="attachment_8590" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
Photo credit: ILCAD[/caption]