OLI’s event (formerly Rail Safety Week) has been held annually since 2017 and concentrates public attention on the need for rail safety education. Federal Railroad Administration statistics show that every three hours in the U.S., a person or vehicle is hit by a train; approximately 2,300 North Americans are injured or killed each year in these preventable incidents, according to OLI. Also in the U.S., trespassing along railroad rights-of-way is the leading cause of rail-related deaths, and railroad crossing incidents are the second leading cause of rail-related deaths, the nonprofit group reported.
See Tracks? Think Train® Week in the U.S. is emphasizing a different theme (see below) each day and featuring in-person events led by state Operation Lifesaver programs, as well as virtual activities and social media efforts.
Meanwhile, Operation Lifesaver Canada’s 2024 Railway Safety Week, titled There is No ‘Undo’ Button, marks the organization’s 21st event that “raises critical awareness about rail safety and reminds Canadians that taking risks near tracks can change your life forever or cost you life and limb.”
Over the last five years, more than 100 Canadians have been seriously hurt or killed each year in railway crossing and trespasser incidents (on average), according to Operation Lifesaver Canada. In 2023 alone, 73 Canadians were hurt or killed because they were on tracks or rail property illegally. Another 32 were hurt or killed at crossings. So far in 2024 (January-June), Operation Lifesaver says an average of 10 Canadians per month have been seriously hurt or killed at crossings, or by trespassing onto federally regulated railways. That’s a 33% increase over the five-year historical average. In the first half of 2024, total railway accidents were down 15%, but crossing accidents were up 11% and trespassing was up 57%, according to the organization.
The schedule for Operation Lifesaver Canada’s 2024 Rail Safety Week can be found below.
