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Safe Crossing Program
You and your child are walking down the sidewalk towards a railway crossing. As you approach, the lights begin to flash and the gates come down. How long is it from the time the lights begin to flash until the train rockets through the crossing? One minute? Two minutes?
Answer: as little as 20 seconds – definitely not enough time to make it across.
Surprised? Trains often look like they are moving relatively slowly, simply because they are so big. Just as you teach your children how to navigate through traffic, teach your children safety rules for staying safe around trains and at railway crossings.
Quick tips to tell kids
- Always cross at a railway crossing. A crossing has a sign and some have a sign, bells and/or and gates.
- Just like crossing the street – stop and look both ways before crossing train tracks. Listen for the train coming and for warning bells. If there are lights, watch for them to flash.
- If a train is going by, stand at least 5 metres or 16 feet (that’s about 10 giant steps) back from the tracks.
- Never try to cross the tracks if a train is coming, it is too dangerous.
- If a train goes by, look both ways again before crossing. Make sure another train is not coming. Many crossings have more than one track which means there could be more than one train at the same time.
- Always walk your bike across the tracks and make sure your tires don’t get caught.
- Never play on or near train tracks. It is dangerous and illegal.
Safe Kids Canada and CN launched the Safe Crossing Program in 2005 to raise awareness of safety at highway-railway crossings and to encourage teachers, parents and caregivers to teach elementary school children how to cross railway tracks safely.
We have also developed a community resource guide to assist communities become involved in the prevention of railway related deaths and injuries.
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