As Rail Safety Awareness Week wraps up, Manitobans are reminded to exercise caution and follow the rules around railways.
“The rails helped build this province and this country, and today there about 3,500 kilometres of railway track in Manitoba,” said Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler. “Manitobans are encouraged to be aware and be careful around our many rail crossings.”
Each year, 2,100 North Americans are killed or seriously injured when they engage in unsafe behaviour around tracks and trains. Basic rail safety includes being prepared to stop vehicles at every rail crossing, never stopping a vehicle on the tracks and never trespassing on railways, which are private property.
“Most rail accidents are preventable tragedies,” Schuler added. “We hope to heighten public awareness and help prevent rail accidents, injuries, fatalities and damage caused by collisions at crossings.”
In 2018, there were 15 rail-crossing accidents in Manitoba that resulted in two fatalities and eight serious injuries, in addition to one serious injury caused by trespassing on railways, Schuler noted.
