New Westminster, Operation Lifesaver partner on rail safety program

Rail News Home Safety 9/20/2019 Rail News: Safety
Operation Lifesaver Canada's decals direct people to remain aware around grade crossings.Photo – OL

The city of New Westminster, British Columbia, earlier this week joined Operation Lifesaver Canada (OL) and HUB Surface Systems to launch a program with the goal to reduce facilities and injuries at grade crossings.

OL will identify locations where rail safety decals can be installed to raise public awareness about the need to exercise caution around grade crossings.

The decals are yellow and diamond-shaped to look similar to a traffic warning sign and direct people to “Look. Listen. Live.”

“Our hope is that when people see this decal, it will remind them to pay closer attention to their surroundings at the crossing. We want them to slow down, look in both directions, listen for approaching trains, and obey railway warning signs and signals,” said Sarah Mayes, OL Canada’s national director in a press release.

New Westminster is the third community in British Columbia to participate in OL’s Community Safety Partnership Program. Vancouver was the first city to install decals in 2018, followed by Squamish.