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Safety on track

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CN Police Const. Norm Witzell speaks to kids at Ocean Cliff Elementary about railway safety.

Canadian National Railway (CN) is raising awareness about Rail Safety Week in an effort to reduce fatalities and serious injuries around train tracks.

The national campaign (May 2-8) is also being promoted by non-profit organization Operation Lifesaver, which is asking Canadians to learn about safety measures they should take when encountering trains and rail crossings.

To spread the word in Surrey and White Rock, CN Police Const. Norm Witzell visited Crescent Park and Ocean Cliff elementaries earlier this week for a safety presentation. He is also scheduled to make stops at White Rock, South Meridian and Peace Arch elementaries later this month.

For the last day of Rail Safety Week, CN will have a presence at the White Rock RMCP and White Rock Fire Department’s annual open house May 8.

Visitors are invited to stop by a display CN will have set up during the event, to be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 15299 Pacific Ave.

According to Operation Lifesaver, the number of crossing collisions between a train and motor vehicle in Canada has fallen from more than 800 annually to approximately 200 in 2010.

There still remains unnecessary loss of life and injury, however, with 79 fatalities and 47 serious injuries occurring last year as a result of crossing collisions and trespassing on rail property.

A variety of safety brochures are available online at www.operationlifesaver.ca, and an interactive site for kids can be found at www.olkids.ca