CN Police mark Rail Safety Week 2011 with public appeal to help reduce rising number of trespassing incidents and fatalities
HOMEWOOD, IL, May 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - With trespassing incidents and fatalities on the rise in the United States, CN (TSX:CNR)(NYSE:CNI) is marking Rail Safety Week from May 2 to May 8, 2011, with a public awareness campaign that stresses the deadly risks of trespassing on railroad tracks and property. CN Police are issuing a call to action with their SEE IT? REPORT IT! You Could Save a Life initiative, urging members of the public to call CN Police at 1- 800-465-9239 when they witness unsafe behavior on railroad property.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110502/MO899)
"Disobeying railroad crossing signals or trespassing on railroad property is dangerous and illegal. We don't tolerate people who put their lives - and the lives of others - at risk. We are getting tougher about enforcing the law, and are engaging the public in helping CN Police fight unsafe activity," said CN Police Chief Bobby Walker. "Help us by reporting dangerous behavior you see; you could save a life. At CN, when it comes to safety, there is no compromise."
CN Police will be out in full force during Rail Safety Week, conducting safety blitzes at commuter stations, CN intermodal terminals and railroad crossings in the United States and Canada. This year, CN is increasing its focus on commuter stations, to target a larger audience of rail users, many of whom are parents who will be urged to pass on safety information to their children.
In 2010, there were 2,837 grade crossing and railroad trespassing accidents across the United States, causing 712 fatalities and 1,192 serious injuries, according to the Federal Railroad Administration. A number of disturbing trends were seen in the 2010 statistics:
- Accidents, fatalities and serious injuries in 2010 increased by
5.7 percent, seven percent and 10 percent, respectively, over 2009
statistics.
- Trespassing remains the leading cause of rail-related fatalities in the
United States. Last year, the number of trespassing-related fatalities
increased by eight percent, totalling 451.
- Serious injuries resulting from trespassing increased in 2010 by
11 percent, to 382.
- In 2010, there were 833 trespassing-related accidents, an increase of
9.6 percent from 2009.
Faced with the growing seriousness of the trespassing issue, CN Police are undertaking a targeted, year-round endeavor focused on reducing trespassing incidents, fatalities and injuries. Recognizing that youth become more vulnerable to risk-taking behavior around the ages of 13 and 14, CN Police will be intensifying outreach to this youth group. In addition, CN Police across the system will work to identify the highest risk areas for trespassing in their territory and develop targeted strategies to reduce incidents.
"The consequences of trespassing can be tragic and CN Police are very concerned to see that dangerous behavior on railroad property is on the rise," said Walker. "Through a combination of education and targeted enforcement, including the issuing of more tickets, we will work to change attitudes and behavior."
CN has been promoting railroad safety for more than 25 years through its All Aboard for Safety community education program. Every year, CN Police officers make hundreds of All Aboard for Safety presentations and talk to more than 300,000 children and adults at schools and community events in the United States and Canada about the importance of safety and the dangers of walking or playing on or near railroad tracks. Part of the strength of this program is the collaborative relationship with major community safety partners Operation Lifesaver and Safe Communities America.
CN (TSX: CNR)(NYSE: CNI) - Canadian National Railway Company and its operating railway subsidiaries - spans Canada and mid-America, from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to the Gulf of Mexico, serving the ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the key metropolitan areas of Toronto, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., Green Bay, Wis., Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America. For more information on CN, visit the company's website at www.cn.ca.
Link to photos:
http://www.newscanada.com/cn-see-it-report-it-images
For more information about the CN safety blitzes in your area, see the attached list.
2011 Safety Blitz Locations
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City Street Activity Date Start/Finish
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ILLINOIS
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Carbondale 401 South Commuter May 2 & 17:00 - 18:00
Illinois Street AMTRAK Station May 3
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Carbondale 401 South Commuter May 3 & 07:00 - 08:00
Illinois Street Amtrak Station May 4
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East Hazel 1904 W. 174th Commuter May 2 05:30 - 06:45
Crest Street METRA Station
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Homewood 18015 Park Commuter May 2 17:00 - 18:30
Avenue METRA Station
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Lockport 13th Street & Commuter May 5 17:15 - 19:15
State Street METRA Station
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Matteson 211th Street & Commuter May 3 05:30 - 06:45
Olympia Way METRA Station
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West Chicago 500 West Main Commuter May 4 17:00 - 18:30
Street METRA Station
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City Street Activity Date Start/Finish
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INDIANA
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Dyer 602 Joliet Road Little League May 3 16:30 - 20:30
Field -
Enforcement
Blitz
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Schererville 1350 Eagle Tri-Town May 4 09:15 - 12:15
Ridge Road Safety Village
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Schererville 1350 Eagle Tri-Town
Ridge Road Safety Village May 5 09:15 - 12:15
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City Street Activity Date Start/Finish
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LOUSIANA
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Hammond 404 N. W. Commuter May 2 & 3 13:00 - 14:00
Railroad Avenue AMTRAK Station May 3 & 4 14:00 - 15:00
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City Street Activity Date Start/Finish
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MICHIGAN
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Clinton Railroad Safety Blitz May 4 08:00 - 10:00
Township crossing near Safety Blitz May 7 09:00 - 11:00
Weybridge
street and
South Groesbeck
Highway
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Flat Rock Railroad Safety Blitz May 4 17:30 - 19:00
Crossing at Safety Blitz May 7 17:30 - 19:30
Vreeland & Hall
Roads
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Royal Oak Railroad Safety Blitz May 2 08:00 - 10:00
Crossing South Safety Blitz May 5 12:00 - 14:00
Washington
avenue and West
4th Street
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City Street Activity Date Start/Finish
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MISSISSIPPI
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Jackson 300 West Commuter May 2 & 3 07:00 - 08:00
Capital Street AMTRAK Station May 3 & 4 17:00 - 18:00
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City Street Activity Date Start/Finish
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PENNSYLVANIA
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Greenville Railroad Safety Blitz May 3 08:00 - 10:00
Crossing on Safety Blitz May 5 08:00 - 10:00
Shenango
Street, East of
Race Street
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City Street Activity Date Start/Finish
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TENNESSEE
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Memphis 545 South Main Commuter May 2 & 3 06:00 - 07:00
Street AMTRAK Station May 3 & 4 10:00 - 11:00
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City Street Activity Date Start/Finish
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WISCONSIN
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Oshkosh Ceape Avenue Safety Blitz May 2 12:00 - 13:30
and Broad
Street
Crossing
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Peshtigo Hale Road at Safety Blitz May 5 12:00 - 13:30
CN Crossing
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SOURCE CN
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