As the temperature drop and rain or snow starts to fall, stay alert near railways, Squamish.
That is the message CN police officers are spreading this week.
(The CN police service is a private force tasked with protecting Canadian National Railway property, personnel, and rail infrastructure.)
According to CN, last year in North America, there were over 3,400 collisions with trains, resulting in over 2,200 serious injuries or fatalities.
"This winter, chances are that people in Squamish will face some challenging driving conditions. Freezing rain, snow, sleet and whiteouts can make winter driving downright dangerous," reads a news release, which adds there is a spike in railway crossing incidents during the winter months.
"It is our job to make sure that the population of Squamish knows that the risk of being involved in a railway-crossing incident is higher during winter months. It is important for CN police officers to engage the population on the dangers related to a railway incident. We want everyone to 'Be Rail Smart; Stop. Look. Listen. Live.'"
Safety tips for winter driving from CN:
*When approaching railway crossings, turn off your radio and heating fans so you can listen for trains.
*Look for railway warning signs and signals and remember that snow may cover train tracks at a crossing.
*Stalls or stuck vehicles must be left behind. Once safe, immediately notify emergency responders by calling 911.
For additional safety tips or other information regarding rail safety or CN Police, go to: www.cn.ca/en/safety/cn-police-service/
