C.P.RAIL SNOWMOBILE SAFETY ARTICLE SUBMITTED BY N. J. LAMARCHE, Detective Sergeant C.P. Police
Between January 1991 and November 1996 there were twenty snowmobile/ train collisions at crossings resulting in serious injury or death across Canada. Of these, fifteen occurred in Ontario.

Snowmobile/train collisions occur both at crossings and on railway property well away from public and private crossings.

Although the flat, well-maintained track makes a tempting snowmobile route it also makes for a perilous one.

Some facts to consider:

· Trespassing on railway property is both dangerous and against the law. Railway police enforce trespass laws under the Railway Safety Act that can result in fines of up to $10,000.00 and/or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year.

· It takes a freight train traveling at 80 km/h about one Kilometer to come to a stop in an emergency. Trespassing on bridges or railway rights-of-way may result in a situation were you become trapped and unable to avoid an approaching train.

· Snowmobiling on the railway right-of-way can cause damage to signals, switchings and other equipment that can jeopardize the safety of rail operations.

· The noise from the snowmobile's engine may prevent you from hearing an approaching train. Weather conditions and protective clothing may further impair your hearing and vision.

· Stop, Look and Listen at all railway crossings. Where there is more than one track there could be more than one train. Do not enter the crossing until you are sure that you can cross safely.

· Never out-drive your headlights. The snow that you can see blowing across in front of you at a railway crossing may be a train passing. Trains blow up a lot of snow as they pass - it sometimes looks like a snowstorm. Many snowmobile/ train collisions result from snowmobiles running into the side of passing trains.

· Safe riding depends on you!

If you would like further information about this or other railway safety programs please contact Cst. N.J. Lamarche of the Canadian Pacific Railway Police Service at 705-675-0822 or call 1-800-551-2553 and ask for your local Community Services Officer.