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Safe Crossing Week Nov. 12 – 18, 2007
Come on Board for – Safe Crossing Week – Nov. 12 – 18, 2007
Safe Kids USA and CN aim to raise awareness of safety at railroad crossings and encourage teachers, parents and caregivers to teach children how to cross railroad tracks safely.
Safe Crossing educational resources created to teach rail safety include:
- Lesson plans to link rail safety to language, science, social science, and physical education in the Kindergarten to Grade 6 curriculum.
- Student activity booklets
- Interactive web based teaching tools
- Parent fact sheets
- Letters for parents and caregivers explaining the program
For more information, please contact Chrissy Cianflone, Program Manager, at ccianflone@safekids.org.
Safety at Railroad Crossings
Parents should teach children that trains and railroad tracks may be dangerous places. Railroad deaths and injuries are often preventable. Children should learn to never play on or near railroad tracks, and, if they must cross tracks, how to do so as safely as possible.
Important Statistics
Each year, an average of 916 people are killed and 8,300 are injured in collisions with trains in the United States. Collisions involve either trains and people or trains and motor vehicle occupants.
In 2005, a total of 39 children ages 15 and under were killed in a train collision.
Trespassing is Dangerous
In 2006, trespassing incidents resulted in 530 deaths. Trespassing fatalities occur when a person crosses over a non-public railroad crossing and is struck by a train.
Trespassing incidents include illegally traveling on or beside railroad tracks either by foot, bicycle, car, ATV, snowmobile, or any other vehicle. Trespassing also includes taking a shortcut across railroad tracks or property at any time.
The Safe Crossing Program is a joint initiative with Safe Kids USA and CN – North America’s Railroad.