From today until September 27, the United States, Mexico and Canada are celebrating Rail Safety Week, an initiative of the railway industries of the three countries to promote a culture of safety in the coexistence between cities and trains.
With around 500 trains operating daily on 23,389 km of rail network in 28 states of Mexico, the need for this campaign is indispensable.
For example, in 2023, the Railway Transport Regulatory Agency (ARTF) reported 749 collisions at level crossings, an alarming average of two incidents per day.
Under the slogan #VesVíasPiensaenTren, the organization Operation Lifesaver, in collaboration with the Mexican Railway Association (AMF), will be launching messages for 5 days aimed at saving lives and preventing accidents.
The intensive campaign will involve social media and activities in various locations across North America, focusing on pedestrians, drivers and influencers, to raise awareness about the importance of safety around railroad crossings.
Joint actions
Operation Lifesaver has warned of the growing danger of young people replicating challenges on train tracks in Mexico, such as taking photos near the tracks or carrying out extreme activities on bridges, which can result in tragedies.
These incidents impact not only the victims, but also their families and communities, something that is already a concern for the AMF and the industry.
Hence, there is a need to warn about the dangers, while working with municipalities, Civil Protection and Traffic in the regions to reduce accidents.
Recommendations
The organizations recommended that those who drive trucks and/or private vehicles take caution when crossing the train tracks:
- Come to a complete stop. The train cannot stop immediately.
- Turn down the music and avoid any distractions to stay alert.
- Look in both directions to ensure that the road is clear. Only cross the road if it is possible to clear the crossing with your vehicle. If there is traffic, it is best to wait.
- Do not take photos of the train passing by unless you are standing five metres away from the track. The dimensions of the train are larger than those of the track.
- Do not board freight rail cars to travel on them. The train is not designed to transport people.
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