Rail Safety 2020
SEP 20, 2021

BE RAIL SMART. IT CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE

Rail Safety Week is September 20-26, 2021


During Rail Safety Week and throughout the year, CN is committed to our goal of bringing railroad crossing and trespassing deaths, as well as injuries, down to zero.

By educating children and adults of all ages across the communities that we serve, we hope to encourage our communities to keep rail safety top of mind always.

Every year, hundreds of North Americans are seriously injured or killed around tracks and trains. In 2020, in the United States, 1,901 collisions were reported at rail crossings, resulting in 198 deaths and 685 injuries.

In Canada, there were 118 incidents, resulting in 30 deaths. Sadly, almost all these incidents were preventable.

Rail safety



Safety is a shared responsibility at CN that includes our employees, our customers, our partners, and the communities that we serve. CN works closely with Operation Lifesaver, schools, community organizations, as well as local authorities to send a strong message about rail safety and how being rail smart saves lives.


What does it mean to be Rail Smart?


CN’s ‘Be Rail Smart’ educational campaign, encourages everyone to understand the dangers that exist around railway crossings and tracks as well as to make essential rail safe practices second nature.

Operation Lifesaver shares rail safety tips as well as the stories of people whose lives were lost or forever changed by railway crossing and trespassing incidents. Their 2021 campaign focuses on the importance of talking to friends and family about rail safety.



Here are some tips for being rail smart when approaching a railway crossing:


  • Obey all railway signs, lights, bells and gates
  • Stop a safe distance away from tracks and crossings
  • Look both ways to ensure that trains are not approaching in either direction
  • Listen for approaching trains
  • Don’t cross railroad tracks immediately after a train passes because there could be a second train.

In addition to the above tips, you can find more information and tips at "cn.ca/railsafety."

Already think you’re rail smart?

Take CN’s rail safety pledge at "mysafetypledge.com". By participating, you’ll be entered into a draw to win an Apple watch or Amazon Alexa Smart Home package.