It’s an idea that has crossed many people’s minds, but Estevan police Chief Paul Ladouceur is warning the public to expect significant penalties if drivers decide to race a train.
“I’ve seen vehicles try and race the lights on Kensington, on various occasions, and I can tell you moving forward, from our police perspective, there will be a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to racing a train. It’s not a warning,” he said. “You’re putting yourself at risk, the trains at risk, creating the possibility of a derailment in the city, which is a serious, serious offence.”
In a morning press conference on April 30, Ladouceur and Sgt. Dave Mess of the Canadian Pacific Police Service (CPPS), spoke to the media about the partnership between EPS and CPPS during Rail Safety Week, which is from April 27 to May 3.
In addition, they stressed the seriousness of railway crossing violations, the bulk of which, Mess said, results from some people’s ‘it won’t happen to me’ attitude.
The CPPS sergeant noted that Saskatchewan has the most railway crossings in Canada, and that the majority don’t have a warning system, which is why it’s important for everyone to adopt the look-and-listen routine when approaching a railway crossing.
“You may cross unprotected railway crossings every day, three or four times maybe, and it becomes a habit to not pay attention; and that’s when you’re at your most vulnerable,” Mess said, adding today’s vehicles are designed to keep the outside noise out of the car, making it harder for a driver to hear a train if they are listening for one.
Mess also encouraged people to take their time at uncontrolled railway crossings, and even step out of their vehicle to listen for a train if they are unsure of the path ahead.
Ladouceur said he has heard several complaints from Estevanites when it comes to waiting for trains to pass through the city. Building an overpass would alleviate some that frustration, Ladouceur added.
He acknowledged the fact that waiting at the lights can be time-consuming, however, on average, the wait is only two to three minutes, a fact Ladouceur discovered while timing his wait at railway crossings on various occasions.
“Of course, when you’re sitting in a car waiting, those two to three minutes can seem like two to three hours,” Ladouceur said. “But you just have to take a deep breath and wait it out.”
Mess referred to the “ripple effect” that comes as a result of a railway collisions, a fact not many people consider when rolling the dice.
“My thing, is that, if anybody is seriously injured, or worse, killed, it’s not just that particular family that’s affected, it’s the entire community,” he said. “If it’s a child, can you imagine the elementary schools’ and the children’s reaction?
“You look at other communities where they’ve had a similar loss, it’s long and it’s lasting.”
Mess said these accidents are 100 per cent preventable, but it’s not just up to drivers to prevent these accidents from happening.
Pedestrians crossing the train tracks away from the safety lights will be fined $250 by police, Ladouceur said, adding the police have the power to issue a CPPS ticket, despite the fact that it may not be a CPPS officer issuing it.
Mess said police will be diligent when issuing tickets, and aren’t out to ticket young children who perhaps are unaware of the rules.
“These tickets are for those who ought to know better,” he said.
Ladouceur said the majority of railway collisions are not an accident 99 per cent of the time. He said he hopes pedestrians and drivers take railway crossings seriously, and reminded the public that law enforcement will be focusing heavily on these areas.
“That fellow standing on the street corner may very well be a plainclothes police officer,” he said.
