2010 Roger Cyr Public-Rail Safety Award - Reg Chad Joins Outstanding Canadian
Volunteers

OTTAWA, April 25 /CNW/ - To kick off National Rail Safety Week activities, Operation Lifesaver today awarded the 2010 Roger Cyr Public-Rail Award to retired RCMP constable and Cobourg Police Service volunteer Reg Chad. The award is presented annually to recognize outstanding Canadian volunteers who actively promote public-rail and road safety to the general public in their communities.

For over 10 years Mr. Chad has been volunteering 20 hours per week to raise the awareness of rail safety among motorists and students through various activities and events in Cobourg, Ontario, such as Rail Safety Week and Safe Crossing Week crossing demonstrations.

"Operation Lifesaver depends on dedicated volunteers and Reg Chad is a shining example of the significant impact their activities have on worthy causes such as ours," said Dan Di Tota, national director of Operation Lifesaver. "Mr. Chad, joins a distinguished group of certified Operation Lifesaver presenters, associates and volunteers who have contributed to the reduction of highway/railway crossing collisions by 77 per cent since the launch of Operation Lifesaver in Canada on Sept. 23, 1981."

Transportation Safety Board of Canada statistics reveal positive, declining trends in both crossing accidents and trespassing accidents. In 2009, there were 186 crossing collisions across Canada, 19 fatalities and 21 serious injuries. There were also 70 trespasser incidents, including 52 fatalities and 15 serious injuries.

Mr. Chad will be presented with the 2010 Roger Cyr Award for Railway Safety at the OL Annual Conference on September 15th at the Chateau Cartier in Gatineau QC. The selection panel for the award consists of members of the Operation Lifesaver Program Review Committee.

Operation Lifesaver is an active, on-going public education program designed to heighten general public awareness of the potential hazards of highway/railway crossings and to urge that drivers and pedestrians are cautious when in their vicinity. The program also seeks to inform the public of the dangers associated with trespassing on railway property. The program is a partnership initiative of the Railway Association of Canada and Transport Canada and works in cooperation with the rail industry, government, police, unions, and many public organizations and community groups.

Rail Safety Week is sponsored by Transport Canada, the nation's railways and their partners to promote safety around highway-railway crossings and freight and passenger train operations. RSW activities include mock collisions, interactive kiosks, websites for kids, driver education classes for new motorists, safety blitzes and trespass enforcement initiatives at several locations across the country.

For further information: Railway Association of Canada, Paul Goyette, [phone], [email protected]; Transport Canada, Sean Rushton, [phone],[email protected]