Windsor city councillor John Elliott introduces Cris Cross, the ambassador of the city's train safety campaign, at Children's Safety Village on August 4, 2017. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.Windsor city councillor John Elliott introduces Cris Cross, the ambassador of the city's train safety campaign, at Children's Safety Village on August 4, 2017. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.
Windsor

Windsor Introduces Train Safety Ambassador

The City of Windsor is introducing a new ambassador as part of its new train safety campaign.

The new ambassador, Cris Cross, was named during the week-long All Wheels and Bike Safety Camp Friday at Children's Safety Village. It is part of a two-year educational initiative with Transport Canada and the Windsor police to raise awareness about railroad safety. The campaign is being funded by a grant from Transport Canada with the city matching funds.

The safety campaign will be used through various media, such as billboards, the city's website, assorted marketing pieces and social media platforms. Cris Cross even stars in a video on railroad safety.

Windsor city councillor John Elliott pointed out that there are 75 railroad crossings in the city alone, and that unlike a car, it can take up to 2km for a train to make a complete stop.

"If you make the comparison of a car to a train," says Elliott, "it's like comparing a mouse to an elephant."

Elliott also reminded the youngsters attending the bicycle camp that taking shortcuts along railroad tracks and across railroad property is not only unsafe, but also illegal. He says Ontario is leading in a category it would rather not lead.

"Statistics show that in Ontario there are more accidents involving trains and people walking on the tracks than in any other province in Canada," says Elliott.

Simone McNorton is someone who knows the story too well. Her 11-year-old daughter Krista was killed in 1996 when a Via Rail train hit her in Tecumseh. Krista is memorialized with a stone at Safety Village.

McNorton says while shortcuts may seem like harmless or adventurous fun, when it comes to railroad tracks, finding the quickest way to get somewhere is not worth your life.

"It was a shortcut, it was just going to be a few minutes, but unfortunately that's how fast things happen," says McNorton. "It's true. The train is so large there's no way it can stop."

For complete information on railroad safety and the Train Safety Campaign, click here.

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