REFLECTIVE TAPE IMPROVES RAILWAY CROSSING SAFETY

Released on September 5, 2001

A new provincial government program aims to improve safety at uncontrolled

shortline railway crossings.



"The 'Reflectorization of Shortline Crossbucks' program involves adhering

white retro-reflective tape to shortline railway crossing signs at

uncontrolled intersections," Highways and Transportation Minister Pat

Atkinson said. "The tape works to increase the crossing's visibility at

night by reflecting the lights of an approaching vehicle as it nears the

crossing sign."



Transport Canada is soon expected to require similar reflectorization

techniques for federally-regulated, higher-volume railway crossings on

public highways in Saskatchewan. In anticipation of these federal

regulations, the province is launching this program to promote the

harmonization of shortline and mainline carrier crossings, and the safety

of motorists and shortline operators at over 600 shortline crossings

throughout Saskatchewan.



"The objective of this $35,500 program is to reduce accidents that occur

when motorists cannot easily see a train moving across a railway

intersection at night," Atkinson said. "The reflectorization creates a

strobe-light effect when a train is moving through a crossing, so drivers

will be aware that activity is going on ahead of them and they will need to

stop."



"I would like to commend the provincial government for taking this

initiative, which will undoubtedly improve safety," Saskatchewan Safety

Council Executive Director Harley Toupin said. "For several years, the

Saskatchewan Safety Council has supported the installation of retro-

reflective material on railway crossing signs."



Highways and Transportation staff are currently adding reflective tape to

the shortline railway crossings while they conduct a data-gathering

inventory to evaluate safety at these crossings.



According to Transport Canada, more than half of all railway crossing

accidents occur at non-automated crossings. This provincial initiative

will enhance drivers' safety at an affordable cost.



The 'Reflectorization of Shortline Crossbucks' program began on July 3rd,

2001.



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For more information, contact:



Dave Fahlman, Rail Projects Engineer

Highways & Transportation

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-4758