Ottawa, Ontario, December 5, 2011 - With the season's first snow accumulations reported in various parts of the country and moms and dads driving their kids to school and early morning hockey practices Operation Lifesaver takes the opportunity of National Safe Driving Week to remind Canadian motorists to exercise greater care and caution at highway-railway crossings.

"Much like the 1,100 passenger and goods trains that travel through Canada every day over some of the world's most rugged terrain and in some of the world's worst weather conditions, Canadians must exercise care and good judgment when approaching grade crossings at all times but especially in winter," explains Operation Lifesaver's National Director, Dan Di Tota.

Canadians should prepare and adjust for a 2011-12 winter that The Farmer's Almanac forecasts will be "cold to very cold, from Alberta east across Saskatchewan and Manitoba into western Ontario." Heavy snowfall, blowing snow, snow covered roads and icy conditions are among the many reasons accidents occur on Canadian roads. Without proper caution these conditions can prove deadly at rail crossings.

Operation Lifesaver reminds Canadians to:

Ensure your vehicle is winter-ready:
• Clear the snow and ice from all windows before departing
• Replace summer wiper blades with rugged winter blades
• Ensure your windows are free of condensation on the inside and ice on the outside by ensuring proper defrosting

Adjust your driving habits:
• Approach crossings cautiously
• Leave extra space between vehicles (stopping distances are at least double on snowy roads and even longer on icy roads).
• Look in both directions
• Listen for approaching trains
• Obey the warning signals and stay off railway property

Stay off and away from railway tracks if you operate a snowmobile.

"The sound of snowmobile engines can mask the sound of approaching trains, or a ski can get caught in track switches," Di Tota warned. "Either way, the result can be deadly"

Since 1980 the number of crossing collisions (where a train and motor vehicle collide) in Canada has fallen dramatically from over 800 annually to approximately 200 in 2010. While this reduction speaks to the success of safety efforts undertaken in that time, there still remains unnecessary loss of life and injury with 79 fatalities and 47 serious injuries occurring in 2010 as a result of crossing collisions and trespassing on rail property.

About Operation Lifesaver
Established in Canada in 1981, Operation Lifesaver is a national public-rail safety program sponsored by Transport Canada and the Railway Association of Canada. Through partnerships with provincial safety councils, police, railways, the trucking industry and community groups, Operation Lifesaver is dedicated to saving lives by educating Canadians about the hazards surrounding highway/railway crossings and trespassing on railway property. www.operationlifesaver.ca