A campaign on rail safety has been rolled out in Kamloops.

The gathering at the downtown CP railyard included staff from Operation Lifesaver, CP, CN, Via Rail Canada, the Rocky Mountaineer and the CP Rail Police, as well as Sandra Larose – who lost her daughter Kailynn after a fatal vehicle-train crash last summer.

“I do not wish this hell on anyone.”

Sandra says her daughter was 16 when the crash happened in their home of Weyburn Saskatchewan, and she says her daughter’s death was attributed to distracted driving.

“All because of her phone, a split-second decision and horrible timing.”

Sarah Mayes is the national director of Operation Lifesaver Canada, and she unveiled four new street decals at the Third Avenue rail crossing that say ‘Look, Listen, Live.’

“Railway crossing and trespassing incidents killed 2,100 North Americans every year. It’s a really surprising number if you think about it. Basically it’s people behaving in unsafe behaviour at railway crossings.”

Mayes says another four decals have also been installed at the CN crossing on Lorne Street.

During the campaign launch, CP’s Chief of Police spoke about a recent death on the company’s rail line in Kamloops.

Al Sauve says he can’t comment on the details of the fatal accident that happened in Valleyview on Sept. 5, since there was no criminality involved.

“Unfortunately I know all the circumstances into it. It speaks to what we’re here for today, to talk about rail safety, to make sure everyone’s aware trains can creep up on you without noticing. They’re virtually silent depending on what other ambient noise is around you.”

Sauve says every fatality at a rail crossing is preventable if the public is wholly aware of the dangers at those crossing.