This week marks Rail Safety Week in Canada and CP Rail wants to make sure the message is clear, leave the tracks for the trains.

CP Rail spokesperson Salem Woodrow says the tracks can be a hazard at anytime of the day.

"We are reminding motorist, cyclists or pedestrians that any route that includes illegally crossing railroad tracks or using railway tracks as a short-cut is the wrong route," she says. "We all have a stake in community safety, motorists, cyclists and pedestrians need to be aware of the dangers associated with railway crossings and railway property."

Woodrow says staying as far away from the tracks whether it's a crossing or the line itself can be a difference between life or death.

"We feel that rail safety requires vigilance 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. We're asking everyone to consider their own safety around railway property."

She says there are a couple of common occurrences that shouldn't be even a discussion when it comes to rail safety.

"Wearing headphones and walking on the tracks are two dangerous things, but of course something that we are trying to make people think about is that they shouldn't be walking on the railroad tracks in the first place," Woodrow says.

For more of Rail Safety Week, click here.

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