Known hazards, primary cause, contributing factors, precedents...

[Evan]

Or lights / bells.

Was this a blind crossing or not? If so, then definitely, but someone's gotta pony up for that and when it comes to American infrastructure we get into this pass-the-buck routine and before you know it a decade has passed and a dump truck driver has passed on. Also, you don't allow trains to barrel through a blind crossing at 90mph.

If it's not blind, then there's eyeballs and Darwin.

One problem arises when you put up bells and lights and gates and they are triggered by a freight train hundreds of yards away limping along at 2 mph. So then people just dodge through the gates because that train is still five minutes off and everyone's feeling a bit stupid waiting for it. It's the boy who cried train.

[3WE]

1. Was this a blind crossing or not?

2. Also, you don't allow trains to barrel through a blind crossing at 90mph.

3. [Paraphased] It depends.

1. Descriptions exist at the link and in this thread.

2. Are you changing your stance?

3. You seem to be getting into gray areas.

[TeeVee]

Brightline started service in south florida several years ago. every singly grade crossing is controlled by gates, lights, bells and whistles. still, a shocking number of people have been killed. 85 train vs. car/pedestrian incidents in 4+ years. https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/d...beach-13717396

i'm not saying that crossings shouldnt be protected. they should be. but brightline proves quite unequivocally, that protected crossings wont protect people from their own stupidity, or death by train for that matter.

[3WE]

Agree.

That being said, I suspect gates would have made a difference IN THIS CASE. The crossing was listed as a concern beforehand and 90 MPH + an unprotected public road sure feels wrong.

We will never know if the truck driver was being grossly stupid, or was surprised by the 90 MPH train.

Gates would provide better notice and at least a suggested deterrent not_to cross.

[Gabriel]

Brightline started service in south florida several years ago. every singly grade crossing is controlled by gates, lights, bells and whistles. still, a shocking number of people have been killed. 85 train vs. car/pedestrian incidents in 4+ years. https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/d...beach-13717396

i'm not saying that crossings shouldnt be protected. they should be. but brightline proves quite unequivocally, that protected crossings wont protect people from their own stupidity, or death by train for that matter.

While the outcome is the same, I do make a distinction between a person being distracted or silly and crossing the railroad without looking vs a person knowing that the gates are down and / or the lights are flashing and / or the bells are ringing and still deciding to cross.

Bells and lights, and especially gates, can save most of the first ones. Nothing can save the second ones.

[TeeVee]

While the outcome is the same, I do make a distinction between a person being distracted or silly and crossing the railroad without looking vs a person knowing that the gates are down and / or the lights are flashing and / or the bells are ringing and still deciding to cross.

Bells and lights, and especially gates, can save most of the first ones. Nothing can save the second ones.

hence, i said "that protected crossings wont protect people from their own stupidity, or death by train for that matter."

[3WE]

Tee Vee: Please do not go to any effort, but do you think the railroad will be paying some damages?

The truck insurance probably comes up short, and governments (the county highway dept.) tend to have some immunity, and the railroad decided it was ok to go 90 past an unguarded county road…

150 folks are going to be making a few claims…maybe more for a decent dose of stress.

[TeeVee]

it's america. when someone dies, someone else pays. and as we are all too aware, there are plenty of attorneys out there that will make spurious claims to drum up a settlement. like in the case where some idiot rode her scooter around the gates while the lights and bells were going off. i'm sure some a-hole lawyer will say that the gates, lights and bells were insufficient, confusing, scary etc etc.