Federal law already exists to stop truck drivers and bus drivers before they cross the rails. The drivers are suppose to look both ways before proceeding. This is with or without the signal arms in motion. The law requires these drivers to wait if there is a train present in their visual field. The only way these drivers are to proceed is if it becomes obvious the train is stopped and not moving.
February 24, 2015
By Joseph Serna
Metrolink train derailed in Oxnard (click here) early today after colliding with a tractor trailer on the tracks. It was a "multi-casualty" crash, officials said.
Four cars derailed and at least 30 people were injured. Train cars were lying on their side at the scene, where tarps were laid out to treat the injured.
The collision occurred about 5:40 a.m. at 5th Street and Rice Avenue....
For immediate relief from this tragedy, officers are should be employed to handle traffic at these crossings. This and the previous tragedy occurred near cities at busy crossings.
The reason buses are to stop at rails is because their cargo is children. There should be every precaution to protect young lives.
There is absolutely no way of predicting if crossing arms can mechanically fail either. That is why the regulations exist.
The reason trucks are suppose to stop at all rail crossings is because they are heavy and longer than normal traffic, so, they will have longer crossing times that puts them in the path of trains moving quickly. Estimating the arrival of a train at a crossing is bad practice. The ability to estimate the arrival of a train when all that can be seen is the front of the engine is unrealistic. It should not ever enter the driving strategy of anyone, including passenger car/van operators.
The long term goals should be to institute elevated rail for higher speed trains and otherwise. The intersection of roads and rails should be outlawed.
February 24, 2015
By Joseph Serna
Metrolink train derailed in Oxnard (click here) early today after colliding with a tractor trailer on the tracks. It was a "multi-casualty" crash, officials said.
Four cars derailed and at least 30 people were injured. Train cars were lying on their side at the scene, where tarps were laid out to treat the injured.
The collision occurred about 5:40 a.m. at 5th Street and Rice Avenue....
For immediate relief from this tragedy, officers are should be employed to handle traffic at these crossings. This and the previous tragedy occurred near cities at busy crossings.
The reason buses are to stop at rails is because their cargo is children. There should be every precaution to protect young lives.
There is absolutely no way of predicting if crossing arms can mechanically fail either. That is why the regulations exist.
The reason trucks are suppose to stop at all rail crossings is because they are heavy and longer than normal traffic, so, they will have longer crossing times that puts them in the path of trains moving quickly. Estimating the arrival of a train at a crossing is bad practice. The ability to estimate the arrival of a train when all that can be seen is the front of the engine is unrealistic. It should not ever enter the driving strategy of anyone, including passenger car/van operators.
The long term goals should be to institute elevated rail for higher speed trains and otherwise. The intersection of roads and rails should be outlawed.
