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Amtrak Accident - Non-Working Crossing Signals

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 Falcon48, <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> You may be correct that a crossbuck does not mean yield when it is applied to a signalized crossing anywhere in the U.S., or that may only be the case in Illinois.  While the FRA may not have the authority to interpret or enforce state law, they have done so per my inquiry to them.  They may be incorrect in their response to me.  Somewhere here I have an email from Operation Lifesaver confirming what the FRA said.   <o:p></o:p> I have found several references indicating that a crossbuck means the same thing as a YIELD sign.  According to the language of the Illinois law, that requirement to yield per the meaning of a crossbuck is apparently suspended at signalized crossings.  I do not know if that is the case with other states.  However, if the meaning of a crossbuck is not intended to apply at signalized crossings, I wonder why crossbucks are installed at signalized crossings. <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> In an above post, you said: <o:p></o:p> “Second, if crossbucks at signalized crossings were meant to indicate "yield", one would expect that highway authorities would be posting "yield" signs at these crossings, the same as they have beene doing at non-signalized crossbuck crossings.  Now, perhaps there is a signalized crossing somewhere with a "yield" sign, but I haven't seen it.” <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> I agree that if YIELD signs are being applied to passive crossings because it has been discovered that drivers do not realize that a crossbuck means yield, it follows that YIELD signs should be applied to active crossings to clarify the meaning of the crossbucks at those active crossings.  When I asked the MN DOT that question, I was told that YIELD signs are not needed at signalized crossings because the signals protect the crossings and those signals are infallible.  But of course, the signals can fail to activate, so the reasoning about why a YIELD sign would not be needed at active crossings does not hold up.   <o:p></o:p> Maybe all states have laws that override the meaning of crossbucks at active crossings, and such crossbucks are only added as encouragement to be careful, but have no legal authority.    In any case, it does seem completely counter-intuitive to suggest that drivers should look for trains when the signals at active crossings are in-activated.  It would be wise to do so because the signals can fail to activate, but if drivers are told to yield at signalized crossings because the signals can fail, spreading that knowledge might lead to even more claims of signals failing to activate in the wake of crossing crashes.
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