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Why not traffic lights and crossing lights?
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=verdana,geneva>I believe Zugman and C.T. McCullough have stated the correct interpretation of the rules regarding signalized crossings.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>However, as Zugman has mentioned above, I would not conclude that the flashing red lights of grade crossing signals mean exactly the same thing as flashing red lights at road intersections just because they are flashing red lights in each case.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There are separate laws that dictate the meaning of grade crossing signals.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></P><FONT face=verdana,geneva> <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=verdana,geneva>If the gates are down, it is an absolute stop and wait until they rise.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If the crossing only has flashing lights without gates, drivers must stop if the lights are flashing, but can then proceed if it is safe to do so.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And being “safe to do so” does not necessarily mean that the train must have passed over the crossing and cleared it.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There is quite a bit of variation in the language of the state laws regarding this point.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>One circumstance where it would be safe to cross against the flashing lights if a train were present is if the train has stopped short of the crossing and no other trains are approaching.</FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT face=verdana,geneva size=2></FONT></SPAN> </P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT face=verdana,geneva size=2>But my larger point is that drivers are allowed to use their discretion, at least so some degree, in whether or not to wait for approaching trains, even with crossing signals flashing.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I believe that this contributes to the risk-taking of trying to beat the train, and it also helps explain why drivers comply with traffic lights at a better rate than their compliance with grade crossing signals.</FONT></SPAN></P>
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