Phoebe Vet Idea #1 A white stop line before the grade crossing. A giant neon sign over the crossing that is surrounded by flashing lights with a big lighted arrow pointing to it that says "Do not stop on the tracks". Perhaps augmented by a sensor in the crossing that detects the presence of vehicles that are not moving which triggers an alarm and a flashing sign that says "Get off the tracks, dummy".
Idea #1 A white stop line before the grade crossing. A giant neon sign over the crossing that is surrounded by flashing lights with a big lighted arrow pointing to it that says "Do not stop on the tracks". Perhaps augmented by a sensor in the crossing that detects the presence of vehicles that are not moving which triggers an alarm and a flashing sign that says "Get off the tracks, dummy".
The white line is already there on most crossings. As for the sign, you'd have to hope the driver isn't busy with their smart phone, so they could actually see it...
Given today's technology, maybe something that would sense the driver's Facebook account and post a picture to it with a caption indicating the stupidity of the driver's actions...
Idea #2 Replace the current gates with those pop up barriers that the government uses on all their driveways in DC. They could drop down if someone drives onto them from the track side.
I think this has been tried. It could be something of a maintenance headache in the northern latitudes, where ice, salt, and sand enter the equation.
Idea #3 Stop creating NEW grade level crossings and begin a 100 year program to gradually eliminate the existing crossings beginning with the ones with the worst accident history. People are too stupid to allow them to drive across the tracks. Only grade separation will stop the carnage.
I don't think all that many new crossings are being created. The only thing really holding back eliminating existing crossings is cold, hard cash, and the resolve to spend same. It might be interesting to look at the rate of current grade crossing closings/eliminations and project the number forward to see how close it comes to that 100 year mark.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Quoting tree68: "
Given today's technology, maybe something that would sense the driver's Facebook account and post a picture to it with a caption indicating the stupidity of the driver's actions..."
Larry, I really appreciate your comments--especially the second one. It seems that all too many people do not realize how serious the matter of driving a car is. It is bad enough to be carrying on a conversation with someone riding with you--but another passenger might be able to call your attention to a hazard, whereas someone miles away absolutely cannot.
Johnny
Ideas #1 & #2 were sarcasm. As for #3, here in Charlotte they created at least 6 new crossings when they built the light rail Blue Line and are creating more now as they extend it. They have had several collisions at those new crossings.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
Phoebe VetIdeas #1 & #2 were sarcasm.
I think the idea of posts rising out of the road has been tried at a crossing - sarcasm notwithstanding, someone else thought enough of the idea to prototype it.
#1 rings of that "Death" crossing warning sign.
Phoebe Vet Ideas #1 & #2 were sarcasm. As for #3, here in Charlotte they created at least 6 new crossings when they built the light rail Blue Line and are creating more now as they extend it. They have had several collisions at those new crossings.
For whatever the reason, local authorities, don't consider 'light rail' to be a railroad and seem to think that the light rail vehicles and automotive vehicles can share the same pieces of the world without causing accidents when they try to occupy the same space at the same time.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Something like this:
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=pop+up+driveway+barrier&qpvt=pop+up+driveway+barrier&qpvt=pop+up+driveway+barrier&FORM=IGRE&id=8398D2EA2981274F21BB6926B68C730902ED58BE&selectedIndex=0#view=detail&id=8398D2EA2981274F21BB6926B68C730902ED58BE&selectedIndex=0
BaltACD Phoebe Vet Ideas #1 & #2 were sarcasm. As for #3, here in Charlotte they created at least 6 new crossings when they built the light rail Blue Line and are creating more now as they extend it. They have had several collisions at those new crossings. For whatever the reason, local authorities, don't consider 'light rail' to be a railroad and seem to think that the light rail vehicles and automotive vehicles can share the same pieces of the world without causing accidents when they try to occupy the same space at the same time.
However, this year the legislature passed a change in the law concerning how soon you may cross the tracks once a train has passed--it is now legal to start once the gates are high enough for you to cross and it is not necessary to wait until the lights stop flashing. If all of these protected crossings were close to a station, the new situation might not be really bad--but there are several crossings between stations, and it is possible for a train to be coming from the opposite direction after one train has passed, and it is not close enough to have actuated the system before the gates go up.
Here's Another Incident.. Atlanta Area on Tuesday(2/14/2015):
See Linked @ http://www.11alive.com/story/news/local/buckhead/2015/03/18/personal-trainer-hit-by-freight-train-was-making-you-tube-video/24987189/
FTA:[snip]"...Travis Williams, who had changed his name to Achilles Williams, was a personal trainer who often videotaped outdoor workouts for his YouTube channel. Investigators say Williams and a friend were shooting a video near the train tracks over Roxboro Road near East Paces Ferry at the time of the accident. Williams was jumping rope while the friend shot video.
Investigators say Williams was not on the tracks, but was close enough to them [ apparently, he was using a jump rope?] to be struck as the freight train went by. They say he apparently misjudged the width of the train in relation to the size of the tracks. His friend was not injured but he was knocked down a hill by the impact.."[snip]
IRRC: Was there not a similar incident out in California, a while back?
samfp1943 Here's Another Incident.. Atlanta Area on Tuesday(2/14/2015): See Linked @ http://www.11alive.com/story/news/local/buckhead/2015/03/18/personal-trainer-hit-by-freight-train-was-making-you-tube-video/24987189/ FTA:[snip]"...Travis Williams, who had changed his name to Achilles Williams, was a personal trainer who often videotaped outdoor workouts for his YouTube channel. Investigators say Williams and a friend were shooting a video near the train tracks over Roxboro Road near East Paces Ferry at the time of the accident. Williams was jumping rope while the friend shot video. Investigators say Williams was not on the tracks, but was close enough to them [ apparently, he was using a jump rope?] to be struck as the freight train went by. They say he apparently misjudged the width of the train in relation to the size of the tracks. His friend was not injured but he was knocked down a hill by the impact.."[snip] IRRC: Was there not a similar incident out in California, a while back?
One picture made it seem that it was a welded rail train.
I'm sure there were multiple factors involved in this incident, and my guess would be young inexperienced driver, multiple in car distractions (smart phone or conversation or bet to beat train as a game), unfamiliar with road and frequency of rail traffic, and/or to impatient to wait 2-3 minutes for the train to pass.
People can't even stop at stop sign so you think they want to wait for a train. There are reasons there are stop signs and there are reasons there are crossing signals. There not put there for looks!
Trains Northwest
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7z2SF15sZ3pfV_VymvNf9A
Former Mrs. America killed at crossing in Waverly Tn. Friday 20th. This is the CSX - NC&SL Memphis - Nashville line about 40 miles west of Nashville.
http://www.jrn.com/newschannel5/news/Train-Collides-With-Car-in-Humphreys-County-297062561.html
Just saw partial clip of SUV & Freight in Ohio. Anyone with more info ?
https://www.fra.dot.gov/Elib/Details/L02829
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
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