tree68 It would appear that folks caught between/behind the gates are either a) unaware that the gates are made to swing away if hit, and are not an immovable object, or b) don't want to scratch the paint on their Rolls Canardly.
Very likely true. I also think there is an aspect where people once they realize they are getting 'caught' doing something wrong, tend to try and over compensate with compliance behavior, sort of a tool to try and deny the guilt. aka "look at me I'm playing by the rules (now)"
traisessive1 If you stop on railroad tracks or enter an intersection you cannot immediately clear your license needs to be revoked.
In some instances, it is... permanently.
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
If you stop on railroad tracks or enter an intersection you cannot immediately clear your license needs to be revoked.
10000 feet and no dynamics? Today is going to be a good day ...
samfp1943"What was this Person Thinking?" Obvious Answer: " They Were Not..Thinking."
AMEN! Yes, I'm shouting.
_____________
"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
Convicted One Amazing that anyone would allow a gate to pin them down like that. I believe the old allegory goes "my, they sure do tree easily". Standard disclaimer: Not that anyone should find themselves in that position to begin with, etc. BUT if I ever did, avoiding the train would take priority over gate authority.
Amazing that anyone would allow a gate to pin them down like that. I believe the old allegory goes "my, they sure do tree easily".
Standard disclaimer: Not that anyone should find themselves in that position to begin with, etc. BUT if I ever did, avoiding the train would take priority over gate authority.
"What was this Person Thinking?"
Obvious Answer: " They Were Not..Thinking."
As a former professional driver; The levels of pre-occupation, and distraction among many drivers, is mind boggling. I have seen everything from women applying make-up, and combing hair, to interacting with personal'devices', to car pools of folks , smoking the same cigarette.
Certainly 'Thinking' is way down on the general list of priorities of individuals behind the wheel.
Cameras would be better than having a cop posted there 24/7, most municipalities want their cops put to better use than sitting around at one spot all day.
No problem with the $1000 fine, though.
I advocate putting a sign at appropriate railroad crossings:
"$1000 fine for stopping on railroad tracks"
And also a cop nearby.
Win-win:
More money in the local budget and/or fewer train-car interactions.
Ed
PS: I have occasion to cross local railroad tracks. I NEVER go onto the tracks unless there is an empty space ACROSS (as in the other side) the tracks. As I believe all others who are reading this do. So far anyway, no one has ever honked at me or driven around me. And. If I'm extremely lucky, I get to see a train right in front of me. And live.
It reads to me that she stopped on the tracks, probably due to traffic backed up at the mentioned intersection. When the lights and gates activated she tried backing off the tracks but didn't clear.
Where a road parallels the tracks it's not unusual to see motorists pull right up behind a vehicle(s) stopped at the intersection of a cross road, putting them right on the tracks. Most probably aren't thinking that a train will come and that the vehicles ahead of them will move before a train shows up. Many places have signs warning people to not stop on the tracks, but many don't heed the warning. There's a few places where I've seen the signs placed in a bad location. Because of other considerations, the signs are put up past the tracks. If you are stopped where you can read the sign, it's too late. You're on the tracks.
Jeff
tree68 Convicted One Standard disclaimer: Not that anyone should find themselves in that position to begin with, etc. BUT if I ever did, avoiding the train would take priority over gate authority. We've discussed this here before. It would appear that folks caught between/behind the gates are either a) unaware that the gates are made to swing away if hit, and are not an immovable object, or b) don't want to scratch the paint on their Rolls Canardly. Or both.
Convicted One Standard disclaimer: Not that anyone should find themselves in that position to begin with, etc. BUT if I ever did, avoiding the train would take priority over gate authority.
We've discussed this here before. It would appear that folks caught between/behind the gates are either a) unaware that the gates are made to swing away if hit, and are not an immovable object, or b) don't want to scratch the paint on their Rolls Canardly.
Or both.
That is quite likely true. But. Note that what is not apparently in their thoughts is that if they stay where they are, they will die.
And why is that? It is true, after all. Well, potentially true.
If it WERE in their heads, they would be doing anything they could to get out of the way.
So, a person could wonder why this information is not in their head.
And whether, if it is not self generated, if it should be inserted.
I wonder if a public service announcement showing a train hitting a car would be productive. Shown repeatedly. Like a car commercial.
Convicted OneStandard disclaimer: Not that anyone should find themselves in that position to begin with, etc. BUT if I ever did, avoiding the train would take priority over gate authority.
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...
The timing and operation of the gates should be checked, but more likely she either wasn't paying attention, or tried to beat the train.
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.
I think most of us have seen drivers who don't need side windows or mirrors - they are looking straight ahead. Not left, not right - just straight ahead.
A driver needs to keep their head on a swivel, all of the time.
There can also be problems with over-familiarity. A person might pass over a crossing daily for weeks or more, and due to their schedule, they rarely see a train, even on a busy line. So they don't spend any time looking for them.
The military calls it "situational awareness."
Ever watch a Marine boot camp movie, like "The D.I." with Jack Webb, or "Full Metal Jacket" with R. Lee Ermey? Ever wonder why the D.I. does what he does with the recruits?
Well, as an old Marine myself I can tell you what the Drill Intructors are doing, without coming out and saying so, is teaching the recruits situational awareness. Stay alert, stay engaged, stay awake, be aware of your surroundings and what's happening in those surroundings. Keep on your toes and be ready for anything. Not being so will get you killed on the battlefield. In boot camp the D.I. is the "enemy." He catches you unawares and you pay for it by doing push-ups until HE gets tired. If a real enemy catches you unawares in combat you pay for it with your life, or even worse another Marines life. And then YOU have to live with that, forever.
Believe me, that training stays with you and it's saved me more than once on our killer highways. I imagine any veteran of any elite military unit will tell you the same thing.
Lack of attention while driving is death. This woman learned the easy way, she's still alive. Hopefully she won't make the same mistake again.
Thinking? In the context of the story that was completely lacking. She obviously wasn't using her mental ability to be aware of her surroundings. Some people skate through life totally unaware of happenings around them.
Norm
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/wilmette/crime/ct-wml-train-car-mishap-tl-0427-20170424-story.html and why did she leave the sceane?
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.