It's not as bad as it was about fifty years ago, but I used to say that the flashing turn signal meant that the driver accidentally bumped the turn signal stalk the last time he reached for another beer.
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"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
Everything I have driven or rented with 'lane assist' momentarily disables both the centering and the 'feedback' when the appropriate turn signal has been engaged for a lane change (including a 'sweep' of multiple lanes or other camera-sensed 'terrain'). This seems fully intuitive to me.
What was not quite as intuitive was the input to earlier rear-wheel-steering systems like those on the Japanese Soarers or QuadraSteer on GM trucks. Sometimes these would 'helpfully' allow four-wheel crabbing, B-52-style, for lane changes, which can be hard to distinguish if turn signals aren't used.
Any and every car I have driven with the turn-signal 'left-on alarm' does not cancel the signals when the 'binging' starts. On the other hand I have had a number of cars that have a 'run length limited' signal (Hyundai Sonatas would let you set the number of 'blinks' between 3 and 7 for each time you pressed the stalk; Mercedes restricted it to 3 and does not have a detent to keep the turn signals on in the first place). Nothing I have ever driven cancels the blinking but keeps a warning tone sounding that your turn signals haven't cancelled in a turn or were left on. It would, to me, make very little sense and be unsafe to do so.
Both my GM cars give an audible and visual warning if turn signal on for more than 1/2 mile. Only way to continue signal is to turn turn signal off then back on.
Had a brain fart . Only way to continue signal is to turn turn signal off then back on.
Corrected my original post.
Make sure you have plenty of this on hand..
BaltACDToo many use blinkers to ask the question - Mother may I? If you haven't decided what you are actually going to do - don't use blinkers for 40 seconds.
My car makes turning the steering wheel a little more difficult if I do not use my blinker on the freeway for a lane change and then it vibrates the steering wheel if I overcome the resistance with force. I have a lane positioning chime if my lane position is erratic based on recent history.
blue streak 1 BaltACD Too many use blinkers to ask the question - Mother may I? If you haven't decided what you are actually going to do - don't use blinkers for 40 seconds. Both my GM cars give an audible and visual warning if turn signal on for more than 20 seconds. Only way to continue signal is to turn turn signal off then back on.
BaltACD Too many use blinkers to ask the question - Mother may I? If you haven't decided what you are actually going to do - don't use blinkers for 40 seconds.
Too many use blinkers to ask the question - Mother may I?
If you haven't decided what you are actually going to do - don't use blinkers for 40 seconds.
Must be a pain when you want to make a left turn at some of the traffic signals with 2 and 3 minute or longer cycle times.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
OvermodMy father taught me that blinkers only show 'intent' -- not resolve. You watch the angle of the front wheels to decide if they're getting ready to turn. And you never, EVER pass a loaded dump truck on the right.
You watch the angle of the front wheels to decide if they're getting ready to turn. And you never, EVER pass a loaded dump truck on the right.
If you had not noticed, BNSF and Amtrak (w/ a contractual assist from UP) have now filed a lawsuit against the truck driver and the milk cooperative that owned the truck.
Along with the flying pig-feathers, I might see some questions answered, including under whose authority the stop sign was placed.
Warming up the Chad Thomas popcorn popper.
BaltACDI see too many people driving with their blinkers on...
I've been guilty of that (unfortunately), but generally on expressways and almost always because the road noise covers the sound of the blinker. I rarely listen to the radio when I'm driving.
When possible I use the "lane change" option on the signals - but that only flashes three times on my truck.
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...
BaltACDEverybody complains about drivers today - if today's drivers were at the skill level of those from the 1940's & 1950's the death totals would likely be 10 times what the counts are today.
This has more to do with Ralph Nader and the improvement in safety of the automobile as well as the whole freeway system has been re-engineered several times over to improve flow and reduce accidents. They are going around the country even now and redoing all the freeway on ramps and off ramps to be higher capacity as well as safer.
Getting a Drivers License in the United States is sooooo easy compared with other country's a fact brought home to me when I had to study for and take the German Drivers License test. I passed the first time because I studied for it but a lot of Americans fail that test and the failure rate is fairly high. I would rate it higher in difficulty than a CDL test. I know Americans do not like to be told they are not as strict in some areas of safety versus the rest of the world but it's a fact. I said in some areas not all areas.
Darn kids and their rock and roll music!
This company appears to be building on PTC for MOW and crossing safety. The goal of a lower-cost / easier to deploy system would be ideal. Even better if it could alert in-dash or remote navigation systems in cars and trucks.
https://www.lileesystems.com/rail-safety/
My father taught me that blinkers only show 'intent' -- not resolve.
wjstixAlso, in the forties and fifties, people didn't have car radios that played at the decibel level of a jet airplane. I know I was almost in an accident once because a driver signalled a right turn at an intersection and then went straight - his music was so loud, he couldn't hear that his turn signal was on. I wonder if people have been hit by trains because they didn't hear the horn or the warning bells.
I see too many people driving with their blinkers on - full time, to believe the blinker UNTIL I see them take actions to SHOW they actually are going to do what the blinker is indicating. Especially, if the blinker is indicating that they INTEND to turn into the road I am on and intend to move from.
Fred M Cain In the semi-rural area where I live, the traffic has at least TRIPLED in the last 40 years. No one, least of all me, has any idea what to do about it.
wjstix I wonder if people have been hit by trains because they didn't hear the horn or the warning bells.
Some years ago we almost hit a motorist at a trail crossing - no lights or gates. We didn't see much traffic there (it was otherwise a dead end).
We were running our RS3 with the "blaat" horn (single note honker). As we approached the crossing, bell ringing, horn blaring, a car pulled across the tracks, stopped, then quickly backed up before we (by now in emergency) reached the crossing. He was upset - he thought we were supposed to be blowing the horn.
We were.
wjstix Also, in the forties and fifties, people didn't have car radios that played at the decibel level of a jet airplane. I know I was almost in an accident once because a driver signalled a right turn at an intersection and then went straight - his music was so loud, he couldn't hear that his turn signal was on. I wonder if people have been hit by trains because they didn't hear the horn or the warning bells.
Also, in the forties and fifties, people didn't have car radios that played at the decibel level of a jet airplane. I know I was almost in an accident once because a driver signalled a right turn at an intersection and then went straight - his music was so loud, he couldn't hear that his turn signal was on. I wonder if people have been hit by trains because they didn't hear the horn or the warning bells.
BaltACDWhen I was still working, CSX was aggressively undertaking a program to CLOSE road crossings...
I'm pretty sure one can count the total crossings on the "Water Level Route" between NYC and Buffalo on one's fingers and toes. That's several hundred miles. Lines away from the now "Chicago Line," not so much.
Nonetheless, a driver recently manage to drive onto the tracks at Fairport, NY, and subsequently got smushed (driver got out OK).
Everybody complains about drivers today - if today's drivers were at the skill level of those from the 1940's & 1950's the death totals would likely be 10 times what the counts are today.
When I was still working, CSX was aggressively undertaking a program to CLOSE road crossings - I don't know the status of the program since I have been retired for seven years, however, it needs to be still in place and still actively working to close more and more crossings.
BaltACD 50+ years ago when Class 1's ran their own passenger trains there weren't as many road crossings and there weren't as many vehicles on the roads as there are in the 21st Century.
50+ years ago when Class 1's ran their own passenger trains there weren't as many road crossings and there weren't as many vehicles on the roads as there are in the 21st Century.
Fred M CainOne thing that's really bothering me about this, it appears to me that some of these newer models of Amtrak's locomotives have an increased tendency to derail when a car or a truck fouls a grade crossing. In Michigan, an Amtrak locomotive derailed after merely hitting an SUV that got stuck on the track. Years ago, when the Class I roads ran passenger trains, it seems to me like they usually wouldn't derail all that easily when they hit a car or truck. Indeed, on today's freight trains, the freight locomotives don't often derail in a grade crossing incident like that. It's not that they never derail but just not as likely. Or, is this just my imagination? Perhaps it only seems like that to me. Someone please tell me I'm wrong.
In Michigan, an Amtrak locomotive derailed after merely hitting an SUV that got stuck on the track.
Years ago, when the Class I roads ran passenger trains, it seems to me like they usually wouldn't derail all that easily when they hit a car or truck. Indeed, on today's freight trains, the freight locomotives don't often derail in a grade crossing incident like that. It's not that they never derail but just not as likely.
Or, is this just my imagination? Perhaps it only seems like that to me. Someone please tell me I'm wrong.
Seeing photos of Es and Fs wrecked - they ain't pretty. I think I'd take my chances in a tipped over charger any day.
From a quick wiki look, the chargers are between the Fs and Es weight wise.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
Zug Mann,
Ja, sie fahren schneller (they go faster) but I have been wondering if these newer model locomotives, while more powerful, might also be lighter. What is the difference in the weight from a late model Charger or one of these other new locomotives and an E9 from the 1950s or '60s? Is there any difference in the weight?
Because, if they are lighter, that might make them more prone to derailment in a grade crossing collision.
speed? PAssenger trains usually are going a lot faster.
I've also seen plenty of freight trains derail after hitting vehicles. Just doesn't make anything more than the local news.
One thing that's really bothering me about this, it appears to me that some of these newer models of Amtrak's locomotives have an increased tendency to derail when a car or a truck fouls a grade crossing.
The key seems to be the amount of traffic on the roadway. I've seen industrial leads with flashers, both roadside and overhead, and crossing gates when the road is a four-lane artery with heavy truck traffic. On the other hand, I've also seen mainlines protected only by crossbucks when the roadway is low traffic and gravel paved.
Why not reflectors on all cross bucks that are aimed to shine loco's headlight blinking into any driver's eyes?
Busy mainlines, especially those hosting pssenger services should have better protection (for locomotive crew and passengers) than crossbucks even with a stop sign. But perhaps no one cares enough or saving money is trumping safety concerns.
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