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[quote user="chad thomas"][quote user="Bucyrus"][quote user="spokyone"][quote user="MichaelSol"]There may have been all the reasons in the world why these kids were "at fault"? Problem is, you don't know enough about it yet.Wait till the facts are in. Then you can have all the reason in the world for your learned judgments.[/quote]Michael: What other facts might surface that would place blame on any thing other than the driver's actions that night?[/quote]Not to speak for Michael, but I can think of one fact.  That is that the Federal Railroad Administration, speaking for the industry,  has declared that freight trains pose a crash hazard, especially at night, because they can be hard to see due to the dark colors and possible lack of roadway illumination.  For this reason, the FRA has mandated that all U.S. railroad freight cars be equipped with side reflectors to help warn motorists when freight cars are blocking a grade crossing.[/quote] OK so then what about the thousands of other raod hazards that are hard to see? Bottom line if you are out driveing your line of sight then it is the drivers fault for speeding, no mater what color the object you hit. [/quote]True, a person paying attention may not see an obstacle in time to stop if they are overdriving their headlights.  But they also may not see an obstacle in time to stop when they are not overdriving their headlights, if that obstacle is too hard to see.  I can't think of too many examples of such a "hard to see" obstacle.  But here is one example provided by the FRA in their own words:  FRA 07-03                                       Contact:    Warren Flatau Tel.:       (202) 493-6024 Thursday, November 6, 2003                            Proposed New Rail Car Reflector Rule Will Enhance Safety       The large size of rail freight cars can cover a motorist's entire field of view, making them difficult to detect.  Limited visibility at night, dusk, dawn, and during adverse weather conditions also can make it difficult for motorist to see dark-colored rail cars.  As a result, a motorist's ordinary expectation may be dangerously altered.  FRA research indicates that safety may be improved by placing reflective material on the train itself, since it can aid drivers in better judging a train's distance and relative state of motion.               "About one quarter of all highway-rail crossing collisions involve a motor vehicle striking a train.  We have learned that in many cases, motorists do not see trains moving or stopped, blocking highway-rail crossings," Administrator Rutter said.  "In proposing this action, we have taken into account numerous considerations raised by the railroad industry and others, and believe real safety benefits can be achieved while minimizing the cost to railroads and the nation's private car owners."
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