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I need to say that I don’t know what advanced warning this Nevada crossing has.  The standard minimum advance warning is the round RXR sign.  If they had a more elaborate advance warning than that, I might adjust my opinion regarding Nevada’s negligence.   <o:p></o:p> We don’t know why the driver failed to yield.  Assuming that it was not a medical problem, I can think of two possible reasons:  <o:p></o:p> 1)      He was distracted from immediately recognizing the activated crossing signals. 2)      He tried to beat the train, but when he realized he would lose, it was too late to stop.      <o:p></o:p> If it were suicide, he would not have slammed on the brakes.  Obviously he did not want to hit the train.  But he did overrun his stopping distance.    <o:p></o:p> I believe that the high speed limit and the probable frequency of exceeding that speed limit simply calls for extending the warning further out from the crossing.  This does not have to be anything too clever.  Why on earth would anybody object to this added safety measure?  The need is obvious, and the state should have recognized it.  It’s not like they don’t spend time studying these things.  They can tell you all about how your seatbelt keeps you safe.  They can slow you down to 30-40 mph for every little one-horse town along the highway.  <o:p></o:p> With this Nevada crossing, they could use prominent signage coupled with yellow flashing lights to lower the speed limit to 45 mph about ½ to ¾ miles in advance of the crossing.  They could put up a “Look For Trains” sign as well.  It would extend the reaction time window and also raise awareness of the crossing peril.      <o:p></o:p> Another approach would be to use an advance extension of the grade crossing signals, so when they activate; it also activates advance yellow flashing lights that are associated with signage identifying those lights with an activated grade crossing ahead.  This is not rocket science.  The highway design manuals offer these very provisions as options for advanced warning at grade crossings.
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