Railroad concern for crossing safety

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dekemd

Reflective tape sounds like a good idea, and it may actually help a little, but it does have it's problems. Particularly in bad weather. For them to be seen the light from car headlights must reach them and reflect back to the car. In poor weather the light from the headlights is reduced going to the reflectors and then reduced again on the way back. A set of flashing red lights at the crossing would stand out more to an approaching car.

I could also see a problem with optical illusions with the reflective tape. A moving string of flats like the incident cited would have a steady row of reflective tape all at roughly the same height. A driver looking at that would likely see just a stripe hanging in midair and not realize there is a solid object behind it until it's too late.

But I do have to admit, it is an idea. Looking at the economics of it though, with the sheer number of rail cars in the nations, it might be cheaper to outfit all crossings with flashings lights and gates. If someone else wants to run the numbers have at.

Derrick

So I'll notify all the trucking companies and have them remove the reflectors off the side of their trucks. All they have to do is have spot lights pointed backwards.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dekemd

QUOTE: Originally posted by missouri
[t works out that trains kill 75 people to normal drivers 1 per miles traveled.

Like I said are they big enough bright enough? 2 collisions in four months means something is wrong. You gonna get the problem fixed or hastle the drivers paying your wages? Where was the box truck? Does model car have blind spots with the window posts mirrors etc..., was there sun reflections off something? Was the cross traffic whistling???

Like I said, they were big enough and bright enough for the approx 120000 others before. They were big and bright enough for me. 2 collisions in four months is not a problem. There's an intersection in Charlotte that averages 2 per DAY. Now that's a problem. If you think ticketing a driver for running a red light is hassling them, then yes I'm going to hassle them. The truck was coming down the cross street from the right. The car or any car for that matter does not have window posts or mirrors or anything else right in front of the driver. The stop light was straight ahead. All the woman had to do was look forward to see the light. The driver nor any witnesses stated anything about the sun reflecting off any objects. Cross traffic was not whistling because it doesn't have to.

She didn't see the red light because she was looking down at her cell phone per her own statement. She was at fault. What is it about that do you not understand?

So your saying a cop useing a police radio while driveing is breaking the law?
About the first rule in the MUTCD is that the traffic control device has to DEMAND attention. Apparently it didn't do its job and maybe some advance flashing red lights should be installed. Light the area up like a Christmas tree if need be. No wonder 42,000 people were killed last year on the highways.

[dekemd]

Reflective tape sounds like a good idea, and it may actually help a little, but it does have it's problems. Particularly in bad weather. For them to be seen the light from car headlights must reach them and reflect back to the car. In poor weather the light from the headlights is reduced going to the reflectors and then reduced again on the way back. A set of flashing red lights at the crossing would stand out more to an approaching car.

I could also see a problem with optical illusions with the reflective tape. A moving string of flats like the incident cited would have a steady row of reflective tape all at roughly the same height. A driver looking at that would likely see just a stripe hanging in midair and not realize there is a solid object behind it until it's too late.

But I do have to admit, it is an idea. Looking at the economics of it though, with the sheer number of rail cars in the nations, it might be cheaper to outfit all crossings with flashings lights and gates. If someone else wants to run the numbers have at.

Derrick

[edblysard]

Your right, Bobby, brainwashing does start ealry. In fact, the earlier the better.
So, is being a paranoid schizophrenic a hobby you learned from both your parents, or just something only momma taught you?
Ed

[dekemd]

QUOTE: Originally posted by missouri
[t works out that trains kill 75 people to normal drivers 1 per miles traveled.

Like I said are they big enough bright enough? 2 collisions in four months means something is wrong. You gonna get the problem fixed or hastle the drivers paying your wages? Where was the box truck? Does model car have blind spots with the window posts mirrors etc..., was there sun reflections off something? Was the cross traffic whistling???

Like I said, they were big enough and bright enough for the approx 120000 others before. They were big and bright enough for me. 2 collisions in four months is not a problem. There's an intersection in Charlotte that averages 2 per DAY. Now that's a problem. If you think ticketing a driver for running a red light is hassling them, then yes I'm going to hassle them. The truck was coming down the cross street from the right. The car or any car for that matter does not have window posts or mirrors or anything else right in front of the driver. The stop light was straight ahead. All the woman had to do was look forward to see the light. The driver nor any witnesses stated anything about the sun reflecting off any objects. Cross traffic was not whistling because it doesn't have to.

She didn't see the red light because she was looking down at her cell phone per her own statement. She was at fault. What is it about that do you not understand?

[Anonymous]

Just as I thought. Only a fillibuster! A bunch of reprinted crap. Good one Missouri. Very impressive.
Ken

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ironken

Still havn't responded to my question Missouri. You know, its the one about the woman who hit the side of a train. Are ya scared?
Ken

February 16, 1999
FRARWS
Docket Clerk
DOT Central Docket Management System
U.S. Dept. of Transportation, Room PL 40 1
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20590-000 1
Re: Rail Car Conspicuity: Docket No. FRA - 1999-66894 8
Dear Sir or Madam:
Backeround- On March 14, 1998 at 11:25 PM a westbound BNSF Railroad f-i-eight
train was parked in the siding at Wheelock, ND, while an eastbound freight train passed on the
main line. County road crossing #5 is approximately 300 to 400 feet west of the switch and the
west end of the lead locomotive parked on the siding at Wheelock. The condition were as
follows, night, fresh snow had fallen earlier that day, and a light wind was blowing. The crew
members of the westbound freight had climbed down from the engine to inspect the eastbound
train as it passed by on the adjacent main line track at an approximate speed of 35 mph. The
crossing was protected with newly install cross bucks only, no electrical lighting was provided.
The cross bucks were the new style, reflectorized on both sides, as to reflect whether coming
from the front or rear of the crossing. Advance railroad signs were also in place.
No. FRA - 1999-6689 -2- February 16,200O
A vehicle, carrying five young adults was traveling south at a go-degree angle to the main
track. The eastbound freight train traveling at approximately 35 mph had crossed the road
crossing prior to the arrival of the vehicle, so part of the 30 empty flat cars were spaced on each
side of the crossing and moving slowly in an easterly direction. Enough of the train had passed
the crossing to see the locomotive from the road crossing. The wind was blowing and snow was
being moved around by the wind along with the movement of the train. As the vehicle
approached the crossing, it was viewed by the crew members of the train parked on the siding. A
statement was given by one of the crew members, saying “if they don’t hit the brakes pretty soon,
they are going to hit the train”. My daughter, died the next day. Three others perished at the
scene, and by the grace of God, one of the young adults has recovered.
I have been a member of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (BMWE), a
railroad labor union, for almost 22 years and have operated on track equipment for almost 20
years. The night of the accident, when my wife and I got to the hospital, we were met by the
Sheriffs’ department employees. When I had time to speak with them, I asked what happened.
He said. They hit a train at the Wheelock crossing. It had about 30 empty flat cars in the middle
of the train. My immediate response was quote: Thev didn’t see the train!
If you are familiar with a freight train, imagine a pair of reflectorized cross bucks, one on
the approaching side of the railroad tracks to the right of the road, and another on the opposite
side of the railroad tracks, as viewed by a car approaching from the opposite direction, yet both
sides are illuminated by the headlights as you approach the railroad tracks from either direction.
Now imagine 30 empty railroad flat cars about four feet of the ground going by with snow
blowing around them. Did you get the picture? You see two sets of cross bucks, yet nothing on
No. FRA - 1999-6689 -3- February 16,200O
the moving train is breaking the view, because the empty flat cars are too low to the ground to
break the illumination. If you look to the left you would have more than likely see a headlight of a
parked train, and being familiar with the road, think he is sitting there waiting for a train.
They didn’t see the train!
Now picture that same train going by, only many times on the side of the empty flat cars,
are reflectorized stickers of some type. Guess what, my daughter would more than likely be alive
today, if those cars were reflectorized.
When the rescue people were working at the scene, some had left to transport victims to
the hospital, and when one of the units returned to the scene, one of the fireman said to the other
person in the vehicle, “well I see they got that train moved out of here finally”! The other one
responded, “no they didn’t it is still right there”! The people who had been to the scene of the
accident, left, and then returned and still had a hard time seeing the train.
Reflectorized rail cars would have probably saved four young adults lives that night. But
even more importantly, every time a reflectorized rail car passes over any crossing, whether the
crossing is a highly traveled route or only a barely traveled road, it would enhance the visibility of
the train and help prevent accidents.
Since the date of this accident, I run that night’s scenario through my mind as I travel
down the road. I think about what could have been different that night, and as I travel along
routes where railroad tracks parallel a major highway, it is very simple to envision the difference
reflectorized railcars could have made, versus non-reflectorized railcars. Even the slightest light
against the reflectorization shines so brightly. That slight flickering of the reflectorized material
No. FRA - 1999-6689 -4- February 16,200O
would have saved four lives on the night of March 14, 1998, and if it could have saved four lives
that night, how many thousand other lives could it save.
Human life seems to be of little value to corporate America when it is put up against
increased profits, stock holders share prices or whatever seems to be more important that day.
Our government has an obligation to protect its people. There are thousands of unprotected
crossings across America, and I understand that it is difficult to provide positive protection for
each one. Believe me, I was at a meeting in 1994 with the Railroads, Public Service Commission,
school officials, county and state officials. At that meeting we addressed the seriousness of the
Wheelock crossing and the road being a bus route for the rural school children. I stood up a the
end of that meeting and asked the group to closely evaluate the need for cross arm and lighted
protection at that crossing. I made a statement at that time that I have to look back at once in a
while and wonder. I said, “ I’m sure someone does not have to get killed before someone does
something.”
Each piece of equipment and rolling stock should be reflectorized to assure that, at each
road crossing that it crosses, the best available option is there to increase rail trtic visibility and
grade crossing safety for the public of this country, no matter where it might be.
Who could question the value of reflectorizing? Surely not the Corporations who would
like to cut down on crossing accidents, surely not individuals who travel the unprotected routes
each day, or the school bus drivers, or the police, or rural mail carriers, or the emergency
personnel that need to respond to the fatalities that occur at the crossings, and surely not the
Mom and Dad who’s daughter’s life was given.
No. FRA - 1999-6689 -5- February 16,200O
For all the citizen’s of this great country, Mandate the reflectoriziw of all on-track
eauinment and rolling stock!

[Anonymous]

Still havn't responded to my question Missouri. You know, its the one about the woman who hit the side of a train. Are ya scared?
Ken

[Anonymous]

Missouri, what rock did you crawl out from under? You are a warped individual without doubt. You'll find in virtually all train/vehicle collisions that the motor vehicle had the last clear chance to avoid the collision and for the most part violated the law in causing the collision in the first place. All of the technical mumbo jumbo you prattle on about is just a lame attempt to rationalize your argument...

LC

[JoeKoh]

yeah something is wrong alright.just read my signature
joe

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dekemd

Forgot to put this in the other post.

The lights were standard traffic lights aimed down a straight road. Like I said before the other approx 120000 people didn't have a problem. For that matter, how many times a day does someone cross railroad tracks in the US? 5 million? 6 million? Using your 3 death a day figure, that works out to 1 death in 2 million. While tragic, that's not exactly a crisis.

Derrick

It works out that trains kill 75 people to normal drivers 1 per miles traveled.

Like I said are they big enough bright enough? 2 collisions in four months means something is wrong. You gonna get the problem fixed or hastle the drivers paying your wages? Where was the box truck? Does model car have blind spots with the window posts mirrors etc..., was there sun reflections off something? Was the cross traffic whistling???

[dekemd]

Forgot to put this in the other post.

The lights were standard traffic lights aimed down a straight road. Like I said before the other approx 120000 people didn't have a problem. For that matter, how many times a day does someone cross railroad tracks in the US? 5 million? 6 million? Using your 3 death a day figure, that works out to 1 death in 2 million. While tragic, that's not exactly a crisis.

Derrick

[dekemd]

QUOTE: Originally posted by missouri
What size were the roundells? Where they aligned correctly? Come on give me a AAR/DOT crossing number or St., city, state and I can tell you exactly what you missed.

AAR/DOT crossing number? This incident was at a traffic intersection, not a rail crossing. How are you going to tell me what I missed anyway? Are you going to come down to North Carolina and look at the intersection?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dekemd

QUOTE: Originally posted by missouri
[
Like I said the brainwashing starts early on in employment. You ever figure the LIGHTS were not big enough or bright enough. Where was the sun? Where was the sunvisor? What other vehicles were around.

What column on your accident report has sight obstructions or this vehicle folded like a acordian because it was made out of plastic. None to protet the city, county and the auto manufacturers. Like grannie always said "Many look and few see".

Sounds like the "idiots" need to have somebody else on THEIR payroll. Not some numbskull Barnie Fife.

Sun was coming from the left and slightly behind the driver. Sunvisor wasn't needed because sun was behind driver. The lights were evidently as big and bright as they needed to be. That intersection has approximately 1000 cars a day pass thru it. The last accident before this one was a little over four months ago. Let's see, thats about 120daysx1000 cars= 120000 people who didn't have a problem with the lights. Matter of fact the driver traveling in the lane beside the lady and the driver behind her didn't have a problem seeing the light and stopping. Sight line obstructions are noted on the accident scene sketch and in the narrative of the accident report. What exactly does sight lines have to do with this accident anyway? The light was red. By law she must stop, regardless of whether or not anything is coming.

I've actually had courses on accident scene investigation. Have you?

As for the Barnie Fife comment, you can call me all the names you want. You can come here and preach, and rant and rave all you want about trying to save lives. The problem is that is all you do. I go out there everyday and risk my life actually saving lives. I've took drunk drivers off the roads, stopped reckless drivers, burglars, muggers, arrested child abusers, drug dealers, and murderers on the run. I given emergency medical care to accident victims, given talks to groups about crime prevention and safety, and have done so many other things in my law enforcement career. At the end of the day, I can say I actually made a difference. Can you?

Derrick

What size were the roundells? Where they aligned correctly? Come on give me a AAR/DOT crossing number or St., city, state and I can tell you exactly what you missed.

[dekemd]

QUOTE: Originally posted by missouri
[
Like I said the brainwashing starts early on in employment. You ever figure the LIGHTS were not big enough or bright enough. Where was the sun? Where was the sunvisor? What other vehicles were around.

What column on your accident report has sight obstructions or this vehicle folded like a acordian because it was made out of plastic. None to protet the city, county and the auto manufacturers. Like grannie always said "Many look and few see".

Sounds like the "idiots" need to have somebody else on THEIR payroll. Not some numbskull Barnie Fife.

Sun was coming from the left and slightly behind the driver. Sunvisor wasn't needed because sun was behind driver. The lights were evidently as big and bright as they needed to be. That intersection has approximately 1000 cars a day pass thru it. The last accident before this one was a little over four months ago. Let's see, thats about 120daysx1000 cars= 120000 people who didn't have a problem with the lights. Matter of fact the driver traveling in the lane beside the lady and the driver behind her didn't have a problem seeing the light and stopping. Sight line obstructions are noted on the accident scene sketch and in the narrative of the accident report. What exactly does sight lines have to do with this accident anyway? The light was red. By law she must stop, regardless of whether or not anything is coming.

I've actually had courses on accident scene investigation. Have you?

As for the Barnie Fife comment, you can call me all the names you want. You can come here and preach, and rant and rave all you want about trying to save lives. The problem is that is all you do. I go out there everyday and risk my life actually saving lives. I've took drunk drivers off the roads, stopped reckless drivers, burglars, muggers, arrested child abusers, drug dealers, and murderers on the run. I given emergency medical care to accident victims, given talks to groups about crime prevention and safety, and have done so many other things in my law enforcement career. At the end of the day, I can say I actually made a difference. Can you?

Derrick

[ironhorseman]

Wouldn’t an obstructed view of the tracks near the crossing give you cause to slow down, missouri? Oh, I forgot, it’s your God-given-Constitutional right to speed through a RR Xing.

Oh, by the way, in case you couldn’t tell, I was being sarcastic.

That missouri reminds me of the Arby’s ovenmitt (mmmm....Arby's): “I DON’T HAVE EEEEAAARRRS!” He doesn’t listen to what anybody says.

[Anonymous]

Hey missouri i lost what you were trying to prove amongst your stupidity..

Now are you telling me to call the POLICE i.e 911.. when a crossing is sight obstructed.. that goes to show you have jack all to do! i'm so busy.. all i have time to do.. is what every living breathing human should be doing.. and that is.. LOOK LISTEN and LIVE... yeah i manage to fit that in ALL the time..

thats like saying.. if you see The asphault in front of your house start to crack.. call 911 immediately that way the town engineer can't worm his way out of not doing it because it will have been recorded.

you really are dumb! like humpty frekin Dumpty!

[Anonymous]

C'mon Missouri. Why won't you reply to a broad hitting the side of a train? You won't touch that one will ya? You can't misplace blame on that one, so you won't even respond. You have shown your true colors! Thank you. My job here is done.
Ken (i've got my dress on)

[JoeKoh]

No Mr.Pines it is you yes you who is giong to get someone killed if they believe what you write in your posts.
joe

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BentnoseWillie

QUOTE: Originally posted by missouriLike I said the brain washing must start early on when the job starts.

I'm not a cop, or a railroader. Nor am I an employee of GE, Westinghouse, Microsoft, Enron, McDonald's, the CIA, the NSA or Martha Stewart, nor was I ever in the service of any government anywhere. Of course, I am Canadian, and therefore a socialist. Sue me. Now:

I understood "red means stop" the first time.

I learned to "stop, look and listen" when in doubt at a railroad crossing, since 1.5 tons of car loses to 7000 tons of train, every time.

So - who brainwashed me into thinking I'm responsible for my own actions? I blame the Masons. [:)]

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/TA/ProgMgt/Grants/Sight_Eng.pdf Here before you get yourself and others killed brainiac LOOK this far. Now a very fart smellar like yourself would know to turn the crossing in as sight obstructed wouldn't you. Use 911 because whenever someone is killed the record of the call will never be found to the railroad.

[BentnoseWillie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by missouriLike I said the brain washing must start early on when the job starts.

I'm not a cop, or a railroader. Nor am I an employee of GE, Westinghouse, Microsoft, Enron, McDonald's, the CIA, the NSA or Martha Stewart, nor was I ever in the service of any government anywhere. Of course, I am Canadian, and therefore a socialist. Sue me. Now:

I understood "red means stop" the first time.

I learned to "stop, look and listen" when in doubt at a railroad crossing, since 1.5 tons of car loses to 7000 tons of train, every time.

So - who brainwashed me into thinking I'm responsible for my own actions? I blame the Masons. [:)]

[Anonymous]

We had a motorist run into the side of a unit coal train 45 cars back. Explain that one Missouri. She drove into the side of a friggin train! Oh yeah, I'll put on a dress if you wanna come dance with me. Any time bud, any time.
Ken

[Mookie]

MO: W/o insulting any more of the world, can you tell us if there is anything or anybody in this world you don't hate? Is their any one organization or group that you are positive about or do you hate everybody?

Distressed!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dekemd

QUOTE: Originally posted by missouri

QUOTE: Originally posted by RonInscho

Just My personal observation after 35 yrs. of railroading & motorist running in to the trains I am on is that the public is STUPID & until they get a lot smarter & are taught better driving skills the carnage will continue, & each time it happens the press is always there to record what happened to that poor motorist & make it sound like the train crew could have done something but chose not to, it is never mentioned that the crew has to live with this, as if that train is just a mindless thing that is always in somebodys way especially when they are in a hurry. I still think the old crossing signs said it best STOP, LOOK & LISTEN, if this was in practice 99.99% of all grade crossing accidents could be avoided

Like I said the brain washing must start early on when the job starts.

Missouri, I've never worked for the railroad, so I haven't been brainwashed. But I am a cop. RonInscho is right, a good chunk of the motorists on the streets are STUPID. I have seen more accidents, not just involving train collisions, that were caused by someone doing something stupid behind the wheel than you can imagine. The lastest was a woman who was trying to answer her cell phone while driving 45 mph. She ran a stop light and was broadsided by a tractor trailer. It was a miracle she survived. Key word is broadsided. The same word you used in describing the train collisions. Who was at fault in the accident I was at. It sure wasn't the truck driver. He had the right of way. The woman was cited for failing to stop at a red light and failure to yield. Same as in most of the collisions you have posted on this board. Motorist fails to stop for flashing red lights. Motorists fails to yield right of way to trains. Motorist at fault. It doesn't matter if the train is there 15 seconds after the lights start flashing or 2 minutes after the lights start flashing. Flashing red lights mean stop.

Derrick

Like I said the brainwashing starts early on in employment. You ever figure the LIGHTS were not big enough or bright enough. Where was the sun? Where was the sunvisor? What other vehicles were around.

What column on your accident report has sight obstructions or this vehicle folded like a acordian because it was made out of plastic. None to protet the city, county and the auto manufacturers. Like grannie always said "Many look and few see".

Sounds like the "idiots" need to have somebody else on THEIR payroll. Not some numbskull Barnie Fife.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: What % of all accidents are unnecessary

I don't know %'s, but I do know of one: missouri [:p]
sorry i could not resist the temptation

[sooblue]

Who said "you can't find a cop when you need him"?
What % of all accidents are unnecessary Derrick?
(off the top of your head)

[dekemd]

QUOTE: Originally posted by missouri

QUOTE: Originally posted by RonInscho

Just My personal observation after 35 yrs. of railroading & motorist running in to the trains I am on is that the public is STUPID & until they get a lot smarter & are taught better driving skills the carnage will continue, & each time it happens the press is always there to record what happened to that poor motorist & make it sound like the train crew could have done something but chose not to, it is never mentioned that the crew has to live with this, as if that train is just a mindless thing that is always in somebodys way especially when they are in a hurry. I still think the old crossing signs said it best STOP, LOOK & LISTEN, if this was in practice 99.99% of all grade crossing accidents could be avoided

Like I said the brain washing must start early on when the job starts.

Missouri, I've never worked for the railroad, so I haven't been brainwashed. But I am a cop. RonInscho is right, a good chunk of the motorists on the streets are STUPID. I have seen more accidents, not just involving train collisions, that were caused by someone doing something stupid behind the wheel than you can imagine. The lastest was a woman who was trying to answer her cell phone while driving 45 mph. She ran a stop light and was broadsided by a tractor trailer. It was a miracle she survived. Key word is broadsided. The same word you used in describing the train collisions. Who was at fault in the accident I was at. It sure wasn't the truck driver. He had the right of way. The woman was cited for failing to stop at a red light and failure to yield. Same as in most of the collisions you have posted on this board. Motorist fails to stop for flashing red lights. Motorists fails to yield right of way to trains. Motorist at fault. It doesn't matter if the train is there 15 seconds after the lights start flashing or 2 minutes after the lights start flashing. Flashing red lights mean stop.

Derrick

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by eolafan

For those of you who may watch professional wrestling (I do with my young son once in a while), you may have seen a character who goes by the name of "Hurricane" who is supposed to be a sort of super-hero (aka crusader), and is really a pathetic little dweeb ina stupid costumer who gets the C_ _ P beat out of him all the time because he really is not good and has no real talent....REMINDS ME OF OUR FRIEND MISSOURI...How about you guys?

I don't watch it because it is so fake. Kinda like Operation Lifesaver, railroads, and the railroaders who say they care---Well take three days off together and do something.

Let me know when your comeing and I'll bake a cake.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by RonInscho

Just My personal observation after 35 yrs. of railroading & motorist running in to the trains I am on is that the public is STUPID & until they get a lot smarter & are taught better driving skills the carnage will continue, & each time it happens the press is always there to record what happened to that poor motorist & make it sound like the train crew could have done something but chose not to, it is never mentioned that the crew has to live with this, as if that train is just a mindless thing that is always in somebodys way especially when they are in a hurry. I still think the old crossing signs said it best STOP, LOOK & LISTEN, if this was in practice 99.99% of all grade crossing accidents could be avoided

Like I said the brain washing must start early on when the job starts.

[RonInscho]

Just My personal observation after 35 yrs. of railroading & motorist running in to the trains I am on is that the public is STUPID & until they get a lot smarter & are taught better driving skills the carnage will continue, & each time it happens the press is always there to record what happened to that poor motorist & make it sound like the train crew could have done something but chose not to, it is never mentioned that the crew has to live with this, as if that train is just a mindless thing that is always in somebodys way especially when they are in a hurry. I still think the old crossing signs said it best STOP, LOOK & LISTEN, if this was in practice 99.99% of all grade crossing accidents could be avoided