Why do so many people die on level (train) crossings?

Famine
Why?
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Driving along, never been there before, don't know what around the curve, get there and find a train in your way.
You would think a train coming towards you before the curve, or running alongside before the curve if going the other way, would be a clue, but if you're tooling along not even aware of the curve until you drive into it. . . .

Famine
If someone can't see a 40 ton, 12 foot tall, 80 foot long tube of metal clipping along at 30mph, they won't see a light.
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Most drivers zone out on the area immediately in front of the car, maybe 30 feet past the hood. (Bonnet, for your side of the pond.) They have absolutely no awareness of anything happening to either side or coming from behind.
 
wfooshee
Driving along, never been there before, don't know what around the curve, get there and find a train in your way.
You would think a train coming towards you before the curve, or running alongside before the curve if going the other way, would be a clue, but if you're tooling along not even aware of the curve until you drive into it. . . .
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Normally there are signs that say there is a railroad track ahead. Not to mention it looked like the track was parallel with the road.
 
Relevant video:

[YOUTUBEHD]ekpD06P7kiI[/YOUTUBEHD]

Classic Clarkson


Here's the same video (2nd half) but more slow-mo shots:

[YOUTUBEHD]iBicgQfu7YY[/YOUTUBEHD]
 
wfooshee
Most drivers zone out on the area immediately in front of the car, maybe 30 feet past the hood. (Bonnet, for your side of the pond.) They have absolutely no awareness of anything happening to either side or coming from behind.
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This is too true. Even some of my friends are like this... They never spot anything that's not directly in front of them, and I can't understand. I'm not a distracted driver by any means but I spot many cars while driving that these people would have no idea are there, and they're not even out of view. One friend in particular is a horrible driver so it definitely doesn't mean they're more focused on driving because of it.

Not being aware of your surroundings while driving = scary.
 
wfooshee
Driving along, never been there before, don't know what around the curve, get there and find a train in your way.
You would think a train coming towards you before the curve, or running alongside before the curve if going the other way, would be a clue, but if you're tooling along not even aware of the curve until you drive into it. . . .
Click to expand...

It'll be signed several hundred yards before the actual crossing, the double-white lines in the centre are an excellent clue of an approaching hazard and that's a 10mph corner at best unless you're Sebastien Loeb.
 
To answer the thread directly...............


PEOPLE ARE JUST PLAIN STUPID TO TRY TO THINK THEY CAN BEAT A TRAIN AT A CROSSING.


If you play Russian Roulette enough,eventually your not going to hear just a click of the hammer.However,leaving your brains scattered on the wall may serve as a reminder to some.......key word being "may".People just don't learn the obvious.
 
This may be extreme, but I think people who cross the track (as in see a train a come but still cross like an idiot for no reason other than save time) and get nailed by trains should not get any insurance/state compensation disbursed to the families. It's harsh on the relatives, but sometimes it has to be the hard way for the greater good.
 
Compensation is none of anyone else's business. If it's paid for, it will be provided.
 
Justin
Normally there are signs that say there is a railroad track ahead. Not to mention it looked like the track was parallel with the road.
Click to expand...

Famine
It'll be signed several hundred yards before the actual crossing, the double-white lines in the centre are an excellent clue of an approaching hazard and that's a 10mph corner at best unless you're Sebastien Loeb.
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So? Put all the signs up that you want. These people do not see them.

See, in the US, licensing is merely a form of fee collection. Once you have an examination at 16 years of age, nobody cares any more if you know anything about driving. You get a simple vision test at the counter (reading letters through a little device that apparently is blurry for some people) and sometimes you have to take a sign-recognition test. To avoid the lines, you can renew your license by mail, if you haven't changed your address or your name.

I'm 51 years old, and have never had to demostrate to anybody that I know what I'm doing behind the wheel of a car since my inital exam at 16, and that was mostly parking and backing up straight. You angle park, parallel park, stop at a white line, back up in a straight line, and drive around the block in traffic. That makes you a qualified driver in the US of A. Qualified forever.
 
wfooshee
So? Put all the signs up that you want. These people do not see them.
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Err, you missed the point. Our comments were regarding the individual crossing shown in the Reliant vs. Train video clip. ultrataco said that the specific crossing in question was dangerous, being just after a bend like that. Which it isn't - it's not like it suddenly appears without warning.


As for people not seeing signs...

Famine
If someone can't see a 40 ton, 12 foot tall, 80 foot long tube of metal clipping along at 30mph, they won't see a light.
Click to expand...

Waaaaay ahead of you.
 
The way the roads are here, you usually never see trains until they come through the crossing. The tracks are blocked by buildings or bushes, so you can only see maybe 20 feet beyond the width of the road in either direction.
 
Our crossings usually have a bar that comes down with a flashing light. Some don't have one though. Simple answer to the thread title, people can be morons.
 
Most of the ones around here just have a give way or stop sign, i don't think there's ever been any crashes though. (I don't even know if most of the trains actually run)
 
I've actually witnessed someone playing the game of 'beat the train'. The driver didn't make it, sadly, and they were crushed like a can and sent 500m down the tracks before stopping. With working boom gates and a clearly visible train coming it still befuddles me how these sorts of things happen.
 
Really, does it? This is a world where people like Paris Hilton are liked, Jeremy Kyle is seen as some kind of TV legend (I can think of a name which rhymes with that) and watch reality TV in general.

People are stupid.
 
Sureboss
Really, does it? This is a world where people like Paris Hilton are liked, Jeremy Kyle is seen as some kind of TV legend (I can think of a name which rhymes with that) and watch reality TV in general.

People are stupid.
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That's what you get when you mess with natural selection:

Stupid people all over the world.
 
Sureboss
People are stupid.
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Alas, I realise that at least 80% of the world population is mentally handicapped (seriously, only an average of approx. 10-20% of people at my school display logical behaviour on a normal basis. The majority are simply idiots who cannot for the life of them think before acting or speaking). I guess I am just trying to deny such a depressing reality (although it does often make for good comedy). :indiff:
 
GT Pro
I've actually witnessed someone playing the game of 'beat the train'. The driver didn't make it, sadly, and they were crushed like a can and sent 500m down the tracks before stopping. With working boom gates and a clearly visible train coming it still befuddles me how these sorts of things happen.
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My mates and I used to play chicken with cars, on our bikes back in the day. You just ride towards an oncoming car and first person to swerve away is a chicken. Makes me wish I was young again actually.
 
GT Pro
Alas, I realise that at least 80% of the world population is mentally handicapped (seriously, only an average of approx. 10-20% of people at my school display logical behaviour on a normal basis. The majority are simply idiots who cannot for the life of them think before acting or speaking). I guess I am just trying to deny such a depressing reality (although it does often make for good comedy). :indiff:
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I take it your one of those amazingly intelligent people who fill the 10-20% bracket. :rolleyes:

It's inherent that most teenagers at school show some form of immaturity, while this may make them look an idiot to you, some people do this to fit in, its almost like a defence mechanism.

You will notice as they get older and go through college/university they start to act more mature. It's not that most teenagers are mentally handicapped, they are simply immature, and its something that the majority of teenagers grow out of in the next decade or so.
 
Everyone has failed to answer the OP's original question.

Question: Why do so many people die on level (train) crossings?

Answer: Because the train hits them.












You can close this thread now ;)
 
Speedy Samurai
Everyone has failed to answer the OP's original question.

Question: Why do so many people die on level (train) crossings?

Answer: Because the train hits them.












You can close this thread now ;)
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Lol, That is rather amusing needed a good laugh 👍
 
Stevisiov
I take it your one of those amazingly intelligent people who fill the 10-20% bracket.
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Yes, my I.Q. (however inaccurate it is) places me within the top 2% or so, but I believe that a high I.Q. is far from necessary to act decently and rationally.

Stevisiov
You will notice as they get older and go through college/university they start to act more mature. It's not that most teenagers are mentally handicapped, they are simply immature, and its something that the majority of teenagers grow out of in the next decade or so.
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Hopefully, the attitude they possess towards alcohol, partying, education and regard for other people's property borders on terrifying. The recent media highlight of alcohol-fuelled late-night brawls in the inner-city region are testament enough to this. I'm tired of people like myself who are afraid to go into a public area because there will be dropkicks who openly profess their desire to 'knock people's heads in purely for the fun of it'. Do they not have anything better to do?

Alas, I'm going a little off-topic so I'll finish with that.
 

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