New Law in PA
- Thread starter cranis
- Start date
Yea I thought it would get a few laughs. People need to be told common sense things, like--Caution- contents may be hot..
We've got a crossing near where I live that's a bad one. The rails cross at a diagonal at Ill.64 and Addison Road in this town, and the sight lines are terrible.
One day a few years back a truck thought he would beat the train, so he crossed. Unfortunately the light had changed and traffic in front of him had stopped for the light. So, Einstein began leaning into his airhorn to get the traffic to move so he could clear the track, but--- well, I guess you don't have to be told. The train hit the rear of his trailer, pushing him into the car ahead of him. I think there were injuries but no deaths at this accident, and the car the truck was pushed into was totaled, and the truck-driver went to jail on several charges. It didn't help his case that a train-buff on a nearby hill had taped the whole incident and gave the tape (yes, this happened that far back) to police.
Since those days, another incident at another crossing-- this one involving a school bus-- has caused authorities to re-think certain things, like making sure you get an idea if your vehicle will clear. They have markings on the road now, and if your vehicle won't clear those markings you can't legally cross the tracks if the traffic-control signal at the nearby intersection is red. The markings give you a buffer zone between you and the nearest rail on each side of the tracks just so you know where it's safe.
One day a few years back a truck thought he would beat the train, so he crossed. Unfortunately the light had changed and traffic in front of him had stopped for the light. So, Einstein began leaning into his airhorn to get the traffic to move so he could clear the track, but--- well, I guess you don't have to be told. The train hit the rear of his trailer, pushing him into the car ahead of him. I think there were injuries but no deaths at this accident, and the car the truck was pushed into was totaled, and the truck-driver went to jail on several charges. It didn't help his case that a train-buff on a nearby hill had taped the whole incident and gave the tape (yes, this happened that far back) to police.
Since those days, another incident at another crossing-- this one involving a school bus-- has caused authorities to re-think certain things, like making sure you get an idea if your vehicle will clear. They have markings on the road now, and if your vehicle won't clear those markings you can't legally cross the tracks if the traffic-control signal at the nearby intersection is red. The markings give you a buffer zone between you and the nearest rail on each side of the tracks just so you know where it's safe.
paullud
Veteran Expediter
The clearance part is be cause the railroad companies and states can just ignore federal regulations and then blame the driver if they get hung up. There are specific regulations about distances and approach/departure angles of railroad crossings that are just ignored and low clearance trailers get stuck because of it. Instead of going after those that caused the actual problem it is easier to blame the driver.
Sent from my ADR6400L using EO Forums
I wonder just how those trailer skirts are affecting clearance over tracks etc?
I think it important to understand we're talking about two different clearances here. Some of you are concentrating on ground clearance, and entry and exit angles, and hanging your trailer on the rails. It's important to be sure you'll clear that.
The other type of clearance is important too, and not to be overlooked. Some geniuses designed intersections in just about the worst way possible. The road crosses a railroad at grade, then fifty or a hundred feet further there is a traffic signal for a highway intersection. Very often, the mental cases that set these things up on the drawing board--- the problem goes back to design-- had their heads where the sun doesn't shine and now they expect you and me to make up for their stupidity. So--- Check your clearances, be sure BEFORE you cross the tracks that there is enough room for your truck on the other side if the light changes against you.
A dozen years back or so there was an accident at just such a crossing in Fox River Grove, Illinois. A school bus stopped for the traffic light, but wasn't clear of the rails. A commuter train hit it at fifty miles an hour and seven children died. A badly designed intersection was the real killer, but the bus didn't have enough clearance between the light and the rails to be where it was.
The other type of clearance is important too, and not to be overlooked. Some geniuses designed intersections in just about the worst way possible. The road crosses a railroad at grade, then fifty or a hundred feet further there is a traffic signal for a highway intersection. Very often, the mental cases that set these things up on the drawing board--- the problem goes back to design-- had their heads where the sun doesn't shine and now they expect you and me to make up for their stupidity. So--- Check your clearances, be sure BEFORE you cross the tracks that there is enough room for your truck on the other side if the light changes against you.
A dozen years back or so there was an accident at just such a crossing in Fox River Grove, Illinois. A school bus stopped for the traffic light, but wasn't clear of the rails. A commuter train hit it at fifty miles an hour and seven children died. A badly designed intersection was the real killer, but the bus didn't have enough clearance between the light and the rails to be where it was.