Must have been important deliveries

[Andara Bledin]

The van was stopped - they knew the train was coming.

Yup. The SUV driver knew there was a train coming long before the semi showed up, so there had to be some warning system that was functioning and that the semi driver just completely failed to take note of. Either that, or he thought he'd have time to beat it.

Either way, it was completely his fault, and since most of the trailer was left behind, it would have been child's play to track him down.

^-.-^

[Kogarashi]

Heh, that was amusing, but i'm not sure you can blame that one on the driver, it didn't seem that there were any guards, and i'm not sure about warning lights either, but then the video quality isn't the best either.

The SUV driver knew there was a train coming long before the semi showed up, so there had to be some warning system that was functioning and that the semi driver just completely failed to take note of. Either that, or he thought he'd have time to beat it.

Either way, it was completely his fault, and since most of the trailer was left behind, it would have been child's play to track him down.

Plus, if there aren't lights and guards, it falls upon drivers approaching the tracks to slow down and check for oncoming trains. If the SUV driver could see the train coming, there's no way the truck driver couldn't unless they weren't paying attention.

[Javarod]

Plus, if there aren't lights and guards, it falls upon drivers approaching the tracks to slow down and check for oncoming trains. If the SUV driver could see the train coming, there's no way the truck driver couldn't unless they weren't paying attention.

No argument there, but until you drive one, you wouldn't believe how crappy the visibility is in a big rig, as long as something's directly in front of you, its cool, any where else, is bad.

[Kogarashi]

No argument there, but until you drive one, you wouldn't believe how crappy the visibility is in a big rig, as long as something's directly in front of you, its cool, any where else, is bad.

Fair enough.

[wolfie]

Geeze, that must've been a mess to clean up, and i'm astounded they were allowed to do that, but then considering the double decker test i saw, they do seem quite willing to do things like this if its for a good reason.

As to the truck running the tracks, there can be so many reasons from lack of visibility, mis-judging distance, to being in a hurry (consider that the pay isn't all that good with many questions, deadlines can be tight, and regs can make it difficult to complete it without violating the rules). Its stupid, but it happens.

Try this one on for size (occurs when leaving a customer we no longer service): Customer's driveway leads onto street "A" (truck route, but a minor street). First intersection to the south of the driveway is a demand light where streets "A" and "B" cross (i.e. light stays green for "B" and red for "A" unless driver on "A" gets onto the sensor. Street "B" is a major street, but not a truck route. Slight problem: there's a rail line shortly before street "B", the only sensor for southbound traffic is between street "B" and the track, and the space between the "swept area" of a train and the beginning of the first lane on street "B" is less than the length of a semi. In other words, the choices are:
- Pull onto the sensor, and hope you get a green before a train comes.
- Wait before the tracks, and hope someone comes Northbound and trips the lights for you.

[Andara Bledin]

Or, option 3: Write to the city planning office with photographs and a detailed explanation of the problem and see if you can't get the intersection changed to be less dangerous.

Of course, while you're waiting for that to go through, you're pretty much screwed on that intersection, at which point you look into your options for alternate routes.

^-.-^

[Shalom]

In other words, the choices are:
- Pull onto the sensor, and hope you get a green before a train comes.
- Wait before the tracks, and hope someone comes Northbound and trips the lights for you.

Is there a "Press Here To Cross Street" button? If so, you could stop before the track, get out, push the button, and get back into the truck before the light changes.

(Of course if all you get is a Walk sign and no green light, it won't do any good.)

[Magpie]

Is there a "Press Here To Cross Street" button? If so, you could stop before the track, get out, push the button, and get back into the truck before the light changes.

That manoeuver is hard enough to pull off on a bicycle. From a motor vehicle you're asking for trouble. I've seen it done by passengers, but by the driver is another thing (other side of the vehicle).