View Full Version : Level Crossings
Just watching BBC News at the mo, there's a bit on about how people are taking risks at level crossings. Cut to clips of cars zipping across and missing trains by inches.
They're on about adding in questions into the driving theory test re: level crossings. Surely the sensible option would be to just install suitable barriers at level crossings so drivers physically can't nip across in front of trains? It would seem to me most incidents are when people don't realise what they're doing, or not paying attention - a big barrier in front of them would soon wake them up and be far more effective than a couple extra questions on a test they may (or may not) have taken xyz number of years ago?
Discuss.
is it not for emergency vehicles? the fact you can go past them
Nova_Tek
10-03-10, 01:33 PM
There's a level crossing near me which has an actual person working there. He gets up and closes a full length gate on both sides. Only a right idiot who is pretty much blind will miss that gate apart from that it's probably the safest level crossing I know of. As I can trust it 100% coz of the geeza that works there.
NovaLad
10-03-10, 01:33 PM
A set of spikes should come from the ground along with the barrier...
No one wants a set of new tyres bill.
EDIT- Our gates shut off the crossing completely burgo.
Nova_Tek
10-03-10, 01:35 PM
But when the barrier goes down doesn'T it mean there's a train coming? Not even an ambulance driver would chance it and I'd assume there wouldn't be much they could do about it.
blue_peg_16v
10-03-10, 01:35 PM
we have the half and half barriers near me ant there have been a number of accidents on them due to impatient people zig zaging them so much so that trafic signal cameras have been but on them the gatso type things how the hell does that solve the problem yes it will catch people but a full road wide barrier would probably have cost the same and would iradicate the problem
numptys
full barrier is a good idea
i cant believe people would even risk it tho tbh, i mean ive done some silly things over the years (in life in general) but even i wouldnt jump a level crossing
if they did do extra questions in the test it should be
Q. Theres a chance of death, what would you do ?
1. Take the chance
2. No fcking way !!
3. What would damper do
if you have mahoosive gates, they would need a
warning 500 yard up the road, as novas DONT stop well
in wet emergency stops, so would cause more accidents
with drivers crashing into the barrier..
.. or is it just me that thinks that
nova brakes are fine for normal driving (unless you need to brake hard at 70)
its when the spirited aspect comes out they fade
blue_peg_16v
10-03-10, 01:41 PM
just you the rest of us have uprated the brakes and dont go out in the wet lol
Nova_Tek
10-03-10, 01:41 PM
Not everyone drives a Nova and those that do, not all Nova's have standard brakes ;)
full barrier is a good idea
i cant believe people would even risk it tho tbh, i mean ive done some silly things over the years (in life in general) but even i wouldnt jump a level crossing
if they did do extra questions in the test it should be
Q. Theres a chance of death, what would you do ?
1. Take the chance
2. No fcking way !!
3. What would damper do
Lol, youve been reading that thread on the bunker over on pissedonheads lol
Oh i can has new sig btw:thumb:
Southie
10-03-10, 01:47 PM
This sort of thing would stop people trying to cross too early CLICKY (http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46149000/jpg/_46149186_bollards512.jpg&imgrefurl=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/manchester/8181820.stm&usg=__WWnV6X8scU-wug7ECHj2RCMrTtI=&h=288&w=512&sz=26&hl=en&start=8&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=opmI2UsK3L289M:&tbnh=74&tbnw=131&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcrashing%2Binto%2Bbollard%26um%3D1%26 hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DG%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26tbs%3Disch:1)
bunker ? thread ? pistonheads ? :wtf:
just because you have alot of time on your hands lol
i have/did have uprated brakes on my nova
256mm but i found them worse for locking up in the rain
and thats not me slamming my foot, just normal braking :wtf:
probably just me again lol
Nova_Tek
10-03-10, 01:52 PM
That's casue they have more stopping oomph so need less effort to lock the wheels on a light car.
i actually think something was up with them though
as they were dangerous in the wet, struggled slowing down for junctions etc lol
and believe me when i said i was gentle on the brakes in the wet,
so whenever i was driving in the wet i was leaving sooo much distance from the car infront!
Nova_Tek
10-03-10, 01:59 PM
I'd get them checked mate if it's that bad.
if you have mahoosive gates, they would need a
warning 500 yard up the road, as novas DONT stop well
in wet emergency stops, so would cause more accidents
with drivers crashing into the barrier..
.. or is it just me that thinks that
you sir are a retard lol
would you rather not have a big sign and no big barrier, then see a train too late and crash into it as you cant stop in time.
note if your brakes are THAT bad then they should fail the MOT....
Although its unfair to the train driver, its Darwin making his mark on muppets who want to die.
irrc there was an ad on the radio of "this is a train travelling past a level crossing at 60mph (whizzzzzzz), this is the sound of a train hitting a pedestrian at the level crossing at 60mph (same whizzz). several hundred tons of train vs a 100kg person isnt much of a fight is it"
same goes for cars. The only thing that would really screw a train up is a lorry imho.
No need for barriers at all im my book. Just cameras that will ban you from NHS care if you run the lights.
you sir are a retard lol
would you rather not have a big sign and no big barrier, then see a train too late and crash into it as you cant stop in time.
note if your brakes are THAT bad then they should fail the MOT....
Although its unfair to the train driver, its Darwin making his mark on muppets who want to die.
irrc there was an ad on the radio of "this is a train travelling past a level crossing at 60mph (whizzzzzzz), this is the sound of a train hitting a pedestrian at the level crossing at 60mph (same whizzz). several hundred tons of train vs a 100kg person isnt much of a fight is it"
same goes for cars. The only thing that would really screw a train up is a lorry imho.
No need for barriers at all im my book. Just cameras that will ban you from NHS care if you run the lights.
lol epic idea
you sir are a retard lol
would you rather not have a big sign and no big barrier, then see a train too late and crash into it as you cant stop in time.
note if your brakes are THAT bad then they should fail the MOT....
No need for barriers at all im my book. Just cameras that will ban you from NHS care if you run the lights.
No i agree there should be a big barrier, just to have a lil warning
as you dont have a clue when they are going to come down and if they
start to come down when your near it and you dont have to distance to stop
or the power to get through your fooked lol
or is it just me yet again lol really need to get more sleep :p
Oh yea took my brakes off ages ago as i wasnt happy with them,
And the 'NHS Camera' idea is genuis, :d
same goes for cars. The only thing that would really screw a train up is a lorry imho.
Range Rovers work, I agree with the darwin approach though, bad judgement of things moving at speed = death, evolution prevails and eventually people stop getting killed by hover trains. lol
you get the amber light on for a few seconds which is 99% of the time visible from a distance. and then the barreirs come down. Its not like they go "ohh train is 10M away, drop the barriers" lol
The A10 Foxton crossing is a prime example of how it works on a MAIN road with very very very very few incidents (usually pedestians) happening.
you get the amber light on for a few seconds which is 99% of the time visible from a distance. and then the barreirs come down. Its not like they go "ohh train is 10M away, drop the barriers" lol
true true didnt think of it like that :d
Thats true, the lights offer a warning. When the barrier starts to drop, my thinking is "the train is approaching, I don't have time to get across".
trafic signal cameras have been but on them the gatso type things how the hell does that solve the problem yes it will catch people but a full road wide barrier would probably have cost the same and would iradicate the problem
Exactly; surely it would be better to physically stop the car from attempting to cross the road - i.e. with a barrier - rather than issue them a ticket after they got mashed by a train? lol
if you have mahoosive gates, they would need a
warning 500 yard up the road, as novas DONT stop well
in wet emergency stops, so would cause more accidents
with drivers crashing into the barrier..
.. or is it just me that thinks that
All the level crossings I've seen do have warning signs ahead, but then if people miss the flashing lights and the train etc then they could easily also miss a sign
same goes for cars. The only thing that would really screw a train up is a lorry imho.
Sure, a car wouldn't case much damage vs a train, but it could easily derail it and then you end up in a whole world of problems.
I guess my point in the OP was why bother spending time and effort on signage and tests etc, when it would surely be more effective to use large strong barriers?
...as an extension to the above, there's a stretch of road that goes from Weston Super Mare to Sand Bay - its along a small cliff, and quite windy. Cars have a habit of falling off and killing the occupants. The council have spent $$$ on signs, painting the road, rumble strips etc etc. Rumble strips have been added on some of the dangerous corners, which makes them more dangerous IMO as they upset a vehicle's grip if it hits the corner too fast.
Surely it would be far more effective (and cheaper!) to just put in a decent crash barrier along the road to stop cars falling off and down the cliff?
nova1992
10-03-10, 02:54 PM
I read this thread and it made me think, Are there people stupid enough to chance it? So i hopped on youtube. and WOW people these days are brain dead?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sc7XmX1ak2A
Why would anyone Run across when they see a train?
Why would anyone drive AROUND the barrier?
blue_peg_16v
10-03-10, 03:28 PM
Sure, a car wouldn't case much damage vs a train, but it could easily derail it and then you end up in a whole world of problems.
I guess my point in the OP was why bother spending time and effort on signage and tests etc, when it would surely be more effective to use large strong barriers?
[/FONT]
the reason liability on most car insurance was due to the claim caused by that burk in his 4x4 that fell asleep on the motorway and drove down the embankment in it with trailer and derailed a train cost millions hence the 20 million limit on most policies
There is obviously a lot more that can be done regarding level crossing safety, up north the majority of crossing have no barriers and are un-manned, these seem to be hot spots for accidents. IMO ALL level crossings should have full length gates at both sides of the tracks, warning lights and sirens.
But then there's only so much they can do to secure the crossings when trains are going across, there is still the problem of people taking the risk of going under the barriers etc. I have no idea why you would rather drive in front of a train rather than wait about 1-2 minutes and get on with your day without dieing! I don't think this is an education problem, everyone knows what a level crossing is and I would hope everyone who possesses a driving license know how they work and how to approach them regardless if they have barriers or not, it all comes down to people being impatient and or stupid.
I had to wait for about 30mins at one level crossing a while back as it was the mainline up near the A1.. it was handy as it meant I had time to get out and have a wee lol
George g
10-03-10, 05:09 PM
Sure, a car wouldn't case much damage vs a train, but it could easily derail it and then you end up in a whole world of problems.
I build trains all day mate, and each car weighs 20 tonnes plus 5 tonnes for the bogies under it. Most trains are 4 cars long. That's 100 tonnes of train. You would struggle to derail them. People can throw bricks on the lines and it doesn't derail them. I'm not saying they are go karts, but something that is a 100th of the mass is going to make little difference, just a lot of mess.
And if you don't believe me, search youtube for when top gear did the train collision, and that was at low speed!
brownbear
10-03-10, 05:20 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekpD06P7kiI
Epic vid! Back when top gear was about stuff other than supercars! lol
I build trains all day mate, and each car weighs 20 tonnes plus 5 tonnes for the bogies under it. Most trains are 4 cars long. That's 100 tonnes of train. You would struggle to derail them. People can throw bricks on the lines and it doesn't derail them. I'm not saying they are go karts, but something that is a 100th of the mass is going to make little difference, just a lot of mess.
And if you don't believe me, search youtube for when top gear did the train collision, and that was at low speed!
push the broad gauge idea again please :d
Meh, barriers, safety cameras, spikey death trap spikey things...
Thats all bollox IMHO.
A bit of fcking common sense up there in peoples noggings would be more appropriate.
Meh, barriers, safety cameras, spikey death trap spikey things...
Thats all bollox IMHO.
A bit of fcking common sense up there in peoples noggings would be more appropriate.
unfortunately you have to be born with that. if only it could be prescribed though
i think they should use darwins theories on this.. just put lights up & let the stupid get hit. i'm sure there isn't a case of anyone getting hit twice by trains at level crossings.
Its a funking crossing... That a funking train crosses... If it hit you you die. Bigger vs small same out come every time.
Any one that thinks i can make that is a fool and deserves what they get.
Everyone knows your stupid if you try it.
Pistol Pete
11-03-10, 08:58 PM
Trouble with common sense is that it isnt that common!!! TBH if people are stupid enough to dice with a train/death then let natural selection continue. Dumb bloody idiots!
Simon 1867
11-03-10, 11:56 PM
is it not for emergency vehicles? the fact you can go past them
Im an emergency driver and we have to wait at the barrier with blue lights on.. We arent exempt from the law to weve round them
Im an emergency driver and we have to wait at the barrier with blue lights on.. We arent exempt from the law to weve round them
so how about bus lanes & red lights when you aren't on an emergency, but just pop the blues on, cross the junction, and then pootle on as before???? that really annoys the rest of us
i even got into a row with one of those 'take granny to the clinic' ambulances once cos she decided to cut me up, stuck the blues on, and did a 3 point turn and the woman hadn't even walked out of her house yet..
how about a tachograph charting the use of the emergency stuff?
Jon_nova1
12-03-10, 08:04 AM
I don't see a problem with the retarded being killed, but for the ones that are saying people may "just not notice" what about the ringing bells they have? lol
I feel sorry for the train drivers
I feel sorry for the train drivers
I kinda do and dont...
iirc for train drivers its 2 kills and you get signed off for life on most if not full pay and pension and for undergrounders its 3 kills as there are more of the feckers lol
I passed my test many years ago and still know that its just a silly idear to take on a train.
Whats wrong with sitting there and just waiting till its passed as always worked for me and had no need for a test to tell me that driving infront of a moving train is going to hurt.
Simples lol.
iirc for train drivers its 2 kills and you get signed off for life on most if not full pay and pension and for undergrounders its 3 kills as there are more of the feckers lol
LMFAO
It would be tough if you did lop a car in half on a level crossing - in my first year of driving some old fart waiting a T-junction stopped, saw me coming (I saw him looking right at me!), then pulled out in front of me. Ever since then, cars waiting at junctions make me nervous - I could imagine a driver getting jittery at each level crossing!
Anyway, hollywood says this...
http://www.seeing-stars.com/Images/ScenesFromMovies/FastAndFurious-Train.JPG
...so it must be doable
Carly has suggested being a train driver and then trying to run folks down to get signed off lmao
Simon 1867
12-03-10, 02:29 PM
so how about bus lanes & red lights when you aren't on an emergency, but just pop the blues on, cross the junction, and then pootle on as before???? that really annoys the rest of us
i even got into a row with one of those 'take granny to the clinic' ambulances once cos she decided to cut me up, stuck the blues on, and did a 3 point turn and the woman hadn't even walked out of her house yet..
how about a tachograph charting the use of the emergency stuff?
Well I can 100% say I and any driver who has taken the EFAD course does not dont blues and two's on to cross junctions, go through red lights and then pootle past, its against the law to use them other than on an emergency.
As with tachographs we are exempt from this.
We have no special rights when driving on blues and two's, if we cause an accdient or drive dangeours and are stopped, its our own licence and insurance that is affected.
thanks simon, i'll be sure to use that in my next argument with someone in the emergency services, which is surprisingly often, i am amazed they don't use a gps based emergency tracking system that logs the blues & twos.
i am also amazed that the fire brigade don't employ hgv drivers, i outran a fire engine one day & was carrying 25t of bricks, he couldn't keep up with me,
Simon 1867
12-03-10, 03:22 PM
thanks simon, i'll be sure to use that in my next argument with someone in the emergency services, which is surprisingly often, i am amazed they don't use a gps based emergency tracking system that logs the blues & twos.
i am also amazed that the fire brigade don't employ hgv drivers, i outran a fire engine one day & was carrying 25t of bricks, he couldn't keep up with me,
There is a system in place like a "black box" which can be fitted to fire engines but lot of brigades havent taken this option up....cost.
We are trained to HGV standard and our test is carried out in a DSA test center. our licence has the HGV and LGV catorgies so we techinically are Hgv drivers.
As for keeping up with a fire engine there are slow if im honest and its embrassing when you are over taken on a motorway. its not easy getting a lorry layend with 1800 litres of water sloshing about and all the equipment up to speed, there around 18ton mark.
novaload1992
13-03-10, 10:57 AM
i cross a level crossing everyday on the to school, there and back. yeah me :D
but seriously i dont get why people just dont wait.
its not easy getting a lorry layend with 1800 litres of water sloshing about and all the equipment up to speed, there around 18ton mark.
mate, there are blokes driving round with way bigger payloads than that. the fire engine has a full tank, so its weight transfer is minimal, a half empty artic bulk tanker can have almost the weight of a fire engine sloshing about each time you hit the brakes...
i outran the fire engine in a wagon weighing 41t
dj_wudgey
14-03-10, 02:17 PM
id rather wait all the crossings round here have double gates!!! still can try go under them but i wouldent risk it!!
novalicous
14-03-10, 03:27 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekpD06P7kiI
Epic vid! Back when top gear was about stuff other than supercars! lol
that was filmed just down the road from me in hiblestow
At the end of the day, if your so much of a twonk to think "Hmmm, them barriers are in my way, ill dodge round them, itll be fine" Then you deserve to be killed
Harsh, but otherwise some people wont learn lol
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