Flashing Lights, a Stalled Pickup, and a Low Bridge
At 2:10 p.m. you drive a 40-foot transit bus with 22 passengers on a rural two-lane road posted 45 mph. Light rain is falling. A gravel truck ahead is about two seconds in front of you. Its brake lights come on hard. Beyond the truck is a railroad-highway crossing with flashing red lights but no gates. A pickup truck has stopped just past the tracks, partly blocking your lane. To the right, a detour road passes under a railroad bridge marked '12 ft 6 in'; your bus is 12 ft 2 in high. One mile ahead, a drawbridge is closed for a boat. Your radio is working, and the bus has a working public-address system. Passengers are asking why you are slowing down.
1. Evaluate your following distance and speed. What space should you have kept at 45 mph in rain in a 40-foot bus?
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- Two seconds is too close. The CDL rule of thumb is one second per 10 feet of vehicle length below 40 mph, plus one second above 40 mph. A 40-foot bus at 45 mph needs at least 5 seconds; rain should add another 1 to 2 seconds, so 6 to 7 seconds.
- At 45 mph (66 ft/s), 2 seconds is about 132 feet; 5 seconds is about 330 feet; 7 seconds is about 460 feet. The gravel truck's hard braking would leave almost no margin at 2 seconds.
- Reduce speed below 45 mph in rain and as you approach the crossing. Cover the brake, avoid sudden steering, and increase space rather than tailgating.
- If the truck stops suddenly, you need enough room to stop without skidding or swerving into the oncoming lane.
2. What must you do at the railroad crossing with flashing red lights and a pickup stopped beyond the tracks?
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- Flashing red lights mean stop, even without gates. Stop at least 15 feet but not more than 50 feet from the nearest rail.
- Silence noisy equipment, open the window, look and listen in both directions, and check for a second track. Do not rely only on the lights.
- Do not enter the crossing unless there is room for the entire bus on the far side. The pickup partly blocking your lane means the clear space may be too short; wait before the tracks.
- Never stop on the tracks. If the signals activate while you are already crossing, keep moving to clear the tracks.
- After the pickup moves and the far side is clear, cross without stopping. Use the PA to tell passengers what is happening.
3. Would you take the detour under the 12 ft 6 in bridge? What about the closed drawbridge? Explain your decision.
Read the worked answer
- Low bridge: The bus is 12 ft 2 in and the posted clearance is 12 ft 6 in, only 4 inches. That is not enough margin. Posted clearances can be affected by repaving, road crown, and roof equipment; a small error or suspension movement can cause a strike. Do not take the detour unless the clearance is officially verified for your vehicle. Find another route or stop and call dispatch.
- Drawbridge: Approach assuming you may have to stop. Obey the signals and gates; do not cross until the bridge is fully down and the warning devices permit. Never stop on the drawbridge span; wait before it.
- Communicate the delay to passengers and dispatch. A safe delay is better than a roof strike or a bridge incident.