Late-Night Charter at an Unguarded Railway Crossing
You are driving a 47-passenger Class C coach from Toronto to a wedding near Huntsville. There are 38 passengers and 22 pieces of luggage aboard. It is 23:20, the road is wet, and you are on a two-lane highway posted at 80 km/h. Ahead is a railway crossing with a stop sign, no gates, and signal lights that are not flashing. A pickup truck ahead of you slows, then crosses the tracks without stopping. Your bus has air brakes and a manual transmission. The crossing sits at the bottom of a slight grade, and the far side has a narrow shoulder. You are running 8 minutes late; several passengers are asking if you can make up time. The nearest rail is about 6 m beyond the stop line. You see no train, but your view to the right is partly blocked by a stand of trees.
1. What does Ontario law require at this railway crossing, and may you follow the pickup through because it crossed safely?
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Ontario law requires the driver of a bus carrying passengers to stop before crossing a railway crossing at grade and to proceed only when the way is clear. The stop must be made not less than 5 m from the nearest rail. Here the stop line is about 6 m from the rail, so stopping at the line satisfies the distance requirement.
The pickup is not evidence that the crossing is safe. It is a smaller vehicle with a different sightline and stopping distance, and its driver may not have seen a train. Because your view to the right is blocked by trees, you must stop, open the door or window if needed to look and listen, check both directions and use your mirrors, and proceed only when you can see that no train is approaching. Schedule pressure does not create an exception. If you cannot see clearly, wait or ask someone to assist; do not enter the crossing on the assumption that another driver checked for you.
2. Describe how you would take the bus across the tracks, including gear selection, door use, and what you would do if the lights began flashing as you approached.
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Select the gear before the crossing, because Ontario law prohibits changing gears while crossing. Stop at the stop line, set the parking brake if you need to open the door or leave the seat, and open the door or window to listen. Look both ways, check your mirrors, and confirm the far side has enough room for the whole bus without stopping on the tracks.
Release the brake, move across at a steady low speed, and do not stop or shift on the crossing. Keep the bus aligned and make sure the rear clears the rails before accelerating. If the signal lights begin flashing while you are still short of the stop line, stop and wait; never enter a crossing when signals are active. If the lights activate after your front bumper has already passed the stop line and you are committed, keep moving steadily until the entire bus is clear rather than stopping on the tracks. Tell passengers briefly what is happening so they stay seated.