Night Railroad Crossing in Fog with Passengers
At 10:30 p.m. you are driving a 45-foot motorcoach with 30 passengers in patchy fog on a two-lane road posted 50 mph. Ahead is a railroad crossing with flashing red lights but no gates. The stop line is 30 feet before the nearest rail. There is no 'exempt' sign, no flagman, and no police officer. The crossing angle is shallow, and a grain elevator's lights are visible beyond the tracks. A car is following about 100 feet behind. As you slow, the lights begin flashing; the bus has an air ride suspension and a kneeling feature. You must decide whether to stop, how to stop, and what to do if the bus stalls on the tracks. The bus is carrying no hazardous materials and the aisle is clear.
1. What is your crossing procedure as you approach, and where do you stop?
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A bus carrying passengers must stop at this crossing. There is no 'exempt' sign and no police officer or flagman controlling traffic. The flashing red lights confirm the need to stop. Stop at the stop line 30 feet before the nearest rail, not on the tracks. Keep the bus clear of the following car and use hazard lights to warn it.
Set the parking brake, place the transmission in a safe holding position, turn off noisy fans or radio, and open a door or window if needed to listen. Look both ways and listen for a train. Because the crossing angle is shallow and fog limits visibility, take extra time. Do not proceed until the lights stop and you are certain you can clear the tracks completely without stopping. Do not shift gears while crossing.
2. The lights keep flashing, no train appears after 90 seconds, and the following car honks. Do you proceed?
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No. Flashing red lights mean stop. A train may be approaching but not visible in fog, and the following driver's horn does not change the signal. Waiting 90 seconds without seeing a train does not prove the crossing is clear.
Stay stopped at the stop line. If the lights appear to be malfunctioning, call 911 or the railroad emergency number posted at the crossing and follow instructions. Do not go around the signal or wave yourself across. The correct decision is to wait or use an alternate route, not to treat the honking car as authority to proceed.
3. The bus stalls with its front bumper just past the stop line but before the rails. What do you do?
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Do not try to restart repeatedly while the bus is in the danger zone. Immediately get the passengers off and away from the tracks, toward a safe point at least 100 feet from the rails and away from the direction from which a train could come. Use the emergency exits if the door is unsafe. Call 911 and the railroad emergency number, and give the crossing location.
If the bus is still clear of the rails, keep everyone off the roadway and do not let anyone stand between the bus and the tracks. Account for all 30 passengers. Do not attempt to push the bus or move it unless it can be done safely and immediately. Passenger evacuation and warning are the priorities.