Okay, so we've all pretty much seen or heard the story about the Semi vs Train or Train vs Semi depending on where you saw, read or heard the story. And we've heard, read or seen other news stories from time to time, but do you REALLY KNOW how to KEEP YOURSELF SAFE and FROM BECOMING A STATISTIC at a RailRoad Crossing?
Do you really know how to handle these malfunctioning signals?
Do you know what to do if you see a RED Road Flare burning at a crossing?
Do you know what to do if a train has stopped PRIOR to a crossing or just past it?
Do you know what to do if your vehicle gets stuck on the railroad tracks?
Now I do a lot of railfanning and I am around trains quite a bit, I am also around many different "highway rail crossings" where signals and gates are set up to protect the rails and trains from oncoming traffic, BUT these things DO MALFUNCTION from time to time and sometimes they will also GHOST long after a train has passed through the area.
I will explain what a GHOST or GHOSTING signal is after the following tips to help YOU to REMAIN SAFE at a Railroad Grade Crossing.
Now here is how YOU, as a driver, should approach ANY railroad crossing, these tips could very well SAVE YOUR LIFE!
#1. SLOW DOWN, ROLL YOUR WINDOW DOWN, TURN DOWN YOUR RADIO, GET OFF YOUR CELL PHONE and LISTEN and be prepared to STOP, if that gate malfunctions and you do not have a clear view of the tracks from BOTH sides of your vehicle, you are setting yourself up for a possible train vs vehicle collision. If you DO NOT have a CLEAR VIEW of the tracks from either side of your vehicle, then you "should" STOP, LOOK and LISTEN BEFORE proceeding "carefully" across the tracks. With todays advent of quieter vehicles, when your windows are up, and if you have a radio on or yapping it up on a cell phone, you MAY NOT hear the crossing signal warning bells if so equipped or even the trains horns and bells as it approaches the crossing.
#2. If you are approaching a grade (railroad) crossing and the lights are active and gates down, DO NOT DRIVE AROUND THEM, even if you DO NOT SEE or DO NOT HEAR a train, WAIT for a few minutes, if the gates and lights are on and you still hear no train, again, DO NOT DRIVE AROUND THE DOWNED GATES, get out of your vehicle and if you happen to have a cell phone, CALL the 800 NUMBER on the small white placard on the signal mast, make sure you tell the railroad official you talk with the numbers he asks for off the placard, this tells them EXACTLY where the signal is located and where to dispatch a repair person to correct a faulty crossing signal. Then once you've done that, make a U-TURN and drive to another area to cross the tracks to get to your destination, it is NEVER smart or safe to drive around downed gates UNLESS DIRECTED by a Police Officer or Railroad Official.
#3. If you approach a crossing and the crossing signals are not working or the red alternating flashers are working but the gates are still up AND you see a RED FLARE BURNING on the ground, this means the Railroad KNOWS the crossing has a problem and chances are they have already dispatched someone to fix the problem(s). If you see a BURNING RED FLARE in the center of the road at a crossing and the gates are up and lights are either off or possibly flashing, refer to #1 to protect yourself. Especially if there are more than ONE TRACK, on multiple track crossings you run a risk of another train either coming right behind the last train or a second train coming from the opposite direction.
#4. Once a train has passed and the gates are moving up and the signals still flashing, DO NOT CROSS the tracks, this is where many people don't realize that they could very well get hit by a train that may BACK UP(if stopped), another train could come from the other direction (multiple tracks) before the gates are up fully and the lights off. You SHOULD NEVER, NOT EVER cross any Railroad tracks while a signal flasher is still active, even if the gates are completely up, WAIT until the flashing lights are COMPLETELY OFF and then wait a second or two, then proceed. If the signal GHOSTS, chances are you're going to have damage to your vehicle!
#5. If a train has STOPPED just past the crossing and even though the gates may be rising, DO NOT CROSS the tracks!, the train MAY START A BACK UP MOVE and guess what, you're going to get hit! Always and I do MEAN ALWAYS WAIT until the gates are completely up and the flashers have shut off completely, and if there is a train sitting just past the crossing, wait a second or two, then proceed quickly across the crossing. The main reasons for trains stopping just after a crossing is they may be about to back up, they too, have signals just like we follow and may have a red indication because another train will be coming from the opposite direction or even in the same direction, but on a different track in a multi-track crossing. Some trains HAVE PRIORITY over others, so one will be halted to allow another to pass, or those multi-tracks end up the line and merge back into a single mainline and two trains going opposite directions can not occupy the same tracks, so one has to wait. This is what happens quite often in downtown Winter Park and Downtown Orlando when you see a train stopped on the tracks.
#6. If your vehicle gets stuck on the tracks and no train is coming, hopefully you have a cell phone with you, immediately get out of you vehicle and go to the nearest crossing signal and call the 800 number on the placard immediately to inform the railroad of the situation, you may just save your vehicle from becoming scrap metal. Now if a TRAIN IS COMING, GET OUT of your vehicle IMMEDIATELY, RUN toward the train OFF THE TRACKS, NOT AWAY from it, and AWAY from your vehicle, waving your arms at the train crew in a criss cross fashion above your head, Chances are they will still hit your vehicle, but the impact may not be as great, but if you run away from the train and it impacts your vehicle, there is a chance your vehicle when hit will end up slamming into you, injuring you seriously or killing you. So always exit the vehicle quickly and run TOWARD the oncoming train alongside the tracks but at a minimum of 20' off to the side of the tracks to protect yourself from anything that could break loose from the train or from possible derailing rail cars if the train does hit your vehicle.
#7. Also NEVER, EVER crawl under, walk, crawl or climb between or over a STOPPED TRAIN, it could start moving again WITHOUT WARNING and you could be killed or seriously injured by loss of a limb or limbs when either the train starts moving or you get hit by the train that is about to roll by on the other track! Also there is NO WAY the train crew can see you or know you are crawling, walking between or climbing over their train. And even if you do survive after doing such a STUPID thing, the Railroad WILL CHARGE YOU with TRESPASSING! Also you should NEVER, NOT EVER WALK, JOG, RUN, RIDE YOUR BICYCLE or USE Railroad tracks for a shortcut, if you are closer than 20' on either side of the tracks, you are on the Railroads Right of Way (RoW) and it is a citable offense by the railroad, again trespassing. So stay off and from between the railroad tracks and cross only at designated crossing areas!
Also note: Where signals are KNOWN to be malfunctioning, the Railroad does a STOP and FLAG of the crossing where the signal is not working properly, the train will stop PRIOR to the crossing (all tracks on multiple track crossings) and the conductor will climb down off the locomotive and set out (ignite) a red road flare and place it down on the center of the crossing on BOTH sides of the crossing. When a conductor does this, YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO STOP and WAIT for him to clear the train through the crossing, even though the flare will still be burning for a few moments AFTER the last rail car has passed, once the last car has CLEARED the crossing, you may then proceed, but still refer to #1 above ESPECIALLY if you're at a grade crossing with multiple tracks involved!
GHOST/GHOSTING crossing signals, what this is and how it happens. What it is, is when a train has already passed through the grade crossing and the gates and lights have turned off, train is already a god distance past the crossing, but the flashers and gates RE-ACTIVATES when no train is approaching the crossing. This will usually happen just a few seconds after the train has passed, sometimes it can be up to several minutes AFTER the train has long gone. So even though the signal may be GHOSTING, always treat it as if a train were coming, again, the life you save may be your own! Because even though the signal may Ghost, there still could very well be another train on it's way. Always be prepared, better safe than sorry!
How it happens, this was never a real issue with "jointed" rail where the rails are bolted together, but this happens more and more on WELDED railroad tracks where there is no insulator between the joint to denote the start and end of the circuit to energize the crossing signals and gates. With welded rail, again, there is no insulator and the circuit is more complex on how it senses a train to turn on the signals and lower the gates, sometimes this circuit gets "confused" and will reset the lights and gates, thinking it still senses a train in the "block" and turns on the signaling system even though no train may be coming. Usually a single will only GHOST ONCE, if it does it more than once, then the Railroad needs to be called and informed they have a malfunctioning signal. This by no means the most technical explanation of how a signal GHOSTS, but putting it in the most simplistic terms I know to explain it where it's understandable by most people.
Hope this may help to save someones life!
Remember, when at a Railroad Crossing, EXPECT a train at ANYTIME and from ANY DIRECTION! STOP, LOOK, LISTEN and LIVE!
Here is the actual law on the books taken directly from the websites at:
http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/misc/MoveOver.htm
and
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?mode=
View%20Statutes&SubMenu=1&App_mode=Display_Statute&Sear
ch_String=&URL=CH0316/Sec126.HTM
Drivers are now required to "move over" or "slow down" when approaching an authorized emergency vehicle that is stopped on a highway in Florida. The "Move Over Act", passed during the 2002 session of the Florida Legislature, was signed by Governor Jeb Bush on May 1, 2002.
There are several important provisions concerning this new law. Effective July 1, 2002, on interstate highways or other highways with two or more lanes traveling in the direction of the emergency vehicle, and except when otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer, drivers approaching a law enforcement or other authorized emergency vehicle parked on a roadway with their emergency lights activated, are required to vacate the lane closest to the emergency vehicle, as soon as it is safe to do so.
When approaching a law enforcement or other authorized emergency vehicle parked on a two-lane roadway with their emergency lights activated, and except when otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer, drivers are required to slow to a speed that is 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit when the posted speed limit is 25 miles per hour or greater; or travel at five miles per hour when the posted speed limit is 20 miles per hour or less.
The "Move Over Act", designed to protect law enforcement and other emergency workers on our highways, was sponsored by Senator Victor Crist, District 13, Tampa, and Representative Mark Flanagan, District 68, Bradenton. The support of the International Union of Police Associations (IUPA) was instrumental in getting this important piece of legislation passed.
During the five-year period of 1996-2000, motorists in Florida crashed into working law enforcement vehicles that were stopped/parked along Florida roadways 1,793 times, resulting in five deaths and 419 injuries.
====================== end of move over info =========================
---- Additional Information - More than you probably were really aware of! ----
The 2007 Florida Statutes
Title XXIII
MOTOR VEHICLES Chapter 316
STATE UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL View Entire Chapter
--------------------------------------- End of additional information -------------------------
And what if you're on one of those multi lane highways and can not move over due to heavy traffic? Well it's not on the website or in the above text, but this is how my State Licensed Traffic School Instructor said to handle this scenario:
Follow the SAME EXACT rule as for a two lane road where you slow down 20mph UNDER the posted speed, so if the posted speed is 50mph, you drop to 30MPH, if 30MPH, then your speed should be no more than 10mph before you even get near the patrol car or emergency vehicle off to the side of the road.
And how many times have you passed them on a multi-lane road when they've been in the center lane on a multi-lane highway? This would be handled the same as above.
And I've also noticed that when they have someone pulled over in the "center turning lanes" on a 5 lane highway, no one moves over to the farthest right (slow) lane either, but you're supposed to!
Just thought I'd toss in some more facts as to where this got started and how to handle some scenarios that some drivers may not be aware of either.
Well hope all you drivers in Florida may have learned something from all this information.
316.126 Operation of vehicles and actions of pedestrians on approach of authorized emergency vehicle.--
(1)(a) Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle, while en route to meet an existing emergency, the driver of every other vehicle shall, when such emergency vehicle is giving audible signals by siren, exhaust whistle, or other adequate device, or visible signals by the use of displayed blue or red lights, yield the right-of-way to the emergency vehicle and shall immediately proceed to a position parallel to, and as close as reasonable to the closest edge of the curb of the roadway, clear of any intersection and shall stop and remain in position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, unless otherwise directed by any law enforcement officer.
(b) When an authorized emergency vehicle making use of any visual signals is parked or a wrecker displaying amber rotating or flashing lights is performing a recovery or loading on the roadside, the driver of every other vehicle, as soon as it is safe:
1. Shall vacate the lane closest to the emergency vehicle or wrecker when driving on an interstate highway or other highway with two or more lanes traveling in the direction of the emergency vehicle or wrecker, except when otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer.
2. Shall slow to a speed that is 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit when the posted speed limit is 25 miles per hour or greater; or travel at 5 miles per hour when the posted speed limit is 20 miles per hour or less, when driving on a two-lane road, except when otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer.
(c) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall provide an educational awareness campaign informing the motoring public about the Move Over Act. The department shall provide information about the Move Over Act in all newly printed driver's license educational materials after July 1, 2002.
This section shall not relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway.
(2) Every pedestrian using the road right-of-way shall yield the right-of-way until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, unless otherwise directed by any police officer.
(3) Any authorized emergency vehicle, when en route to meet an existing emergency, shall warn all other vehicular traffic along the emergency route by an audible signal, siren, exhaust whistle, or other adequate device or by a visible signal by the use of displayed blue or red lights. While en route to such emergency, the emergency vehicle shall otherwise proceed in a manner consistent with the laws regulating vehicular traffic upon the highways of this state.
(4) Nothing herein contained shall diminish or enlarge any rules of evidence or liability in any case involving the operation of an emergency vehicle.
(5) This section shall not operate to relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway.
(6) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable pursuant to chapter 318 as either a moving violation for infractions of subsection (1) or subsection (3), or as a pedestrian violation for infractions of subsection (2).
History.--s. 1, ch. 71-135; s. 1, ch. 84-204; s. 122, ch. 99-248; s. 2, ch. 2002-217; s. 2, ch. 2004-20
So were you folks aware that this MOVE OVER LAW also INCLUDED WRECKERS picking up or off-loading vehicles?
Even I was unaware that wreckers were also protected under this law until I did some research after hearing FOX 35's report and thought there was still a lot of information that needed to be said! And the above says it all!
So did you learn anything new that you didn't know before? I **sure** did!
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