HIGHWAY-RAIL GRADE CROSSING SAFETY

	LESSON PLAN		INSTRUCTOR NOTES
II. Review of Key Points Let’s review what we know First, some statistics There are approximately 268,000 highway-rail and pedestrian crossings in the U.S. Most highway traffic fatalities occur within 25 miles of the driver’s home In the U.S., a train collides with a vehicle or a person once every 100 minutes In an average year, more people die in highway-rail crossings than in commercial airline crashes Always expect a train Even if you think you know the train schedule and have been through the crossing many times Don’t misjudge a train’s speed and distance Because of their size, trains appear to be traveling slower than they really are and to be farther away than they really are NEVER try to beat the train Obey the crossing signals If there is more than one set of tracks After one train passes, check the second set of tracks for another train What is the proper procedure for crossing a highway-rail intersection safely? Slow down and test your brakes a. This alerts motorists behind you of your intent to stop Stay on the right of the roadway Stop no closer than 15 feet and no farther than 50 feet from the tracks a. The train is wider than the tracks themselves so don’t stop closer than 15 feet b. If you are further than 50 feet, you can’t see down the tracks Keep your foot on the brake so that you can’t move or be shoved into the path of a train Open the driver’s window and the service door Turn off radios and noisy equipment a. Do not turn them back on until you have completed the crossing and are away from the track Signal the students to be quiet a. What signal do you use to let students know they need to be quiet? (Discuss.) b. Remember to use that signal only at railroad crossings Look and listen Start crossing when you are sure that you don’t see or hear a train or a warning whistle a. Before moving, close the driver’s window and the service door NEVER a. Stop on the tracks b. Stop within 15 feet of the tracks c. Try to back up once you are on the tracks Don’t change gears on the tracks a. Cross in a low gear (1) Use a gear that will not require you to change gears until you completely clear the hazard zone Don’t pass on the tracks If the gate comes down after you have started across, keep going even if it means you will break the gate If your bus stalls or is trapped on the tracks, get everyone out and off the tracks immediately a. Move everyone far from the bus at an angle which is both away from the tracks and toward the train If a train arrives, keep your foot on the service brake and set the parking brake a. In this way, you won’t move or be pushed into the path of a train Can you tell when your bus has cleared the tracks? You need to know how long your bus is to tell whether your vehicle has room to cross the tracks and clear them completely This is particularly critical when there is a stop sign or stop light on the other side of the tracks The hazard zone at a crossing is at least 35 feet wide a. This allows a 15-foot clearance on each side of the rails It would take the end of a 40-foot long school bus at least 5 seconds to travel 75 feet and clear the hazard zone a. That assumes an average speed of 10 mph after starting from a full stop 15 feet from the nearest rail Don’t cross the tracks unless you are sure the rear of the bus can clear the tracks if you should need to stop on the other side a. If you are in doubt, stop and wait for traffic to clear or the light to change before crossing the tracks Let’s review the types of warning devices used at railroad crossings Advance Warning signs a. Round yellow warning sign (1) The round black-on-yellow Advance Warning sign is placed ahead of a public highway-rail intersection (2) It tells you to (a) Slow down (b) Look and listen for the train (c) Be prepared to stop if a train is coming b. Pavement Markings (1) Pavement Markings mean the same as the Advance Warning sign (2) They consist of an “X” with the letters “RR” and a no-passing marking (on 2-lane roads) (3) There is also a NO PASSING ZONE sign on 2-lane roads (4) There may be a white stop line painted on the pavement just before the railroad tracks (a) The front of the school bus must remain behind this line while stopped at the crossing c. Parallel Track sign (1) These signs are diamond shaped with black illustrations showing railroad tracks parallel to the highway (2) These signs warn drivers who are making a turn that there is a highway-rail intersection immediately after the turn Crossbuck sign a. This is a regulatory sign marking the grade crossing b. It requires you to yield the right- of-way to the train c. If there is no stop line painted on the pavement, you must stop the bus before the crossbuck sign Gates/lights a. First, never attempt to go around the gates b. When the red lights are flashing, a train is present (1) Even if the lights continue to flash and no train appears, do not cross (2) Call your dispatcher or the police (a) At some crossings an 800 number is posted to call for help (3) If there is a flagman or police officer directing traffic, obey that person (a) You can cross if that person says it is okay c. When the gates are down, it means a train is present and the road is closed d. It is unsafe and illegal to cross e. If the gates begin to come down as you begin to cross, keep going even if it means you will break the gate Other signs a. STOP sign (1) A STOP sign means the same as it does at a highway intersection (2) Stop, look, and listen for the train; then proceed when it is safe to do so b. Multiple tracks (1) When there is more than one set of tracks at a crossing (a) There is a sign beneath the crossbuck with a number indicating how many tracks are present (2) Watch for additional trains coming from either direction c. DO NOT STOP ON THE TRACKS sign (1) This sign may be posted on the right side of the road or on the far side of the tracks (2) When you stop, be sure that the front (or the rear) of the bus is at least 15 feet from the tracks d. EXEMPT sign (1) There are 2 kinds of EXEMPT signs (a) A sign (below the crossbuck) with white background and black letters that says EXEMPT (b) A sign (below the advance warning sign) with yellow background and black letters that says EXEMPT (2) An EXEMPT sign means that the crossing has been abandoned or its use discontinued (3) Follow your local procedures about stopping at an EXEMPT crossing e. TRACK OUT OF SERVICE sign (1) In some states, this sign may be posted at a crossing that has been abandoned or its use discontinued (2) Follow your local procedures about stopping at a TRACK OUT OF SERVICE crossing			II.B. Display Slide #2 II.C. Display Slide #3 II.H. Distribute Handout #1 II.H.1. Review first page and top II.I.1. Review box on second page of Handout #1 II.J. Distribute and review Handout #2

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

II.D.1. There are optical illusions that makes it difficult to judge the speed of an approaching train. Illusion #1. If you have ever observed a jet liner coming in for a landing, you probably thought it looked like it was hanging in the sky. In fact, you knew that it was approaching very rapidly. It is the plane’s size and the angle of its approach that make judging its speed so difficult. It is the same with trains. At a crossing, you see the train at a 3 - 5 degree angle. That angle and the train’s large size make the train appear to be moving more slowly than it really is. It also appears to be further away than it really is. Illusion #2. Viewed from a crossing, railroad tracks produce the illusion of great distance. That is because the parallel lines of the rail converge toward the horizon. (The same illusion is used in art classes to create perspective.) The apparent convergence of the rails gives us the impression that the train is further from the crossing than it really is. In addition, the apparent size of the approaching train changes very slowly. This leads drivers to assume it is not only far away but moving slowly — a deceptive and dangerous combination of illusions. II.H. Distribute Handout #1, How to Cross a Highway-Rail Intersection Safely. II.H.6. All radios should be turned off, including the office radio. Some school bus drivers start preparing when they first see the R/R sign. They begin to turn everything off and to open the window. In this way, it doesn’t take as long once they stop. II.H.6.a. One of the problems in the Fox River Grove crash was that the driver turned the AM/FM radio back on before completely clearing the track. II.H.7.a. Have drivers show/describe their signals. Some school bus drivers turn the dome light on. Others use a hand signal or symbol, such as a V. II.H.9. Check your state law to find out when the train’s engineer must blow the whistle before a highway-rail grade crossing. It may be a certain distance away or a certain amount of time before reaching the crossing. II.H.14.a. This angle is shown in the film. II.J. Distribute Handout #2, Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Warning Devices. Have participants follow along as you review the information presented in section J. II.J.4.d.(3) Review your local policy and procedures about stopping at EXEMPT crossings. II.J.4.e.(2) Review your local policy and procedures about stopping at TRACK OUT OF SERVICE crossings.