Accidents on Level Crossings

[knowabit]

I was reading somewhere about how many accidents and fatalities occur on level crossings.
Without sounding insensitive to anyone who may have been affected by such, how on earth do you not see or hear a train coming?!
If you were going to attempt to cross, you'd surely look both ways and see if there is a train hurtling towards you!
Most of the incidents were pedestrians, not car drivers.
Just a strange thought of mine!

[DTCwordfan]

apparently the bookies will give you even odds on an accident happening at a level crossing.

[welshlibranr]

knowabit, I fail to understand it either!....if I knew a train was hurtling towards the crossing there is no way I'd be anywhere near it!.....maybe these folk just thought they had time to rush across?......a person I knew years ago was killed, his dog strayed onto the crossing he went to save it, he was killed, the dog ran away and survived!.........

[Dolt]

I don't think they are "accidents"

[Buenchico]

Railway tracks aren't always straight. Only a slight bend, with trackside vegetation (or other visual obstructions) can limit the distance which can be seen.

If you can see a quarter of a mile along the track, a 100mph train (which is just coming into view) will arrive in 9 seconds. (A 125mph train will arrive in 7.2 seconds). If the train is approaching on the track nearest to you, that probably gives you time to get across the track before the train arrives. However people sometimes fail to realise that it's hard to get across BOTH tracks before the train arrives. So, if it's on the furthest track, they end up getting struck by the train.

It's also worth remembering that you don't only need to get clear of the train itself. You also need to get clear of the fast-moving volume of air alongside it, which can drag you under the train.

Chris

[janzman]

If you stand at a crossing you can hear a train approaching as a shrill whine through the tracks perhaps 5secs warning.A fatality maybe daredevil..deaf..or..deliberate...

[welshlibranr]

....or maybe someone who thinks they can make it!.....and can't!......