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Safety Training Presentation Railroad Grade Crossings Mustafa Abdullah Safety & Training Instructor

Railroad / Highway Grade Crossing

Don’t Let This Happen To You

C ollisions between trains and schools buses are infrequent but they do occur. The Nov collision near Fox River Grove, Ill. is probably best known. As bad as it was though -- seven fatalities and 25 injuries -- it is not the worst. That dubious honor appears to belong to a train-school bus collision that occurred prior to World War II. In 1938 a train slammed into a school bus near Riverton, Utah killing 24 youngsters!

In the belief that if society doesn't remember its history it is doomed to repeat it, the editors of School Transportation News undertook a study to locate all known train-school bus collisions. The study found 165 train-school bus collisions between 1902 and Of these, 34 resulted in fatalities to school bus passengers resulting in 181 deaths and 546 injuries. The criteria, for the most, required that the bus involved was a traditional yellow school bus or a bus in school service transporting pupils. Staged collisions were excluded.

Fox River Grove School Bus-Train Wreck Click to see animation

Fox River Grove, Chicago, Illinois Time and Date: 7:10 a.m., Oct. 25, 1995 Weather conditions: Clear. Event: School bus drives onto rail-highway grade crossing in front on an approaching commuter train. Injuries: Seven school bus passengers die, 24 bus passenger and bus driver injured. Accident report: National Transportation Safety Board Highway Accident Report 96/02

Description of collision: A school bus crossed the railroad tracks and stopped for a red traffic signal at the Fox River Grove railroad grade crossing. The rear of the bus extended about 3 feet into the path of the train. The train, a Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation (Metropolitan Rail) express commuter train, traveling at approximately 70 mph, struck the rear left side of the stopped Transportation Joint Agreement School District 47/155 school bus.

Probable Cause: The NTSB determined that the probable cause of the collision was that the bus driver had positioned the school bus so that it encroached upon the railroad tracks. Contributing factors included the failure of the 1) Illinois Department of Transportation to recognize the short queuing area on northbound Algonquin Road and to take corrective action, 2) the failure of the Illinois Department of Transportation to recognize the insufficient time of the green signal indication for vehicles on northbound Algonquin Road before the arrival of a train at the crossing, and 3) the failure of the Transportation Joint Agreement School District 47/155 to identify route hazards and to provide its drivers with alternative instructions for such situations. Also, the absence of a communications system that ensured understanding of the integration and working relationship of the railroad and highway signal systems.

Recommended Procedures for School Bus Drivers at Railroad Crossings 1.When making stops for railroad crossings. Carefully observe all traffic. Use school bus hazard warning lamps, and tap the brakes to communicate to traffic that the bus is about to stop. Take these actions far enough in advance to avoid startling motorist behind the bus, which could cause panic stops or rear- end collisions. 2.Bring the bus to a full and complete stop before crossing any track, whether or not the bus is carrying passengers. 3.On multiple-lane roads, stop only in the right lane unless it is necessary to make a left turn immediately after crossing the railroad tracks.

4.After stopping the bus, fully open the service door (make sure the warning light master switch is off) and the driver’s side window, turn off all noisy equipment (radios, fans, etc.), instruct students to be quiet, and look and listen in both directions along the tracks for approaching trains. 5.If the view of the railroad track is not adequate, do not attempt to cross the tracks until you can see that no train is approaching. 6.If a train passes from one direction, make sure that another train, possibly hidden by the first train, is not approaching on an adjacent track.

7.For railroad crossings equipped with warning devices such as lights, bells, and /or gates, always obey the signals. Never ignore railroad crossing signals. If a police officer or flagman is present at the crossing, obey their directions, but be sure to make your own visual check. 8.Before crossing the tracks, ensure there is adequate room on the other side of the tracks and train right-of-way for the entire bus. It is always possible that the bus may have to stop immediately after crossing the tracks. 9.When the tracks are clear, close the service door and place the transmission in a gear that will not require changing while crossing the tracks. Leave all noisy equipment off and continue looking in all directions as you cross the tracks. After safely crossing the tracks, turn off the hazard warning lights.

10.If the bus stalls while crossing the tracks, EVACUATE the students IMMEDIATELY and move them to a safe distance away from the bus and in the direction of the on coming train if one is approaching.

Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Markings, Signs and Signals

Advanced Warning Sign : The round, black on yellow sign is placed ahead of a public railroad-highway crossing. The advanced warning sign tells you to slow down, look and listen for the train, and be prepared to stop at the tracks if a train is coming. Pavement Markings : Pavement markings mean the same as the advanced warning sign. There may be a white stop line painted on the pavement before the tracks. The front of the bus must remain behind this line while stopped at the crossing.

Crossbuck Sign: This sign marks a passive crossing. It requires you to yield the right-of –way to the train. When the road crosses over more than one set of tracks, a sign below the crossbuck indicates the number of tracks. Flashing Red Lights : At many active highway-rail grade crossings, the crossbuck sign has flashing red lights and bells. When the lights begin to flash, stop! A train is approaching. You are required to yield the right-of-way to the train. If there is more than one track, make sure all tracks are clear before proceeding.

Gates : Many active railroad-highway crossings have gates with flashing red lights and bells. Stop when the lights begin to flash and before the gate lowers across the road. Remain stopped until the gates go up and the lights have stopped flashing. Do not proceed until it is safe. If the gate stays down after the train passes, do not drive around the gate. Contact the office to report the problem and get further instructions.

Never drive your bus around downed R/R crossing gates. If you think the gates are malfunctioning, call the base. Do not attempt to go around the gates. NO, NO

Passive Crossings This type of crossing does not have any type of traffic control device. You must stop at these crossings and follow proper procedures. However, the decision to proceed rests entirely in your hands. Passive crossings require you to recognize the crossing, search for any train using the tracks and decide if there is sufficient clear space to cross safely. Passive crossings have yellow circular advance warning signs, pavement markings and cross bucks to assist you in recognizing a crossing

Active Crossings This type of crossing has a traffic control device installed at the crossing to regulate traffic. These active devices can include flashing red lights, flashing red lights with bells, or flashing red lights with bells and gates. If there is more than one track a sign with the number of tracks may also be present.

Summary & Tips Treat all railroad crossings as operational, (exempt tracks should be approached with caution). Always stop no closer than 15 feet from the first rail. Remember SLL&L (Stop, Look, Listen and Live). Make sure you have containment space before crossing the tracks. Always check for other trains.

Don't Stop Once You Start If you start over a crossing and the lights start flashing and the gates start down, don't freeze; keep going. The warning signals allow enough time to drive over the crossing before the train arrives. No gate on the other side will block your lane. If you stop and try to back up, you may stall.

Abandon Your Bus If You Stall On The Tracks If your bus is boxed in or stalls on a track, get everyone out immediately and safely away from the car. Post a look out in each direction of the track, if a train is approaching try to flag a warning to it. If no train is in sight, have someone push the car clear or start it. No bus is worth a human life.

"Boxed In" Can Be Fatal Gates won't trap you, but a halt in highway traffic flow might. Never drive onto a railroad track until you are certain you can drive all the way across. Be sure the traffic ahead of you will not stop and box you in on a track. CONTAINMENT SPACE

Stopping Distances for Freight Trains NEVER TRY TO BEAT A TRAIN ACROSS THE TRACKS