Are trains now allowed to not blow their horns at crossings?

Question

Here in New Mexico I saw a crossing in a residential area with a sign stating no train horn. I believe this was now with the new commuter train service and the increase of trains, crossings were upgraded also to have 4 gates.

Answer 1

It is legal for trains to NOT blow their horn at some crossings. A recent rule revision by the Federal Railroad Administration allows communities to apply for an exception for specific crossings. Data is submitted, reviewed by the FRA and an exception may be granted.

Answer 2

The rules here in the UK are slightly different. We are not required to sound the warning horn at every crossing, just those where a whistle board has been provided (usually for pedestrian-only crossings where no other warning system has been provided and there is not adequate sighting distance along the line to see approaching trains). However, while we do not have quiet zones we do have quiet hours of 2300-0700 during which time the warning horn should not be sounded unless necessary (e.g. you see a person on or near the line).

This is probably the key difference between UK and US practices. Our rule book requires the sounding of the warning horn at certain times and places, but crucially also whenever the driver (engineer) deems it necessary. Provided that a driver can justify the use of the warning horn at certain times (even within the quiet hours) and places, they can't be touched for a breach of the rules.

In practice such action would be unlikely in any case, as most driver managers are former drivers themselves and understand why we sound the warning horn.

Answer 3

Yes and no,

In almost all cases we are required by law to blow the whistle at all public and  most private crossings.

Your last line is the key, crossing protection has to be upgraded so it is not so easy for people to run the gates, either by double gates or a long raised lane divider that cant be run around.

Many communities working with the railroads have upgraded the crossing protection and allowed railroads to eliminate the requirement for blowing the whistle.

As an engineer, it is a difficult transition for me, the whistle is the only real effective means we have at our disposal to avoid tragedy so it is almost ingrained in us to blow the whistle when we see a person or vehicle near the tracks.

I dont have statistics available but my gut feeling is these crossing modifications work, I think once people realize the train is NOT going to blow the whistle and they are personally responsible for their own safety they might actually pay a bit more attention. Of course all it takes is one person arguing with their mother in law on the cell phone to ruin that theory.

The only 100% safe crossing protection is alert attentive drivers, train horns are not easy to hear in a well built insulated vehicle with the windows up, crossing lights can and do fail, look and live.

Easy and simple and effective.

Answer 4

I continue to believe quiet zones are a bad idea.

Although also a communications device, the whistle is THE primary safety device to be found on any locomotive.  Anytime one willfully negates or prohibits the use of a safety device you're begging the lightning to strike.

People forget that it isn't just automobiles that must cross the tracks as pedestrians are involved as well.  In one quite zone I've operated there are blind curves where sight-line is quite compromised and in that particular instance it is particularly dangerous.

It is TIME that the locomotive whistle buys and, where life is on the line, milliseconds count.  As correctly pointed out, crossing protection can and from time to time does FAIL.  The crew won't know they're not working until they're on top of it and by then the whistle's mandated non-use will be the last of the elements that results in a fatality.

If your town has a quiet zone I hope the city coffers have a ton o' cash in 'em, because those are the funds that will be needed to settle the inevitable law suits.  That's why the carriers are always as helpful as can be in helping communities set up these areas.  It let's THEM off the hook.

For myself, I ignored the "no blow" action and used the whistle anyway.  And also as for me, the possibility of discipline was preferable over being involved with a tragedy.

An important safety question.  Here's a star for asking one...

Answer 5

Those are called quiet zones.The city's that have them have to put up a bond and be willing to accept the liability if someone gets hit at one.It took me a long time to get used to not blowing the horn at the one we have in New Mexico.I guess we were disturbing the golfers though lol.They didn't put four gates on ours,just a long divider to stop people from going around the gates.Ive already had someone drive down the wrong side of the road to get around the gates.