At a train tracks crossroads, is it possible to get stuck between the protective bars?

Question

At a train tracks crossroads, is it possible to get stuck between the protective bars?

Answer 1

Nope, because the gates only drop across half the road, and on your side it's before the track.  If you're on the track, you're past the gate and the way is clear ahead.

Not that you'd ever BE on the track.  You're not an idiot, and only an idiot would pull onto railroad tracks if there wasn't enough room ahead to get all the way across and clear. To queue up on the tracks would be suicidal and illegal.

So your side is blocked before the tracks, and the other side is blocked after the tracks.   What keeps people from driving around the gates by crossing over to the wrong side of the road and zig-zagging around the crossing?  Good question.

Most crossings, nothing.

One increasingly popular technique is median separation.

http://www.qwickkurb.com/page7.html

You can't zigzag over to the wrong side of the road to drive around the gates, because there's a barrier in the way.

A rare technique is quadrant gates.  

http://www.switch.com/crossing/4_quadran...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four-quadra...

Here's a case where a car could be caught in the middle.  In the UK that's prevented by human beings manually lowering the gates after checking for trapped cars.  In the U.S. they have automated ways of detecting cars on the tracks.  In both cases they do not lower gates which would block cars on the tracks.  Even if that did happen, the car could drive THROUGH the gate, as they're weak.  

So,  

1. Don't stop on the tracks.

2. If you do, and a gate is in the way of getting off the tracks, just bulldoze the gate.  

3. If all else fails, get out of the vehicle, get clear of the tracks (like 10 feet from the nearest rail) and position yourself "upstream" of the collision so you don't get hit by flying debris.

Answer 2

i guess, but you can drive around them at most crossings...unless your a horrible driver...then your going to die...sorry about that!

Answer 3

the previous answers all look to be correct - on quadrant type crossings (blocks all lanes both sides) here is a link for some more info:http://www.switch.com/crossing/4_quadran...

didnt notice the link to switch.com above -- this system is available to more than just the US -- I am positive that the Microlok II system is available worldwide.

Answer 4

Yes, if you're not paying attention. The big light you will see coming at you - that's the train.

Answer 5

Caught between them, yes.  Stuck between them, no.

People do get stuck by traffic ahead of them though.  So, if crossing the tracks in your automobile, DON'T pull onto the tracks unless and/or until you have room to fit on the other side to clear.  

This is how most people get dead.  The others are just foolish enough to go around the gates into the path of an oncoming train or just aren't paying attention.

Room is very important.  If you wish, click on my smiling face and when at my profile page, access my 360 and read the blog post of 6-25-07.  It deals with this important safety subject.

One must also consider someone else getting stuck in the car in front of or behind you.  When a car gets tagged by a train that's clippin' right along, they have a tendency to come apart.  You may wind up with a motor or transmission in your lap, or maybe a bumper through your window.

These kinds of things can ruin someones' day.........

Answer 6

NO, they are designed to "break away" just in thos instances. You are not totally trapped. your car might get scratched but you can drive out. If you find yourself stuck and  cant move for whatever reason, engine died or something, GET OUT!!! the car can be replaced, you cant.