Why do busses stop on railroad tracks before crossing?

Question

Why do busses stop on railroad tracks before crossing?

Answer 1

They stop  "before" the tracks.  Years back there were several instances of buses loaded with students pulling in front of locomotives.  Laws were passed making it a law to stop, open the door and look both ways before crossing, to prevent this happening again.

Answer 2

So all the 65 or so children on that bus don't become road kill after being hit by an on-comming locomotive.

Answer 3

The absolute, safest way to cross ANY railroad tracks:

1.  Stop

2.  Look

3.  Listen

Those of us in day to day life don't have the option of stopping at a grade crossing as buses and vehicles carrying Haz Mat are required to do by law, without getting rear ended by some jerk.  Besides, we don't want to take the time.

But, all can LOOK, turn off the music, roll down the window and LISTEN.  Your windows are probably electric anyway and you've already heard that song.

By the way, you know those crossing gates and lights and bells that always warn of a trains' approach?  The ones you absolutely trust your life to?  They don't always work.  Loss of electricity they are protected against with battery back up.  And, in very remote areas where there is no electricity, battery power is the primary source of power, said battery recharged by solar panels.

But, they can fail for other reasons.  And, they do.

If you think you are any safer because you cross at the same place at roughly the same time each day, you're not.  In fact, you're at higher risk.  Familiarity breeds contempt, or at the least, complacency or indifference.  The trains may be operating differently today.  Or in the opposite direction as usual, in some cases.  The combination of these factors is what gets people dead, as we assume things involving operating practices always work the same.  They don't.

Now, go back to the first paragraph of this answer and read it until it soaks in...

A safety question always gets a star from me.  Thanks for asking.

Answer 4

They don't stop ON them, they stop just before them to check if a train is coming... it is a law.

Answer 5

They stop before them not on them.They are checking to see if a train is coming because it takes longer for a bus to cross the tracks then a car/truck.So if the see a train coming they will wait and let it pass before crossing.Plus it's the law!!