Why do school buses and transportation vehicles have to stop at a train track?

Question

I dont understand why school buses and transportation vehicles have to stop at train tracks when there is no flashing lights or the gate isnt lowered. How many times has a train ever passed through a railroad crossing without indicating that it is going to do so? I just dont really understand why they do that.

Answer 1

I will agree that on the surface it may seem silly, but the law is there for a very very good reason.

SAFETY

The crossing gates and protective devices are not foolproof, they are mechanical devices and can and do fail.

The only sure way to be absolutely postiively safe is to look, both ways every time.

Dont ever allow a mechanical device to tell you the coast is clear. do it yourself.

That is exactly what buses are required to do because crossing protection is NOT reliable enough.

P.S. love the avatar btw, Tolkein rules!!

Answer 2

it a federal law and for safety because not all railroad

crossing are control by waring lights and gates

and now in some cities have set up quiet zones (which means

the train can not blow its horn on approach to a crossing)

Answer 3

Do you want to be the kid on the bus that doesn't stop , the day that the oncoming train plows through the crossing section that was malfunctioning.

It's because the train crossing machines malfunction frequently enough to have caused this kind of tragedy to occur a couple of times a decade.

Answer 4

It's a safety issue.  There are numerous blind spots on the buses that a train could conceivably "hide" in and not be seen.

The other thing, you ask why everyone isn't required to.  A few things come to mind.  Cars typically have better visibility than buses, they're smaller and faster moving, and, in a car you don't have the responsibility for the number of lives that are involved in transport vehicles.  Also, typically, a private vehicle has family members/friends....a commercial vehicle has non-related customers that the driver is responsible for their safety.  Need to take all steps possible to ensure their safety.  I gotta say, subconsciously, after 20+ years of driving a school bus, I find myself slowing down, and looking very carefully as I approach train crossings in my private car.  I've even been known to stop on occasion....forgot I wasn't in the bus.  Bet people thought I was nuts....throw the flashers on...slow down....look...and think "Dumba**....you're not in the bus!!!"

Answer 5

According to a TV program I saw on the Discovery Channel that concerned railroad accidents, the host stated that an accident with a train and a motor vehicle occurs at a grade crossing every 105 minutes, on average. He also said that a person is  40 times more likely to die in an accident with a train than he is  in an accident with another motor vehicle. Driver impatience and driver inattentiveness are the two major reasons of such accidents. STOP LOOK LISTEN!

I think this should answer your question and why the law requires school buses and other forms of public transporation to STOP, LOOK and LISTEN at grade crossings..

Answer 6

They're required to actually open the doors and listen for an oncoming train. people think its over protective but i'm a commuter and i ride the train to LA every day. many times my train has stopped because of faulty signals and the conductor had to get off the train and manually make it work. also, we've hit cars before (not because of faulty train signals) but some people think they can beat the train. i think its a necessary precaution.

Answer 7

I agree with first 4 of them.

It's law everyone that bus/transportation had to stop at train crossing or lightrail crossing.

This video is one of example why bus/train have to stop.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRyEwagkr...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KKiitd1b...

Answer 8

well it is a safety thing for the buses and transportation people.  

people are not paying attention to every thing and honestly at times to much in a hurry.  it is sad that people do it but it would take an accident over and over for them to figure it out.