Riding up to Orangeville today I went down the road where a biker was killed when he collided with a train. It was very sobering because it was one of those "But for the grace of God it could have been me" moments. Blocked view, rarely used level crossing, no lights, no gates. There was a sign warning of the unlit crossing but I don't now if it's new. Even if it was there, there are so many signs around we can become blind to them. Should more be done at these marginal crossings? I'm thinking that maybe a stop sign would have saved a life.
Reflecting on anothers misfortune
- Thread starter nobbie48
- Start date
PLau
Well-known member
Something like this could have been avoided if there were lights and a gate like most railway crossings. I think this should be mandatory for all crossings except maybe for railway crossings where you can see 3km down the track each way.
Some may say this can be very costly but I am sure some money can be invested in making more of these to save lives. I have seen the road done and redone 4 times in the past 1 1/2 years between hwy 7 & keele and hwy 7 & Jane.
Some may say this can be very costly but I am sure some money can be invested in making more of these to save lives. I have seen the road done and redone 4 times in the past 1 1/2 years between hwy 7 & keele and hwy 7 & Jane.
I remember waiting at the Galloway road in Guildwood village crossing numerous times over a period of years when the gates malfunctioned, backing up traffic in the area, until people found room to turn around or just bypassed the gates playing chicken with oncoming traffic doing the same.
Some driver was killed doing this recently.
PLau
Well-known member
Wouldn't either waiting, or turning around to find another way to get around be ideal in this situation?
I've seen the gates malfunction at the crossing near yonge and elgin mills where the gates just kept going up and down with no train, I didn't see anyone try running it. Many of the drivers just turned around and crossed another way while a few of us waited to see if it was going to stop doing what it was doing... 5 minutes of waiting and it stopped.
DOHC1
Well-known member
The subdivision I live in is blocked in by a railway crossing that is notorious for being stuck. Only slow CN rail trains cross that. I've driven/ridden through the barriers in a "S" formation many times. I can see 1 km in both direction so I dont see the danger in this. I just use my judegement when doing so. I'm not gonan try playing chicken with the train obviously, but at the same time im not sitting there for 20+ mins. The alternate route into the area adds about 15 mins to my commute.
Griffin
Well-known member
I don't see the need for the gates. The flashing lights and signs yes. If you need a gate to come down in front of you to realize the lights are flashing and the bells are chiming there's something wrong with your situational awareness. The gate merely becomes an obstruction to navigate when the signal malfunctions. I believe this adds more hazard to the crossing than one that only has the lights and alarms.
I pass two crossing every day. One has the gates and it malfunctions frequently causing the dangerous "shall we dance" exchange of cars trying to get around it.
I pass two crossing every day. One has the gates and it malfunctions frequently causing the dangerous "shall we dance" exchange of cars trying to get around it.
