Three children and adult killed, two others injured, in collision with train

[Ron in Regina]

...& on the note of Saskatchewan highways, and sunset (or sunrise),
and dangerous as hell, check this brain fart out:

I mean, this refuge (deer crossing constantly, and other critters like
raccoons and skunks other misc squished and flattened animals)
could be located anyplace except stretched out alongside a damn
highway.

 

[Scooby]

Mostly because you are viewing it backwards. The solution is NOT to force railways to spend more money on gates that are neither necessary or will be obeyed. In theory everyone that has a drivers license has read the manual and knows that they must stop at all uncontrolled rail crossings and even be wary at controlled ones. Those that don't may win a Darwin award. We already suffer from far too much bubble wrap society that wants to protect stupid people from themselves.
In this case if I understood the article correctly the driver had a learners license, therefore there had to be a licensed driver in the front seat as well. What was he/she doing besides not observing the driving and road conditions?

I not convinced I'm viewing it backward, albiet I have an obviously radical idea

A few points:

Everybody makes stupid mistakes from time to time, mostly we all get lucky and survive, but not always. This does not define anyone as being stupid, just unlucky.

Safety is a always an inconvienience and a waste of money, right up to the point when it saves your life or someone you care about.

Railroads can do better, they have enjoyed a long history of government turning a blind eye for economic reasons. Affordable technology is there to make these crossings safer. Solar powered LED's perhaps?

 

[lone wolf]

If you can't see a train you'll not see a light

 

[Kakato]

...& on the note of Saskatchewan highways, and sunset (or sunrise),
and dangerous as hell, check this brain fart out:

I mean, this refuge (deer crossing constantly, and other critters like
raccoons and skunks other misc squished and flattened animals)
could be located anyplace except stretched out alongside a damn
highway.

I drove that highway last week to and from Saskatoon.There is a period when your heading west and you cant see much if your windshields pitted at sunset,one other thing I noticed was the suns reflection off all the flooded fields would also blind you even worse with the glare.
There was a road under water on the north side of the highway when i drove in.

I had a few scares coming up on uncontrolled crossings that you couldn't even see because of trees or bush.

 

[taxslave]

Actually it is NOT mandatory to stop at an uncontrolled crossing unless you are carrying dangerous goods.

All the ones on the island, including private have a stop sign on them but people still managed to hit the train. One pea brain in Nanaimo even managed to WALK into the train. And it is not like it is a busy track. One or 2 freights a week and the speeder that goes up island in the morning and down in the afternoon.

I not convinced I'm viewing it backward, albiet I have an obviously radical idea

A few points:

Everybody makes stupid mistakes from time to time, mostly we all get lucky and survive, but not always. This does not define anyone as being stupid, just unlucky.

Safety is a always an inconvienience and a waste of money, right up to the point when it saves your life or someone you care about.

Railroads can do better, they have enjoyed a long history of government turning a blind eye for economic reasons. Affordable technology is there to make these crossings safer. Solar powered LED's perhaps?

You never see drivers go around the barricades at controlled crossings when they are down? Do you really thing anyone this stupid will stop at a light?

 

[Kakato]

at any rate,the family of the deceased girl said they trusted the driver and would trust him again and he was a good driver.

At 15 your not a good driver,you may think your the best in the world but your not.
With experience comes the habit of being defensive and asking what if,what if all the time.

 

[Scooby]

Mostly because you are viewing it backwards. The solution is NOT to force railways to spend more money on gates that are neither necessary or will be obeyed. In theory everyone that has a drivers license has read the manual and knows that they must stop at all uncontrolled rail crossings and even be wary at controlled ones. Those that don't may win a Darwin award. We already suffer from far too much bubble wrap society that wants to protect stupid people from themselves.
In this case if I understood the article correctly the driver had a learners license, therefore there had to be a licensed driver in the front seat as well. What was he/she doing besides not observing the driving and road conditions?

If you can't see a train you'll not see a light

A lot of drivers, especially inexperienced drivers have tunnel vision and don't see what is off to the sides. Long boring streaches of road need clear signals to alert drivers of danger whenever possible.
I know of several intersections that suffer a higher rate of collisions when drivers simply fail to see what's coming from the sides, not because the view is blocked, rather because it's easy to assume there is nothing there.
Things are only obvious when you notice, otherwise they don't exist.

 

[lone wolf]

A lot of drivers, especially inexperienced drivers have tunnel vision and don't see what is off to the sides. Long boring streaches of road need clear signals to alert drivers of danger whenever possible.
I know of several intersections that suffer a higher rate of collisions when drivers simply fail to see what's coming from the sides, not because the view is blocked, rather because it's easy to assume there is nothing there.
Things are only obvious when you notice, otherwise they don't exist.

That's why a learner is supposed to have a sober and sensible fully licensed driver in the seat beside him/her

 

[taxslave]

A lot of drivers, especially inexperienced drivers have tunnel vision and don't see what is off to the sides. Long boring streaches of road need clear signals to alert drivers of danger whenever possible.
I know of several intersections that suffer a higher rate of collisions when drivers simply fail to see what's coming from the sides, not because the view is blocked, rather because it's easy to assume there is nothing there.
Things are only obvious when you notice, otherwise they don't exist.

That is why learners must have a licensed driver with them. Someone to pay attention, not to crack beers and roll joints.

 

[Scooby]

That is why learners must have a licensed driver with them. Someone to pay attention, not to crack beers and roll joints.

Well, that is good point! The responsiblity of the supervising driver is not taken seriously way too often. Can't say what happened in this case though. Sure to be a heavy burden of guilt regardless.

 

[Kakato]

It is called a graduated licence now but was called a learners when I was 14 and called a learners for a reason,your learning.