Advocacy & Safety - Get out of the way, you F'ing...train?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enkh9A5jdUI

Too good. Betcha he was too busy looking for the moonwalking bear. :roflmao:

-Kurt

train should have had some of those little orange flags.

Of only there was an audible or visual signal to warn the the motorist of a train crossing. Perhaps a sign...

She didn't see it.

Looks like the car never even tapped the brakes. Reminds me of a story I read in Tow Truck Monthly. The worlds largest tow truck is a converted military tank recovery vehicle. It is about 40' long, 14' high painted orange with black and yellow stripes. It was hit in the first week of operation. The driver of the car claimed not to have seen it............

Was it a Toyota? :p

The worlds largest tow truck is a converted military tank recovery vehicle. It is about 40' long, 14' high painted orange with black and yellow stripes. It was hit in the first week of operation. The driver of the car claimed not to have seen it............

This thing?

http://www.towhaul.com/images/stories/towhaul%20gooseneck%20with%20towing%20option%20at%20work.jpg

-Kurt

It's not just on the roads, either -- one of my responsibilities on the job is to hang signing from the ceiling, change it out for the seasons, etc.; we have a large yellow so-called "cherry picker" lift machine, that beeps regularly when it moves in ANY direction, at ANY speed (slow, slower, slowest), and has a rather noisy steering mechanism.

People run into it with their chopping carts....

We have taken to roping off the areas where we work on the picker, with bright yellow rope and the poles like the banks use to 'guide' customers through the 'switchbacks' that lead to the teller window. People run into them, too. It's like an epidemic of stupid.....

Obviously this train should have upgraded to a brighter dinotte.

I was on the train in Mexico when exactly that happened. But unfortunately it was an American train, and the Mexican police did not like the driver interfering with the tourist train.
And pushed the truck off the track and chewed the driver out for hitting the train.
On we went.
dc

I was on the train in Mexico when exactly that happened. But unfortunately it was an American train, and the Mexican police did not like the driver interfering with the tourist train.
And pushed the truck off the track and chewed the driver out for hitting the train.
On we went.
dc
?

Why is that unfortunate? If a driver crashes into a train, shouldn't the cops (ir aby other carbon-based lifeform on the scene) chew him out for it?

I suppose I might be missing a joke or an element of sarcasm here...

OMG! That driver wasn't wearing a helmet!!!

In the Air Force we had this term... "Situational Awareness"... being completely aware of your surroundings, yourself and other objects in motion within your reaction time area. More information (radar, radar warning receiver, ground control updates, AWACS) can increase situational awareness if delivered in a clear concise manner, or lower it if the pilot cannot comprehend it from information overload.

I RARELY encounter this outside of people who have served as it seems 'dirty civvie pukes', especially the past ten years seem to not only have tunnel vision, but are directing it at everything EXCEPT where they are going. It's like people are turning into those birds or pet dogs who are too stupid to realize they're about to run headfirst into a plate glass door.

I think biking increases your SA for most people - you become more aware of looking out for bumps, looking out for cars, or just plain flipping off the people screaming "Get off the road, you should be riding on the sidewalk" - in areas where it's clearly posted riding on the sidewalk is illegal.

It's part of why when a bike gets hit by a vehicle, it's usually because the vehicle wasn't paying attention... or it's just some malicious punk kid from out of state who decided to dick with you; funny when you kick their asses, trash their vehicle for hitting you and it turns out they've got out of state warrants for assault...

Long story.

He was also on the wrong side of the road. With all those pedestrians, it's lucky he didn't run anybody down.

Trains do not pay road tax, so its the trains fault for delaying legitimate traffic.

I'd swear that this driver must have some family members driving around in my area.

Though he may have been having some sort of medical issue at the time...

Of only there was an audible or visual signal to warn the the motorist of a train crossing. Perhaps a sign...

I assume this is sarcasm? ;)

We have had several deaths in our recently caused by those pesky trains, the craziest one was when the woman crashed THROUGH the down crossing gates...right in front of an Amtrak traveling at 70mph. Sadly her innocent children had to die.

Aaron :)

5 to 1 the driver was texting, eating/drinking, or diddling with the radio.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMvtDNATP04
:twitchy:

In the Air Force we had this term... "Situational Awareness"... being completely aware of your surroundings, yourself and other objects in motion within your reaction time area. More information (radar, radar warning receiver, ground control updates, AWACS) can increase situational awareness if delivered in a clear concise manner, or lower it if the pilot cannot comprehend it from information overload.

I RARELY encounter this outside of people who have served as it seems 'dirty civvie pukes', especially the past ten years seem to not only have tunnel vision, but are directing it at everything EXCEPT where they are going. It's like people are turning into those birds or pet dogs who are too stupid to realize they're about to run headfirst into a plate glass door.

I think biking increases your SA for most people - you become more aware of looking out for bumps, looking out for cars, or just plain flipping off the people screaming "Get off the road, you should be riding on the sidewalk" - in areas where it's clearly posted riding on the sidewalk is illegal.

It's part of why when a bike gets hit by a vehicle, it's usually because the vehicle wasn't paying attention... or it's just some malicious punk kid from out of state who decided to dick with you; funny when you kick their asses, trash their vehicle for hitting you and it turns out they've got out of state warrants for assault...

Long story.

I wanna ride with deathshadow60.
I think it would be fun!

This thing?


-Kurt

Probably this one:
http://inlinethumb11.webshots.com/43978/2584598070056627778S600x600Q85.jpg



But these are the ones I see most often:D

http://www.olive-drab.com/images/id_m88_hercules_700_10_pettit.jpg

Aaron:)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMvtDNATP04
:twitchy:

Brutal.

Does the mother still qualify for a Darwin Award if half of her progeny survived the crash? Are there bonus awards for killing two of her own kids?

I wanna ride with deathshadow60. I think it would be fun!
+1 BTW that train crossing is on several of the local group rides in my area.... I am glad they weren't between the train and car.

Both those videos are mind-blowing. I mean, just how does that happen? And the slow-poking tourist train ... too funny.

Mom-van ... couldn't see the crash from the video. I hope she made it through. Looks like she didn't see the train coming from the other direction.

Hard to believe that someone over the age of 19 would try something like that ...

That station wagon had some aftermarket rims on it. Pretty sure it was no old guy having medical issues.

Both those videos are mind-blowing. I mean, just how does that happen? And the slow-poking tourist train ... too funny.

Mom-van ... couldn't see the crash from the video. I hope she made it through. Looks like she didn't see the train coming from the other direction.

Hard to believe that someone over the age of 19 would try something like that ...

Your hope is in vain (http://www.publicpress.org/8777). Killed herself and two of her four kids. So her genes aren't quite removed from the pool, but their contribution has been halved.

Your hope is in vain (http://www.publicpress.org/8777). Killed herself and two of her four kids. So her genes aren't quite removed from the pool, but their contribution has been halved.

If the kids had to die. I wish she could have lived. So she could live with what she did to them .she got off easy

If the kids had to die. I wish she could have lived. So she could live with what she did to them .she got off easy

Mom lingered in the hospital for 10 day before giving up the ghost, if that soothes your sense of justice any.

If you believe in an afterlife, then assume that she'll exist forever in the shame of that one stupid decision. If you don't believe in an afterlife, well then there's no greater punishment than premature termination of one's existence.

If the kids had to die. I wish she could have lived. So...

So she could sue the pants off the railroad, and win the case?

-Kurt

Drivers of motor vehicles have almost as many misconceptions about crossing train tracks as they do about bicycles. I watched a train hit an older model Delta 88 once, the four teenagers inside survived with remarkably few injuries but the crash was spectacular to say the least.

I just don't get where people are coming from when it comes to huge moving masses. An SUV (or any tin can) isn't going to be any protection. in fact the only protection in these scenarios is LUCK.

Railtrack released these two clips a few months ago. It seems that some peoples take on their own mortality is questionable.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmPoFLAUokI&feature=related

I just don't get where people are coming from when it comes to huge moving masses. An SUV (or any tin can) isn't going to be any protection. in fact the only protection in these scenarios is LUCK.

No, you totally get where people are coming from. They're relying upon luck and previous experience (every time they've beaten the train is a positive re-enforcement of a negative habit) to get them through. As a young man I made numerous snap judgements where I heavily weighted my own luck, speed, and strength over the consequences of failure. Some of those judgements were proven to be poor, and I've the scars to remind me. But lucky for me, none of them were lethal. Now that I'm older, my decisions are weighted more heavily towards the consequences of failure versus success than whether I can make it or not. Some of us live through it, some of us don't.

In comparison, my lady has always made judgements based more upon consequences of failure than probability of success. She has significantly fewer scars than me.

Just so you know, for future reference. It is very hard to judge the speed of a train because of it's size/length. I would hate for somebody to have to eat their own words.

I was late for a ride in January because I got stuck at a crossing as a train went by so I certainly understand the impulse to try to beat one to an intersection. But it's just not worth it. The closest I've ever gotten to doing something stupid regarding a train was when I was on my bike and a train was stopped at a crossing. After 20 minutes of that I was ready to throw my bike across and jump over the coupler. Just when I got up the courage to do that they moved the train 10 feet.

No, you totally get where people are coming from. They're relying upon luck and previous experience (every time they've beaten the train is a positive re-enforcement of a negative habit) to get them through. As a young man I made numerous snap judgements where I heavily weighted my own luck, speed, and strength over the consequences of failure. Some of those judgements were proven to be poor, and I've the scars to remind me. But lucky for me, none of them were lethal. Now that I'm older, my decisions are weighted more heavily towards the consequences of failure versus success than whether I can make it or not. Some of us live through it, some of us don't.

In comparison, my lady has always made judgements based more upon consequences of failure than probability of success. She has significantly fewer scars than me.

In my younger days I would hang off of baloney railing and do pull ups. And a lot of dumb crap too. But the thing that gets me is that she dd not put her life on the line , but her kids as well.

Just so you know, for future reference. It is very hard to judge the speed of a train because of it's size/length.

Not particularly true. A straight line of trackage might do it, but you'd have to be purposely ignoring the perceived speed in favor of that "luck" that GriddleCakes referenced if one can't get a reasonable fix on speed within two seconds or so.

Two seconds not long enough? Then you aren't going slow enough.

-Kurt

Depending on the track and the train...Amtrak on open tracks (not the NE Corridor Acela) can be hitting close to 80mph. Freights typically run 55mph. The one in the OP video was obviously moving much slower. We had yet another crossing accident in NC last week where a freight was moving at 12mph and the person went around the gates...got stuck and their vehicle was destroyed. In this case they managed to bail and no lives were lost.

I really feel bad for the engineers of the trains because they are all but helpless in this situation. From what I gather in the quite often they end up having to go out on disability due to psychological trauma after the bad wrecks.

Aaron :)

I really feel bad for the engineers of the trains because they are all but helpless in this situation. From what I gather in the quite often they end up having to go out on disability due to psychological trauma after the bad wrecks.

All the more reason that I loath the motorists who try these stunts equally to those who "toy" with cyclists.

-Kurt

this disturbing video doesn't belong on the bike forums

Public service announcements showing what happens to a big vehicle after a train hits it would be a good idea. When i say big vehicle, i usually mean SUVs, hummers, ford f350s, that kind of thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMvtDNATP04
:twitchy:

ouch. Drivers try that right hook on everything apparently.
She got left hooked.:twitchy:

this disturbing video doesn't belong on the bike forums

It does, but only to show that even something as large as a train can be overlooked by motorists. It also belongs to show cyclists that motorists may NOT make the most logical decisions regarding even their own safety, much less any other road users' safety.

It is a sad reminder that there may be an idiot behind the wheel of the next vehicle crossing the cyclists path.

Most recent

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrGNgCd6Pg8

Oldy but a goodie... "Houston metro's Greatest Hits"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV2rdGX4JYc

Granted, these trains are pretty quiet, and operate parallel to a lane.... but situational awareness woulda taken care of that ;)

Most recent

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrGNgCd6Pg8

Ah, yes - the "hint, hint, every form of public transportation is dangerous" news report. From the desk of helmet nannies.

-Kurt

wow, Houston has a huge problem with people driving their CARS into the paths of the trains. also doesn't belong on this forum.

now, get a dashcam video with a BICYCLE getting creamed and we'll talk ... :-)

I really feel bad for the engineers of the trains because they are all but helpless in this situation. From what I gather in the quite often they end up having to go out on disability due to psychological trauma after the bad wrecks.

Aaron :)

The husband of a friend of mine has been an engineer for the Chicago commuter rail line for 10 - 20 years (Metra) and the engineers have to take time off and get counseling after a death. He knows a couple of guys who've had to do that several times, sometimes due to suicide and others due to accidents.

The ironic thing about him is he's very competent at what he does and loves his job, but walks out into traffic without looking!

Ah, yes - the "hint, hint, every form of public transportation is dangerous" news report. From the desk of helmet nannies.
The end of the video made me laugh, the guy said "How do you miss a train?"

Without missing a beat I went "The bus driver didn't miss. Hit it perfectly."

But yeah, 1 bus in how many trips over the entire country hits a train... Compared to how many highway head-on collisions? Compared to how many pedestrians run over?

Hell, I'd feel safer riding the bus after that -

1) because it looks like the bus actually took most of the impact and from the video the injuries should all have been minor.

2) because that means the statistical anomaly is out of the way, so you aren't due for it to happen again for a while and the remaining drivers will be paying more attention; at least in the short term. Give it a year though and it's back to status quo since people are sheep.

line from The Zoo Story, by Edward Albee 1958:

"Pop...slapped into the front of a somewhat moving city omnibus,"

Most recent...[bus/train crash vid]

Ugh. Sensational scare tactic BS. " isn't concerned [about recent bus/train collision]. Then again, he hasn't seen [B]this." Cue terrifying (:rolleyes:) video of crash.

Breaking news! Did you know that human systems are subject to human error? Human error can kill you and everyone you love!

More breaking news! Did you know that the world is fraught with peril? Leaving the house the can kill you and everyone you love!

Still more breaking news! Did you know that you, yes you, are mortal? EVERYONE ALIVE IS GOING TO DIE!

You heard it here first: never leave the womb.












Breaking news regarding safety in the womb! You're not going to like this...