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Re: QZ's can be over-ridden
Author: Dr Zarkoff
Date: 01-23-2024 - 11:00
>> One of the requirements is to blow the horn if the situation requires.
> This instant case is a good candidate for that. The freight was blocking the line of sight between the motorists and the Brightline train. If the Brightline engineer had been laying on the horn BIG TIME as he was approaching the crossing, the motorist probably would have aborted the attempt at going through the crossing.
This is an uninformed opinion because to the motorist "horn = train, and it just went by".
>> This is exactly what the E did as soon as he noticed the car coming around the gate, the view of which is partially obscured by the pedestrian gate mechanism on the right hand near side of he crossing.
> The engineer's response was too little too late.
Another uniformed opinion.
> Review what I wrote above.
Don't need to.
>> The only "overriding of a quiet zone" is done by the FRA when it abolishes one after statistics have shown that the quietness is leading to too many accidents.
> An engineer can use his discretion to ignore a quiet zone if he feels the situation warrants it.
Per the FRA, the E must whistle if:
1) there are RR M/W forces in the vicinity.
2) if pedestrians are too close to the track.
3) in cases like this one where highway traffic is seen to ignore the crossing protection devices.
1 and 2 apply to both crossings and areas where there aren't any.
Keep in mind that the E feels must have one of the above reasons to whistle in a quiet zone otherwise he could find himself subjected to disciplinary measures from the RR and/or the FRA.
> I've heard that some railroads don't like to make these types of videos available for public consumption because it gives too much cannon fodder to the ambulance-chasing lawyers.
Actually, nose cameras have virtually eliminated such lawsuits becase run around a gate, get pontooned by a locomotive, sue the RR, a video of your mishap will be shown almost immediately, and you will lose.
> This instant case is a good candidate for that. The freight was blocking the line of sight between the motorists and the Brightline train. If the Brightline engineer had been laying on the horn BIG TIME as he was approaching the crossing, the motorist probably would have aborted the attempt at going through the crossing.
This is an uninformed opinion because to the motorist "horn = train, and it just went by".
>> This is exactly what the E did as soon as he noticed the car coming around the gate, the view of which is partially obscured by the pedestrian gate mechanism on the right hand near side of he crossing.
> The engineer's response was too little too late.
Another uniformed opinion.
> Review what I wrote above.
Don't need to.
>> The only "overriding of a quiet zone" is done by the FRA when it abolishes one after statistics have shown that the quietness is leading to too many accidents.
> An engineer can use his discretion to ignore a quiet zone if he feels the situation warrants it.
Per the FRA, the E must whistle if:
1) there are RR M/W forces in the vicinity.
2) if pedestrians are too close to the track.
3) in cases like this one where highway traffic is seen to ignore the crossing protection devices.
1 and 2 apply to both crossings and areas where there aren't any.
Keep in mind that the E feels must have one of the above reasons to whistle in a quiet zone otherwise he could find himself subjected to disciplinary measures from the RR and/or the FRA.
> I've heard that some railroads don't like to make these types of videos available for public consumption because it gives too much cannon fodder to the ambulance-chasing lawyers.
Actually, nose cameras have virtually eliminated such lawsuits becase run around a gate, get pontooned by a locomotive, sue the RR, a video of your mishap will be shown almost immediately, and you will lose.
