How Stupid Can Drivers Be With Trains?

Dominic Mazoch posted:

Big Jim posted:

Mr. Red car was going to make a right turn. He properly stopped before proceeding with his turn, then realized that he couldn't turn because of the street traffic. How many of you think the guy behind him had no clue about the train and didn't give Mr. Red Car room to back up?

Maybe there was a car too close to the rear bumper of the guy who was behind the red car?

The point Dominic is, when in a line of cars approaching a RR crossing, don't be in such a hurry to close up on the bumper of the car ahead. It may suddenly get stopped for some unknown reason right on the tracks. Give the guy an "out" or room to back up if need be. If you don't and the car ahead gets hit, it could come back and injure you. Let the car ahead get fully across the tracks before you make the decision to cross yourself. Think about it.

If you don't and the car ahead gets hit, it could come back and injure you. Let the car ahead get fully across the tracks before you make the decision to cross yourself.

Not only that, what if (I hate what ifs) the cars bumpers got hooked together?  If the front car gets hit and pulls the 2nd car along down the tracks, then you have 2 car-loads of "statistics" to deal with.

Bob Delbridge posted:

If you don't and the car ahead gets hit, it could come back and injure you. Let the car ahead get fully across the tracks before you make the decision to cross yourself.

Not only that, what if (I hate what ifs) the cars bumpers got hooked together?  If the front car gets hit and pulls the 2nd car along down the tracks, then you have 2 car-loads of "statistics" to deal with.

Yea that surprised me on the part as mentioned earlier, I would think that vehicle behind the red car would of moved back a little. But then again maybe he was also watching the CSX and didn't notice the red car.

Big Jim posted:

Dominic Mazoch posted:

Big Jim posted:

Mr. Red car was going to make a right turn. He properly stopped before proceeding with his turn, then realized that he couldn't turn because of the street traffic. How many of you think the guy behind him had no clue about the train and didn't give Mr. Red Car room to back up?

Maybe there was a car too close to the rear bumper of the guy who was behind the red car?

The point Dominic is, when in a line of cars approaching a RR crossing, don't be in such a hurry to close up on the bumper of the car ahead. It may suddenly get stopped for some unknown reason right on the tracks. Give the guy an "out" or room to back up if need be. If you don't and the car ahead gets hit, it could come back and injure you. Let the car ahead get fully across the tracks before you make the decision to cross yourself. Think about it.

People forget about "situational awareness", and "keeping an out".

I still remember in drivers ed we had to be able to see where the rear tires touched the road on the car in front of us when stopped.

P51, you make some interesting points.  10 years ago, I rear ended a guy who cut me off in traffic.  I hit the right rear corner of his bumper with the middle of mine.  This was in the City of Houston and the HPD was called.  Both cops wrote a report and told me I was at fault because I rear ended the guy.  

When speaking to my insurance adjuster, he stated much the same as you.  He said they don't put much stock into police reports, the review all of the facts. After viewing the damage to both vehicles and taking both statements (which included an illustration by me), he got the other guy to not only admit he cut me off, but that he failed to yield right of way.  The guy also admitted he failed to use his turn signal.  The adjuster then pointed him out the state driving laws he violated in doing such.  Needless to say, my insurance company refused his claim.

The answer to the original question was "REALLY, REALLY STUPID"  !!  Remember, there is no justice on the road.