Trucks, cars and motorcycles crashing into trains is a fairly common occurrence. The drivers are usually killed and so there is no way to hear their story. In all cases when they saw the train there was not adequate time to stop.
On Friday June 24, 2011 an empty gravel semi collided with an Amtrak passenger train near Reno Nevada. The driver, who was killed, attempted to stop 320 feet before the tracks. If he was traveling at 65 miles per hour that distance equates to less than 3 seconds. 1001, 1002, 1003. Not much time. Whatever speed he was traveling a football field plus of distance was not enough distance to stop. In the Nevada desert with no traffic he may have been going more than 65 mph.
A train cannot stop. This train was doing 78 mph in an 80 mph speed limit area. That equates to 115 feet per second. Trains blow their horns starting at 1/4 mile away. So the horn was blowing 12 seconds ahead of the crossing. The gates came down, the lights flashed and the bells rang 20 to 30 seconds before the train arrived.
Look at the photo below. The roads are all flat. There were no buildings or obstructions to views.
Much is yet to be learned about the cause. It may be a year before a determination is made.
There is something we know right now. Something that applies to all of us. We need to expect the unexpected. What could happen and how can we be ready if it does? Think of the rare events.
Expecting the unexpected goes beyond expecting the expected. Driving between midnight and 3 am on a weekend night has some expected hazards. Drunk drivers. If we have to drive at that time we know what to expect. How about Tuesday morning in rush hour traffic?
Everyone needs to do planning for the unexpected. And not just on the roadway. You just got a bill for insurance and you don't know how you will pay it? You knew about it a year in advance. That's not unexpected. You got laid off? Not too rare an event.
Sit down right now and see what kind of list you can make. You might be surprised. It can be a life changing and business changing experience.
On Friday June 24, 2011 an empty gravel semi collided with an Amtrak passenger train near Reno Nevada. The driver, who was killed, attempted to stop 320 feet before the tracks. If he was traveling at 65 miles per hour that distance equates to less than 3 seconds. 1001, 1002, 1003. Not much time. Whatever speed he was traveling a football field plus of distance was not enough distance to stop. In the Nevada desert with no traffic he may have been going more than 65 mph.
A train cannot stop. This train was doing 78 mph in an 80 mph speed limit area. That equates to 115 feet per second. Trains blow their horns starting at 1/4 mile away. So the horn was blowing 12 seconds ahead of the crossing. The gates came down, the lights flashed and the bells rang 20 to 30 seconds before the train arrived.
Look at the photo below. The roads are all flat. There were no buildings or obstructions to views.
Much is yet to be learned about the cause. It may be a year before a determination is made.
There is something we know right now. Something that applies to all of us. We need to expect the unexpected. What could happen and how can we be ready if it does? Think of the rare events.
Expecting the unexpected goes beyond expecting the expected. Driving between midnight and 3 am on a weekend night has some expected hazards. Drunk drivers. If we have to drive at that time we know what to expect. How about Tuesday morning in rush hour traffic?
Everyone needs to do planning for the unexpected. And not just on the roadway. You just got a bill for insurance and you don't know how you will pay it? You knew about it a year in advance. That's not unexpected. You got laid off? Not too rare an event.
Sit down right now and see what kind of list you can make. You might be surprised. It can be a life changing and business changing experience.
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