I once talked to a RR employee involved with "Operation Lifesaver", the
RR industry's public awareness crossing safety program, and was told
that statistics show that fully 1/3 of the train/auto accidents involve
autos running into the side of trains both moving and standing! In some
cases, cars have even driven around other standing autos and through
gates to hit the train. He related one story of a driver involved in an
accident who awoke in a hospital and said that the train didn't sound
its horn. The driver hit the 44th car! So, maybe reflectorized tape
will help a little, but I doubt it. Some people are beyond help!
Bill Barber
On Monday, January 27, 2003, at 04:55 AM, BRHSlist@yahoogroups.com
wrote:
Message: 17
Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2003 22:02:44 EST
From: qutlx1@a...
Subject: reflectorization
Remember back in the '60s when the Q and other roads starting sticking
3M
tape to the sill lines on all new cars? It looked pretty cool on the
new
Chinese red boxes,gons,etc.
Well.............. what goes around comes around the FRA, after approx
2
years of hearings,discussions and statistical volleys between owners
and
regulators has decried that reflectorization is back. Effective later
this
year all new ft cars must have relectorized markings at the sill
level. All
existings cars must be so equipped at repaint. The idea is to reduce
road
vehicular crashes into standing trains at unmarked crossings. Cost to
the
industry is estimated at 5 million and savings at 7 million.
UTLX will start with new cars ordered after 2/1/03 and exisitng car
repaints
after 3/1/03.
Leo
|