Operation Life Saver Supplement
Myths and Realities
 It is okay to walk on railroad property as long
as you are not between the rails?
 It is okay to cross the tracks anywhere as long
as you can see ¼ mile?
 I will have plenty of time to get out of the way
of an approaching train because I will hear it
coming?
Signs and Markings
 At a crossing, the flashing red lights and
gates are for vehicles only?
 Railroad property is public property. I have
the right to use it?
 A locomotive is not always in front of a train?
 It is okay for you to cross just as soon as the
last car of a train passes the crossing?
 A freight train with 100 cars traveling 55 mph
requires 18 football fields to stop.
Standard Gate Assembly
 Extended arm lowers to restrict traffic
 Flashing lights upright position
 Arm downward motion 3 seconds
 Train clears crossing
 Track circuitry evolved past 100 years
 Battery relay to motion sensor
 Track circuit
Crossbuck
 Oldest warning devices
 Passive yield sign
 Right hand of public roadway
 Required on all public roadways
Facts Continued
 More people die in highway-rail
 50% have active warning devices
 Stopping distance full brake application
 100 cars 55 mph = one mile
 8 passenger car 79 mph = one mile
 Majority highway-rail less than 30 mph
Advance Warning Sign
 Round yellow with black “X” & “RR”
 Distance highway speed no less than 100
feet
 Not used low-volume, low-speed minor spurs
where train crews flag crossing
 Physical conditions do not permit
Other Passive Warning Devices
Parallel Track Signs
LAWS AND REGULATIONS
RAILROAD CROSSINGS
811.460 Failure to follow rail crossing procedures for high-risk
vehicles; application; penalty. (1) A person commits the offense of
failure to follow rail crossing procedures for high-risk vehicles if the
person takes any vehicle described in this section across any railroad or
rail fixed guideway system tracks at grade without doing all of the
following:
(a) Stopping the vehicle at a clearly marked stop line or, if there is not
a clearly marked stop line, not less than 15 feet nor more than 50 feet
from the nearest rail of the railroad or rail fixed guideway system.
(b) While so stopped, listening and looking in both directions along
the tracks for approaching trains or rail fixed guideway system vehicles
and for signals indicating approaching trains or rail fixed guideway
system vehicles.
(c) Proceeding across the tracks after stopping only when such
movement can be performed safely in the gear of the motor vehicle that
does not require manually changing gears while proceeding.
(d) Proceeding across the tracks without manually changing gears.
811.460 Failure to follow rail crossing procedures for high-risk
vehicles continued.
(2) This section applies to the following vehicles when moved across
railroad or rail fixed guideway system tracks:
(a) A school bus.
(b) A school activity vehicle with a loaded weight of 10,000 pounds or
more.
(c) A worker transport bus.
(d) Any bus operated for transporting children to and from church or
an activity or function authorized by a church.
(3) Exemptions to this section are provided under ORS 811.465.
(4) The offense described in this section, failure to follow rail crossing
procedures for high-risk vehicles, is a Class B traffic violation
811.465 Exemptions from high-risk vehicle rail crossing
procedures. This section establishes exemptions from the special
crossing procedures established for high-risk vehicles under ORS
811.460. The exemptions are partial or complete as described in the
following:
(1) The vehicles are not required to comply with the procedures at a
crossing of a street or highway and rail fixed guideway system tracks if:
(a) The rail fixed guideway system vehicles operate within and parallel
to the right of way of a street or highway; and
(b) All vehicle movements are controlled by traffic control devices.
Controls the fixed guideway system
and other vehicle movement (cars,
trucks, buses, etc)
811.465 Exemptions from high-risk vehicle rail crossing procedures
continued:
(2) The vehicles are not required to comply with the procedures when
crossing any railway tracks upon which operation has been abandoned
and for which the Department of Transportation has plainly marked that no
stop need be made.
(3) The vehicles are not required to comply with the procedures when
crossing industry track crossings across which train operations are
required by law to be conducted under flag protection.
(4) The vehicles are not required to comply with the procedures when
crossing industry track crossings within districts in which the designated
speed of vehicles is 20 miles per hour or less.
(5) Vehicles are not required to comply with the procedures when
crossing any crossing where an officer directs traffic to proceed or where
an operating traffic control signal indicates that other traffic may proceed.
811.465 Exemptions from high-risk vehicle rail crossing procedures
continued:
(6) Vehicles are not required to comply with the procedures when crossing
any crossing protected by crossing gates. The exemption under this
subsection does not apply to:
(a) School buses or school activity vehicles that are required to stop at
crossings with crossing gates under ORS 811.460;
(b) Tank vehicles, whether loaded or empty, used to transport hazardous
materials;
(c) Vehicles transporting any hazardous material requiring the vehicle to be
placarded; or
(d) High-risk vehicles described in ORS 811.460 that are not otherwise
described in this subsection, when operating in interstate commerce.
(7) Except when a train or rail fixed guideway system vehicle is approaching,
the driver of a commercial bus is not required to stop at crossings where the
Department of Transportation has determined and plainly marked that no stop
need be made.
OAR 581-053-0015
(4) After stopping at a railway crossing as required by law, the driver shall turn off
any noise producing device with the exception of two-way radio communication.
The driver shall then open the bus entrance door and driver window, look and listen
for an
approaching train, then close the door before proceeding across the track.
If visibility is poor, the driver may have to rely even more on hearing. The driver must open
the window as well as the door and should control the noise level by instructing the students
to be quiet.
The bus should be stopped near the right-hand edge of the right traffic lane. If conditions permit,
the driver may pull off the traveled portion of the road to permit following traffic to pass. The use
of hazard warning lights is suggested at railroad stops. The use of the bus safety lights is, of
course, illegal.
Train School Bus Collision: Lafayette, Oregon
Time and Date: 8:10 AM, September 8, 1976
Weather Conditions: Clear
Event: A 1972 GMC Superior 66 passenger school bus
struck at a passive rail-highway grade crossing by a
Southern Pacific freight train consisting of a locomotive
and caboose only.
Injuries: 42 bus passengers, 3 killed, 37 injured, driver
injured, freight train no injuries.
Accident Report: McMinnville School District files
59’6”
203’
Telegraph
pole
Lafayette OR
September 8, 1976
IDENTIFING ROUTE HAZARDS AT
RAILROAD CROSSINGS
 NTSB Recommendations
Provide guidance regarding vehicle positioning on
roadway.
Develop plan for identification of school bus route
hazards.
Routinely monitor and evaluate all regular and substitute
school bus drivers.
Establish procedures to systematically monitor school
bus driver compliance with railroad crossing
requirements.
Advise drivers of railroad/highway grade crossing
characteristics.
ROUTE HAZARDS CONTINUED
Items of Importance
Type of crossing
Single track
Multiple tracks
Protected or not
Short queuing areas
Room to stop between multi tracks
Room to stop after crossing and before entering
intersection
Room to stop after intersection before crossing tracks
ROUTE HAZARDS CONTINUED
Road design
Hills before crossing (limiting )
Curves
Road surface (paved or gravel)
Multi lanes (which lane to stop in)
Width of road (room to pull to right)
Railroad/highway signal interaction
Traffic signals controlled by the crossing
Traffic signals not controlled (timing)
Stop signs
Traffic speed
ROUTE HAZARDS CONTINUED
Limited visibility
Buildings
Trees
Bushes
Curved tracks
Low sun (certain times of year)
Reporting problems and changes
Advise supervisor, giving exact details
Fill out form
Special Procedures:
Police Officer or Flagman at the Crossing
If a police officer or properly-identified railroad flagman is at the crossing, obey
directions. If there is no flagman, and you believe the signals are
malfunctioning, call your dispatcher to report the situation and find out how to
proceed. Some crossings have a
1-800 number posted for reporting problems.
Obstructed View of Tracks
Plan your route so it provides maximum sight distance at highway rail grade
crossings. Do not attempt to cross the tracks unless you can see far enough
down the track that no trains are approaching. Be especially careful at
"passive" crossings without gates, flashing lights or bells. Even if there are
active railroad signals, and they indicate the tracks are clear, you must look
and listen to be sure it is safe to proceed.
Special Procedures Continued:
Containment or Storage Areas
If it won't fit, don't commit! Know the length of your bus and the size of the
containment area at highway-rail intersections on the bus route. When
approaching a crossing with a signal or STOP sign on the opposite side,
pay attention to the amount of room there. Be certain the bus has enough
containment or storage area to clear completely the railroad tracks on the
other side, in case there is a need to stop.
Evacuating a Bus
If your bus stalls or is trapped on the tracks, evacuate immediately. Have
everyone get off the bus, moving far away from the tracks at an angle, in
the direction of the approaching
train.
CHECKLIST FOR IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL SCHOOL BUS ROUTE
HAZARDS AT RAILROAD CROSSINGS
Railroad grade crossing identification number_________________________________
Location_______________________________________________________________
How many tracks are present?_____________________________________________
What are the times of the scheduled trains? Passenger__________ Freight_________
YES
NO
_____
_____
Are there regulatory devices (lights/gates/bells) present? _____
_____
Are there any unique characteristics to the operation?
of the crossing controls (Buildings, Trees, Bushes etc)?
_____
Are the regulatory signs (crossbucks) clearly visible?
_____
If yes, what are they? _______________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
HAZARDS AT RAILROAD CROSSINGS CONTINUED
While stopped at the crossing is there enough room to allow
the largest bus to be free from obstructing other traffic?
_____
_____
After crossing the tracks is there enough room to allow the
largest bus to be no closer then 15 feet to the nearest rail?
_____
_____
Are there any roadway design features that could affect
the safe operation of a school bus at the railroad crossing?
_____
_____
If yes, what are they? _______________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
When stopped 15 feet from the nearest rail or at the stop line, approximately how many feet in both
directions is there of unobstructed visibility? Left____ Right_____
Diagram of crossing.
Checklist for
Identifying Potential School Bus Route
Fixed Driving Hazards
Railroad Grade Crossings
Railroad Grade Crossing Identification Number___________________________
Location_________________________________________________________
How many tracks are present?________________________________________
What are the times of the scheduled trains?______________________________
What types of trains use the track?
Passenger____
Freight____
What are the travel speeds of the trains?________________________________
YES
NO
Are the regulatory signs (Crossbucks) clearly visible?
____
____
Are there regulatory devices (lights/gates/bells) present?
____
____
____
____
Are there any unique characteristics to the operation?
of the crossing controls?
If yes, what are they?_______________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
HAZARDS AT RAILROAD CROSSINGS CONTINUED
When stopped approximately 15 feet from the nearest
railroad track, is there an unobstructed sight distance
of approximately 1,000 feet in both directions?
____
____
Is there at least enough room on the other side of the
furthest railroad track for the largest school bus to stop
without encroaching on the train's right-of-way?
____
____
Are there any roadway design features that could affect
the safe operation of a school bus at the railroad crossing?
____
____
If yes, what are they?______________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Any other information that would be important to another school bus driver?__________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Diagram on next page.