subject=railroad crossings......(7/20/03)

I work(ed) for laidlaw in

Nipigon, Ontario.

Karen (Now retired) Bus # 983/165

Subject: railway crossings...(2/24/02)

Hy;
I just found this site and i am a frenche speaking person but in Quebec, is law, to stop at railway crossings, passenger or not, for any busses.
If the lights are working, we MUST wait until the light turn off or a railroad's worker or policeman makes us proceed.

By
Gilles Pelletier

Subject: Canadian railroad crossing...(2/27/01)

Hi there! I live in Edmonton, Alberta Canda.

As an assistant to our safety department and also as a trainer.
I find it ridiculous that our Company does not require us to stop at all railroad crossings.
At one time we were required to. Now, we don't. But our training instructs all of our drivers to at least slow down to a speed of 15 kmph when approaching and crossing a railroad crossing.
Unfortunately, not all our drivers do slow down.
I have observed other bus companies who will just cruise on by when I am driving a school bus and slowing down for a railroad crossing.

Thankyou.
Diane Maillet
Edmonton, Alberta Canada

Subject: railroad crossing training...(11/1/00)

Hi my name is Gary Wormley, Safety Training for Gallaudet University Transportation for the Deaf.
I was reading some of the articles, and thought I would add some of the things I run into as a trainer.
As the only deaf college in the United States we have the responsibility of transporting college students, and high school students through out the United State for sports game with other schools.
So often my drivers come to me about other buses and school buses that they see not stopping at gailroad crossing . I said yes that is vary sad they wont stop until someone gets hurt. I was training one of my drivers in the state of Md. on route 301 when we say another school bus on the other side of the road not stopping at the railroad crossing. Not only did they not stop they did't slow down. My driver said to me, "Did you see that"?, I told him yes I did., but it will continue to be our law to stop at railroad crossing in, and out of states. The very first time you dont stop, thats the time a train may show.

This is just something I wanted to share to you that all school buses don't stop at rairoad crossings like in Washington, D.C.. most school buses you see on the street never stop. I very happy i'm not their supervisor.
So I want you to have a good day, and keep up the good work.
Gary

Subject: Railroad Crossings...(8/27/00

We started school here on August 17.... and on August 23 the bus my son was riding was rear ended by an inattentive driver,holding her small child, while the bus was stopped at a railroad crossing....
I heard the whole thing come across my radio as I was loading and unloading my students... Luckily no one was injured....
But we do need to get the word out to other drivers that by law.... we do stop at ALL railroad crossings....
we have stickers on the back of our bus's that read just that... however... if people can't see our big yellow bus with flashers going...
or our 8-light system when we are loading or unloading children... they aren't looking at our stickers on the rear of the bus's either...
People need to be more aware of their surrounding when they are driving...
This little incident caused a lot of excitability for the children on this bus... not to mention put them late to school by 30 minutes...
as a parent it caused a lot of concern for me...and as a bus driver I was concerned as well....
School districts don't want to pay for public service announcements advertising or cautioning drivers to be aware of school bus's...
and unfortunately it takes something like this to bring it to the general publics attention...
and sometimes even a fatality has to occur before drastic measures are taken...

Resa School Services & Leasing Hutchinson Kansas

Subject: Railroad crossings...(4/4/00)

Hi Frank,

It is with heavy heart that I write this, on the heels of the bus/train accident in Georgia last week.
I'm sure that you know that 3 children were killed in that accident.
According to an onboard camera on the bus, the driver did not stop for the track.
Of course, there is still an investigation, which probably won't be concluded for at least a year
My heart goes out to the students, parents, driver and this community. The drivers own child was
on the bus with her and was critically injured.
The law regarding grade crossings in Georgia is:

* You must activate your emergency flashers before stopping.
* You must stop, loaded or unloaded, and set your parking brake.
* All electrical equipment, fans, heaters, radios, etc. must be turned off.
* The driver's side window and the service door must be opened, so that the driver can better see and hear.
* The door is then closed, brake released and bus proceeds smoothly over track. After crossing, the flashers are turned off.

Several things have come to light as a result of this accident that greatly disturb me.
First, the requirements that have to be met in order for a grade crossing to get crossing arms and lights are:

1) More than 100 cars crossing the track in one day.
2) School bus and train traffic
3) A fatality must have occurred at that crossing.

As you can guess, the third requirement really got my attention. Why does a tragedy always have to happen before something is done?
Now that the crossing in Georgia has had a fatality, it meets requirements for lights and arms.
We, as bus drivers, should get involved in this and change it.
People, particularly children should not have to die before the lights and crossing arms are installed.

Another thing that bothers me. Should a driver refuse to cross a track that does not have lights and arms?
Or a track that does not have clear visibility?
There are several tracks in my district that are used daily by buses that have the drivers ability
to see down them completely blocked by trees and bushes.
This has been reported to Transportation and they in turn have reported it to the railroad.
Yet, the trees and bushes are still there.
Are there any suggestions out there as to how to get this resolved?

In unity with all bus drivers,
Debbie Moore
Georgia

Subject: Railroad Crossings...(11/14/99)

Hi I am a school bus driver here in Pgh PA.
We have always had to stop at railroad crossings. I have been driving a school vehicle since 1991. In 1997 I became an in house trainer and in 1999 I became a State trainer that is my biggest beef in training is drivers not knowing the right way to do a railroad crossing...Then the ones who don't do on at all....Recently I ave been watching the news & it seems that more and more accidents are happening at Railroad crossings....The news needs to let other driver b aware that we have to stop at these crossings so that hey don't hit us from behind...This site is great so other drivers can let drivers know how they feel... I work for A J Myers & Sons in the PGH division I drive a TC 2000 (96 year) My husband feels the same way about the crossings that I do.

Thanks Karen & Kevin

Frank,
We started sch. Aug 12th....today I noticed something I didn't expect to see....a vetran driver of 15yrs, cross the tracks as the arms came down on his bus!!!
Has everyone forgotten that we just started school, that we just saw films on the disasters of what can happen, do they not care, are you in such a hurry to get to the school to get the kid's to finish your route?...The kids will be there, even if your late, is it worth it to lose your life, because your in a hurry!
If he does this with it just being him and he doesnt care enough about his life, what makes us think he will care for our children?
Please....becareful crossing those tracks...it could mean a difference between life and death!
As driver's we are told we have to report things like this, you lose your job for such things, being 15 drivers short and having inner office drive, mechanics driving, coaches driving and subs driving....guess what.....bet I see this man on Monday......

Bus Wings

Subject: rail road crossing

Just a comment. In Austin Tx. we are required to stop at crossings empty or loaded.
I believe the new adopted motto for Operations Lifesaver is "STOP,LISTEN AND LIVE" ! quite true.
I even find myself stopping in my personal vehicle.I guess it's a good habit to keep. Saving one life is just important as twenty aint it?
I have been driving for nearly ten years now and well, I gues I really do enjoy it.
I know that aisd policy says to apply emergency brake only while a train is going by.
You all have a good day. school will be starting here on August 11.
Ill talk to you some other time.

Gary Glass
Bus driver 7013
Austin Texas

MY NAME IS BOB FAIX AND I HAVE BEEN A BUS DRIVER SINCE 1993.
I DRIVE FOR RYDER STUDENT TRANSPORTATION.
OUR ROUTES ARE MAINLY IN THE CITY 0f CAMDEN AND SURROUNDING AREAS.
THE PROBLEM WE HAVE HERE ARE FAULTY RAILROAD SIGNALS. SOMETIMES WE SIT THERE FOR HALF A HOUR. WE CALL DISPATCH AND THEN WE HAVE AND WAIT THE POLICE TO COME AND CROSS US.
ANOTHER THING IS THE RAILROAD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO PAINT THE NECESSARY STOP LINES AT ALL THERE RAILROAD CROSSING AND ALSO SET A BETTER MAINTENANCE PROGRAM FOR THESE SIGNALS.

Subject: Railroad Crossings

Great site. Here in Baltimore County, Maryland, we too have many R/R Xings, active, semi-active and inactive. Many have no electronic signalling devices.
We are not permitted by County Policy to cross any "high speed" rail crossings (e.g., Amtrak) empty or full. We are required to STOP, LOOK AND LISTEN from the 15-50 foot safe area prior to the first rail, ALWAYS.
Setting the parking brake and disengaging the transmission at R/R crossings is not something that has ever been brought up at our annual safety meetings.
I, however, do so while waiting for the train to cross, simply as an extra safety precaution for fear of being rear-ended by an inattentive driver who might force my bus into the path of an on-coming train.
I've been a bus driver since 1987. This is my first full year on a "special needs" route repleat with wheelchairs.
From what I've read within this site it sounds like a darn good measure to institute the use of the parking brake, state-wide. We seem to have an inordinate number of those inattentive drivers here in our area of the County (daydreamers, cell phone users, truckers and even our Mass Transit drivers who are required by DOT regulations to stop at these crossings, themselves but who usually slow and go).
I couldn't begin to tell you how many times while I was otherwise occupied looking left and right along the tracks that I have heard that God-awful screech of tires from a vehicle barrelling down the road from behind my bus just coming to the realization that that big yellow bus with the hazzard flashers on was stopped at the tracks. You haven't lived until you look up in your mirror and see an the driver of an 18-wheeler "standing on their air brakes" trying to stop or find an opening in the left lane to pass you because they, too, were not aware that you were stopped for safety's sake.

I fully intend to share this site and it's other links with my co-workers, our driver trainers and supervisor.
If only we could get our respective local news media (paper, T.V., radio) to publish or at least publicize some of these very important issues. The general public is totally unaware of just what lengths we as bus drivers will go to and what dangers we face on any given day, trying to keep our precious cargo safe, 180+ days per year.
They need to "sentence" every complaining parent to a full week's ride on a bus carrying level 5 students a minimum of one hour each way and then ask them if they'd like to restate their complaint. I bet they'd be singing a different tune.
Safe motoring to all! Is it Friday yet?

.......................Audrey in Baltimore, Maryland

Subject: RR XING

In California we are not required to stop at RR Crossings if we do not have passengers on board.
We do not have to set the parking brake as well.
However, our District Policy requires us to stop at all RR Crossings at all times. We are to drive our buses as if we had students / passengers on board at all times.

With this policy we have strengthened our Safety Record through repetition. Trainers / Instructors go out routinely with our drivers to ensure we are all performing the same. So when we have to get in a spare bus, we already have the safety mind set in place (i.e., the routine of stopping at all RR Crossings).

As a driver for 13 years I have developed a deep desire to keep our kids safe. It's evident in all my actions behind the wheel, and in my research of important issues.
This website is great. Giving us a forum to share ideas and comments is truely appreciated.

Jett
Bus Hopper
Chula Vista, CA

Subject: RR CROSSINGS...(4/16/99)

I have been a school bus driver in Tennessee for 10 years. I have driven cars, heavy trucks, and farm machinery, etc. accident free for over 40 years. I have also driven tour buses for the last 5 years, and I occasionally deliver new buses. I have lived near a railroad crossing all my life and I have worked on cars and trucks since the age of 12.

In Tennessee, we must stop at all RR crossings, loaded or empty. The usual 15 to 50 feet, open door, quiet all noise makers, etc. However, we do not set our parking brakes unless we are waiting on a train to pass.

My philosophy, developed over a first career in the nuclear safety and training industry, is to keep driver actions to the absolute minimum dictated by the situation. In studying thousands of industrial accidents involving man's interface with machinery, I have learned a few things about how humans perform in stressful situations.

In one previous thread, a driver stated that she saw a train approaching unexpectedly as she was driving through a crossing. The driver's reaction was to "stomp" on the gas. This action, although very typical, has in the past led to disaster. In 1953 (if I remember the year correctly) a driver found himself in a similar situation in the little town of Spring City, Tennessee (10 miles from my home). When the driver "stomped" the gas pedal, the bus engine died. The driver panicked and 13 children died that day.

What would have happened if the driver gradually pushed the gas pedal? It is likely that he could have moved the bus out of harm's way, but we will never know the answer to that question. It is wise to think about possible situations before they become critical. If you routinely cross railroad tracks, I suggest that you try a little experiment. Find a safe stretch of road and stop your bus. Then, when you can safely do so, "stomp" on the gas pedal and see what happens. If the engine is cold (not at proper operating temperature), or in need of a tune-up, or the carburetor (or fuel rack) is out of adjustment, the engine might die or stumble. Of course, it is much better to learn this before you find yourself facing a fast moving train!

Having lived near the tracks for so long, I have learned a few things about railroads. The train traffic signals (no, not the crossing lights!) are a good indication that a train is approaching, but you must remember one thing! A green light means that a train is coming, but from the direction opposite of where you see the green light! It's simple. If you look south down the tracks and see a green light, the train is coming from the north. This is especially useful when there are multiple tracks and a stationary train blocks your view in one direction, or on that occasion when the warning lights and bells "hang up" and continuously alarm for hours or days. Of course, this is the way the train signals work in this area. You should investigate your area to determine if they work differently.

I understand that in some states, the driver is required to place the bus transmission in the lowest gear before driving through a crossing. There is a potential danger involved in this practice. If the automatic transmission linkage is out of adjustment, the lower stop of the shift lever can prevent the transmission from properly engaging first gear, resulting in slippage. The driver may never suspect this problem, as the transmission can operate normally under all other conditions. This slippage can become a real factor, if in a moment of panic, the driver "stomps" the gas pedal. So, if you decide to try the "stomp" test described above, try it with the selector lever in the "first gear" position.

Drive Safely

Tom Robinson
Evensville, TN

Subject: Railroads

Hello,

Last September a law was passed stating that we must set our parking brake at all railroad crossings whether loaded or not.
It's first of course turn on the hazards, then set the brake, put the bus in neutral and then open the door.
We also have to set our brakes at student pickups when there are more than four children at any given stop, and for ALL Left hand pickups.

Sherri, from the Buckeye state of OHIO.

In Ohio we have to stop at all RR crossings empty or loaded!! I also set my parking brake when I do the crossing for extra safety measures.
I use my brake more than required, but that is my choice. I feel that these children I transport are my very own when they are on my bus, and don't take any chances with them.
When I load or unload, I always shift to neutral, and when I am crossing the brake is set.

Remember one thing here. Just think if another driver had one of your own kids on board, and cheated at a RR crossing and your child was killed. Was it worth it not to take the short amount of time, and do a complete RR crossing procedure?

I had a route for about 6 months where I had to cross tracks 6 times a day. One day while doing my route, I approached the RR crossing. I did the routine, and all was clear.
As I started to on to the tracks I saw a head light from a train coming on fast from around a blind curve on the tracks!! He never blew his whistle, and I never heard a sound from the train. All I knew to do was smash the gas and go! The kids that live near there told me this happens a lot, and that there have been some bad wrecks there with cars.
This train was flying about 50+ mph, and was about a quarter of a mile away. So what if I didn't stop and was a few seconds later getting to those tracks? It would have been a serious mess and a lot of deaths.
So as far as I am concerned, STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN, and do it again before you proceed.
I even do this in my car just so I know I am safer. The trains come out of no where, and you can never be to safe.
Never ASSUME that the tracks are not used!

One other point I want to make, is, IF YOU LEAVE LATE, ARRIVE LATE.
No need to get in a hurry. Look what happened in Fox Grove, IL.
Always expect the unexpected, and don't think the other driver sees you!
Drive with your lights on day and night, and use your horn. Be defensive at all times.
You should also apply these thoughts while driving your car.

Pete...Bus# 14
Driver for 8 years and love it!!
Seattle / Laidlaw Inc.
Southwestern Ohio
Goshen Local Schools

It has been the law in the state of Alabama
for many years that school buses loaded or empty must stop for all RR crossings, active or inactive.
At least 100 ft. you must activate your hazard lights, and stop no more than 50 ft. away and no closer than 15 ft. from the crossing, you must open the service door and drivers side window turn off all noise making devices, i.e. heaters, defrosters, radios etc, and students must be quite, look and listen and then proceed across tracks in the lowest gear, if in a straight shift bus, (which are far and few between here) and turn off your hazard lights.
Anyone having a problem with any law that requires a school bus to stop at a rail crossing is in the wrong occupation.

John C. Parker...99-1..TC 2000
Hoover City Schools bus driver
Hoover AL

Subject: Rail Road Crossings
Have been a school bus driver for three years now.
Florida State Law requires us to have 8 Hours of training each year.
During the training we had 1 hour of training on Rail Road crossing training.
Whether full or empty we are required to stop at all railroad crossings.
I totally support this action because it makes us automatically Stop, Look and Listen at ALL railroad crossings.

Chuck White...Florida

Subject: Laws About RR Crossings
To Bonnie from NY
I have driven for six years, and have recently transferred to OK. I found here that, if you are not carrying students, the law requires that the bus does not stop at a Rail Road Crossing, as it impedes the flow of traffic. I find this law idiotic!
The company that I work for has told its drivers that we are to stop at ALL RR Crossings, regardless if there are students on the bus or not.
Our company considers the drivers as passengers and therefore, the bus must stop.
If we are given a ticket, the company has said they will pay it. None of us has been stopped yet.

Cheryl...Bus #8
Oklahoma

Subject: Railroad Crossings

I am a full time trainer for Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia.
Our policy is to stop at RR crossings loaded or unloaded.
We teach to tap the brakes to warn drivers of impending stop, activate hazard lights before stopping, stop between 50 and 15 feet before first track (the cross buck is never closer than 15 feet from the tracks), turn off all noise including radios and children, open drivers door (deactivate traffic warning lights if the old four lamp system), open drivers window, look and listen, calculate that there is enough room to clear the tracks on the other side by 15 feet, close the door, deactivate the hazard lights, proceed across the tracks in the drive (all of our buses are automatic), again remembering to clear tracks by 15 feet with rear of the bus.
If a train does prevent the bus from crossing the track, then we tell them to set the parking brake and be sure they double check again that no other trains are coming by doing the steps from a complete stop as mentioned above to proceed across the tracks.
The reason I felt it was necessary to write this is because I did not read in any of the feed back articles that they are told to watch for clearance of the rear of the bus.

A bus driver for 8 years and a trainer for 9 years = 17 years of experience.

Cathy Schultz...Training Instructor
Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax, VA.
E-Mail address: Unicornrul@aol.com

Subject: Rail Road Crossing

I have been a Driver for over half my life now. Most of the time in Texas
but have moved around the past ten years and Driven City Buses and School Buses also.
I am in Pennsylvania now and our Laws say that you must not only Stop, Open the Driver's
Window and Door, Set the Parking Brake, but also put the bus in the lowest possible gear
even Automatics.
While I do think this is going a bit overboard on the Automatics being in 1st gear,
I am only too eager to comply because I know it causes me to "Think Safety".
Every State that I have driven in, (Texas, Louisiana, Kansas, Pennsylvania),
we also put on the 4-way flashers to alert other drivers that we are about to do something.
I agree that some may try to pass us when we stop seemingly needless stops,
however, if Safety is our Attitude, then hopefully that will rub off on others.

Stop by my page sometime....it's always under construction too!!
.....Ladydriver
..................................................... A Fellow School Bus Driver

I have a very good tip for crossing RXR grade crossings with students on board.
If you have a hard time getting the children quiet, (i.e. not tying up traffic for half an hour)
at the beginning of the school year start training the kids,(works for all ages)
that when the interior lights are on, there is NO TALKING.
I've been doing this for about 5 years now and it works great!
Kudos to all the many Student Transportation Safety Specialists out there.
You are more valuable than most will ever know.

Keep up the good work on this site..............................John C. Roever

Subject: RR Crossings

Here in Westbrook, Maine, we have always been required to stop at railroad crossings whether loaded or unloaded.
Good policy even though our City has numerous railroad tracks several are exempt from stopping.
We find you pay attention to the RR sign to see if it's exempt or not.
Then you know you MUST stop if the tracks are not exempt.
I worked hard in my community to get the railroad company to exempt those tracks that are not used anymore even though the tracks are still in place.
I found that it created a driving hazard to stop for obviously unused tracks.
Drivers were impatient and one bus was rear ended because the driver couldn't understand why the bus stopped.
Having those EXEMPT signs are wonderful.....all others STOP.

...........................Penny Esposito

Subject: Railroad tracks

I have been a driver/trainer for 30 years both in Michigan
and for the last 18 in Sarasota County Florida
Our drivers are trained to set the brake at all railroad crossings whether they have passengers or not.
The extra second it takes might save your life and that of your cargo.

Marilyn...........................Venice, Florida

Here in Va, we are required by law to stop at all Railroad Crossings loaded or not.
AS put by a former transportation supervisor, "I don't care if there is a house sitting on the tracks you still stop".
I think this is a great idea. It takes very little time to possibly save students lives and where you stop every time, you get in the habit of stopping and don't possibly forget to stop when you just have 1 or 2 students on board and cross the tracks.

......................Jeanie from VA

You should always do a walk through of your bus at the last stop and what about the people who don't?
The risk of having a sleeping child in their bus and not to stop at RR crossings would be stupid!

..........................Tony from Kansas

COMMENT - Here in Texas
we have been stopping at rail road crossings for as long as I can remember.
Without any problems. I just want to add that the school transportation department
for whom I drive added a new policy this year. It requires drivers to apply the PARKING BRAKE
while stopped at a rail road crossing. I find this to be a good policy.....Any comments ?

.......Cliff from Texas

Subject: Stopping when empty

To Judy in Kentucky:
When we all get into a routine of doing something no matter how small it seems it all adds to big picture.
And the big picture is STUDENT SAFETY!!!
What about the little one that fell asleep in the rear seat? Is your life not worth saving by not stopping at that rail crossing in an empty bus, and taking that extra minute to check and see if there is a train approaching? And what if you have tinted windows how is the driver behind you going to know if you are loaded or empty?
The life you save may be your own.
I don't know about anyone else but I have a strong respect for trains.

John C. Parker Bus 99-1
Hoover City Schools Bus Driver
Hoover Alabama

Deana.

COMMENT - The school buses in the state of Pa.
have always had to stop at R.R. crossings, loaded or not.
On March 14,1997 we had a safety meeting on the subject of R.R. crossings and School Buses,
we received some interesting materials from the

Highway-Rail grade Crossing Awareness Training.

Here is the address where you can get the same info.

Operation Lifesaver
1420 King Street Alexandria,Va. 22314
Phone 1-800-537-6224

Operation Life Saver

One Interesting fact about R.R. Crossings and school buses " If your bus is on the tracks
and a train is within sight of you, and that train was traveling at a speed of 50 MPH
it would take it 1 1/2 miles to stop,
on the other hand, a school bus traveling at the same speed would only take 230 feet
to come to a complete stop"

.............Joe from Pa.

COMMENT - Regarding the empty "Haz Mat" vehicle and the empty school bus question.
Lets take a look at this. When a school bus driver lets off their last stop there is no residue left over.
(Well a lunch box, a school bag etc., but in this case does not apply.) When a "Haz Mat" load
is delivered there is still "Haz Mat" material in the trailer. No matter how clean you get it it is still there.
A train hits an empty school bus, the only life it will take is the school bus driver. If an EMPTY
"Haz Mat" truck is hit all are in danger. THINK ABOUT IT.
I am a school bus driver and my husband is a truck driver who also has "Haz Mat"
Every time he has to renew his license who do you think studies with him?
You got it, the school bus driver. So I know a little about what I am talking about.
Here in Vermont we don't have to stop when we are empty, but a lot of us do.
Which of course aggravates a few "4 wheelers", BUT if we did one thing wrong
BOY wouldn't they holler. We find ourselves doing it out of habit in our own cars.
Thank you for the chance to vent some steam.

Sign me ................a truck driver's wife................Vermont.

COMMENT - I think stopping at R.R.crossings is the best thing to do.
I have seen films by the R.R. about what a train can do to a bus and the one thing
that sticks out in my mind is that a train is to a car like a car to a pop can.
Here in Missouri the only R.R.crossings we don't have to stop at is when
the white cross bars are not there, that means that a train doesn't go through there anymore.
What if you thought you were empty and you weren't? I think stopping, putting on your "hazards"
turning off all extras, opening door and window and listening is the best we can do to be a
safe driver,even when it is routine.

.............Sherrie from K.C., Missouri, driving safely for 10 years.

..........John from West Virginia

COMMENT - In Katy,Texas
we have to stop at R.R. crossings all the time, loaded or empty.
The tracks where I drive are busy and also there is a traffic light across the tracks.
I have to make sure that when it is clear of a train that I can still go across and not be stuck on the tracks.
It only takes a few minutes to stop so why not do it all the time?
I am always worried that a car behind me will not pay attention that I am stopped at the track and will rear-end me. Just wanted to add my comment.

.................Suzanne from Texas

To Suzanne from Texas...
You shouldn't worry too much about the knot head behind you that might rear
end you. Their rig will not come out of it as well as yours will.
And they will receive and "inattentive driving" ticket.
Keep stopping at those tracks. If you save only one life isn't it worth it?
If you stop at all Crossings then you wont have to wonder if you are empty or
could possibly have just one more little one that fell asleep and missed their stop.
A train traveling at 50 mph takes 11/2 miles to stop and I personally
wouldn't want that on my conscience if I was to survive.

Teddie Morton.... Bus #963
Kimberly School Dist.,.... Kimberly, Idaho

...... Melanie in Ohio

Sheila Renaud ...veteran of five en route railroad crossings per day :) Deep River, Ontario. Canada