[PRCo] Re: Interurban Accidents

[John Swindler]

Concerning accident prevention:

Of the 100+ accidents involving light rail in Houston, the traffic violation 
tickets have been handed out to the motorist in 99% of the cases.  The one 
case I'm not sure about:  LRV ran a red light and hit a vehicle making an 
illegal left hand turn.

Correction on above appreciated, because I haven't been keeping score - just 
vague recollection from skimming news accounts.

And then there was the Union Pacific employees who raised the crossing gate, 
and then proceeded to drive into the path of a light rail vehicle - and this 
after having had a safety briefing on light rail crossings a few hours 
previously.  (The video of the accident was posted on internet by the local 
Houston paper.)

Of course the one I always like is when someone runs into the SIDE of a 
train at a grade crossing (:>)

John




>From: "DF Cramer" <dfc1 at alltel.net>
>Reply-To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
>Subject: [PRCo] Re: Interurban Accidents
>Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2005 08:12:00 -0400
>
>There are far too many stories in the newspaper archives of accidents,
>sometimes the fault of the operator but more than usually the fault of the
>motorist, pedestrian or child.  I ran across several chilling accounts 
>while
>reading microfilm of the local paper in Kittanning.
>
>The railways companies did promote safety and presented awards to their 
>crew
>members on a regular basis.  Many power companies still carry on the
>tradition.
>
>
>DF Cramer   Teacher-Trombonist-Historian-Conductor
>
>www.geocities.com/armconband
>
>
>