There’s No Train! Is the Police Nitpicking, Filling the Treasury, or Is It All for a Reason?
We have all been there, you are late for work, waiting at a railroad crossing while an endless freight train finally rolls past. The last car clears the crossing, the tip of the barrier starts its slow ascent, and your hand is already reaching for the gear lever. This is the exact moment when many of us try to save those couple of seconds and drive off, and that is precisely when a police officer might step out from around the corner, radar or stop sign in hand. Is this just a way to fill the state treasury and engage in pure pedantry, or does this annoying rule actually have some substance?
Many of us believe that a crossing barrier works like a bathroom light switch, train comes, it closes, train leaves, it opens. In reality, the system is governed by a "math test." Axle counters tally the wheels of the train, if forty axles entered the section before the crossing, the system holds the barrier down until exactly forty axles have rolled out the other side.
However, this is where the life threatening "but" comes in. If you are on a multi track line, the system might detect the next train at the very second the barrier is halfway up. In that case, there is no courtesy period, that wooden beam can drop right onto your car or trap you directly on the rails. The system assumes you are waiting for the lights to go out and will not provide a fresh warning.
The Supreme Court Does Not Trust Your Eyes
We like to think that if the light is not flashing, the way is clear, but the legal system is harshly pragmatic. The Supreme Court has stated a tough truth, you cannot blame the signal alone.
Essentially, we are told that even if the signal is dark, you must be the one to ensure that a 100 ton steel giant isn't flying into your side. It sounds unfair, but on the tracks, the "but his light was red" argument carries no weight. The train is always right because you cannot fight physics, a train cannot stop instantly, but you can wait five seconds.
Is the Police Harassing You?
If you look at the statistics of smashed barriers and cars that unexpectedly ended up in front of a second train, that officer at the crossing is not a fine generating machine, but the final line between stupidity and tragedy.
This is a case where legal pedantry is actually a lifesaver. A rising barrier is like a trap, it invites you to move, but it has no obligation to protect you if the system detects a new danger.
In conclusion, wait for that signal light to go out. Those five seconds will not make your day any longer, but they could prevent your life from being cut significantly short.
