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Drivers stopping inches from the tracks
 Posted
3/10/2010 3:21:00 PM
AUSTIN (KXAN) - It can cause damage to your car or even death, but Austin drivers are still stopping too close to the train tracks. Capital Metro is taking action less than two weeks before passengers hop on board the new commuter rail.
The Austin public transportation company is paying off-duty Austin police officers, private security guards and their own employees to stand at the crossings and enforce the law. The uniforms, right yellow Police vests and added signage warning drivers is not enough to stop many from crossing the white line.
"It's kinda confusing for some of the drivers," said Sr. Officer Paul Sutton with the Austin Police Department. "Austin residents and drivers aren't used to trains running in the city."
Click to read more
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Producer Thomas
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Coming soon to Austin! A video of lightrail hitting vehicles.
http://tiny.cc/lightrail
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Posted By
Phil
On
3/11/2010 10:35:15 PM
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Do people do stupid things behind the wheel?
Yes they do.
I have been a Railroad engineer for 15 years. The last car I hit the woman could not see anything up the track in the direction I was coming from. (A large trash truck was stopped for a light blocking her view.)
She made the decision to ignore the warning lights and bell at the crossing (as well as the train whistle/bell) and attempted to cross the tracks which resulted in being struck by my 40 mph 8500 ton train right behind the front wheel area of her car. I guess she calculated in her brain that it was worth the risk instead of waiting 60 seconds for the trash truck to move when the light changed.
I guess she figured wrong...
I calculate she is very lucky to be alive. Her car was basically gone from the engine compartment firewall forward. She was trapped in the drivers seat. Maybe she rethought her decision as she was screaming from pain as the fire department was using their hydraulic prying / cutting tools on what was left of her car to free her from its remains..
Hint.. trains always win a fight with a car....
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Posted By
TD
On
3/10/2010 4:06:38 PM
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