It would be nice if there were a warning when approaching a railroad crossing at grade, with the possibility of a small transit penalty for transiting across the tracks. Sometimes there is a train there and there will be a delay, sometimes not. In either case, RR crossings are hazards that do not move.
Railroad crossings are not hazards. As long as drivers observe the warning signs and stop when required to do so, there is no hazard, just as at a junction controlled by traffic lights. Many trains take no longer to pass than the other roads’ traffic when you’re stopped at a traffic light so it makes no sense to treat railroad crossings any different from a road junction controlled by traffic lights. Obviously, if you’re in a country that goes in for trains that are extremely long or just slow, the wait can be quite long, but Waze takes that into account with calculating average traffic speed along the affected segments.
Based on the number of people that die at RR crossings, I will have to disagree about them not being hazards.
http://oli.org/about-us/news/collisions-casulties is just for the US.
How many people died in collisions between vehicles at road junctions?
Here in the UK, the latest figures published show that the total number of deaths at railway crossings for the period 2008-2012 was 15. The total number of road deaths for motor vehicles and occupants for 2013 was 785, down 2% from 2012, so we’re probably looking at something like 3000-3500 road deaths for 2008-2012. That 15 is miniscule compared to the total number of road deaths. I would imagine the proportion is reasonably similar in the US.
Any junction where vehicles cross is potentially hazardous. On your argument, there ought to be a hazard warning at every junction.
Currently, Waze expects drivers to look out of the big viewport at the front of their vehicle and read road signs, stop at red lights, and so on. It only gives instructions when you need to make a turn. So if you’re on a straight route, you’ll get no warnings of road junctions and have to rely on visual cues. I can see no reason why that shouldn’t apply to railway crossings too.
Do you still have any that are marked only by a crossbuck?
I think this is now likely the most minimal level of signage on a public road:
Seaview Rd, Greatstone, Kent.
Bridge St, Halkirk, in the north of Scotland.
I believe even ungated crossings have all now been updated to have flashing lights as a minimum, and increasing numbers are being fitted with barriers and cameras to record and catch that small proportion of drivers who think their time is too important to wait so risk the collision.
However, I do recognise that in the vastness of North America, China, Russia, Africa, Australia, there will be hundreds or thousands of crossings with nothing but an unlit sign, if that even, which increases the risk profile that it’ll be missed. But that’s why railway locomotives are fitted with lights and horns - to alert drivers to the fact that they’re moving, often fast, with plenty of tonnage so they don’t stop quickly. I really don’t think they’re very easy to miss, but probably tempting to try and beat the train to the crossing so you don’t get held up. I’ve seen various videos on Youtube and, in every case, it’s the driver taking an unnecessary risk. And that’s why so many fail and end up joining the statistics.
I can’t imagine a hazard warning in Waze that you’re approaching a railway crossing is going to make much difference, and certainly in the more heavily populated parts of the world where railway crossings are much more protected and policed, you’re more likely to be routed to avoid them as the average speed on roads with crossings will be much lower than alternative routes that go over or under the railway.
In the US, we still have about 120,000 RR crossings that have crossbucks or less. http://www.angelsontrack.org/cts/ctsfacts.html
Yep. Just like we have several thousand intersections that have only stop signs, or not even that in ultra rural areas.
Spelling errors are courtesy of large thumbs and a small smartphome keyboard.
Soooo true. All grade crossing accidents are avoidable. If you can’t see, stop and look. If you can’t hear, roll the window down and listen. But people won’t take 5-10 SECONDS to observe. Waze can’t change stupid. An alert won’t help.
Just my $0.02 as a Wazer and a railfan.
Aaron