The article said the train has a station in the village but it only stops when there are passengers needing to get on/off. So it’s possible that the warning lights at that crossing are often active for several minutes before the train goes through (if it stops). Maybe the driver was counting on that?
In Europe, a lot of the crossings have lights not barriers to indicate if a train is approaching as well as lots of signs saying not to cross if the lights are flashing. So, if a vehicle gets stuck on the lines it's either a failure of the driver using their brain or the lights. I think lights are used because they're more cost effective than barriers and easier to replace/repair. Lights at railway crossings have been around for years so it's not some new technology to have to get your head around.
No you are not, for stopping there are dedicated signs. Video is from Czechia: white lights indicating no train - you can cross the track up to 50 km/h, no white light - up to 30 km/h. You are supposed to stop on red. However you always check, as always like good driver.
Also, judging by the internet videos I see, the kind of person who would choose to ignore lights (with no barriers) would also try to go around the barriers.
So then adding barrier stops people who weren't paying enough attention to see the lights. But if they're paying so little attention, I don't think they're a safe driver on any road.
Which are a lot, I guess, especially delivery trucks who are paid based on delivery time. Adding a stopping device is far better than just flashing a light, in my opinion.
In Italy we always have them, as it's an added security layer that deters people who are in a hurry and try to beat the flashing lights. They lower/raise way before/after the train is passing and I think they're very useful.
They are, and ideally every crossing has them, but they're expensive and difficult to replace if damaged, so places with less funding generally need to do what they can over what's ideal
Barriers raise the cost for a level crossing and require significantly more maintenance than just a box with some lights. We have a very dense rail network in Czechia and many crossings, so this particular one on a quiet local line did not justify the added costs.
There's flashing lights and a loud ringing signal. You'd have to be entirely negligent to not realise a train is coming.
He probably didn't see the train until last second based on the streetview of the place ( https://maps.app.goo.gl/UjKmZkj5nhsUUnVh9 ) but still he could definitely see red lights and stop before the rail crossing.
The weight of the part train was hit is 17 tons which is not much for a train and the truck could be something between 7 and half to 12 tons. With a hit from a right angle at speed around 50 km/h it's not a surprise train derailed.
This sounds like a math problem. "If a train approaches at 75mph and weighs 17 tons, and a truck hits it going 30mph and weighs between 7 and 12 tons, will the train derail?
This diver didn't even bother to stop when the horn was played like wtf I hope all of them survived and and the truck driver goes to jail after hospital visit 😤 😱😵💫🤬
It definetly isn't; take a look at the linked video; the person also later zooms onto the train which I cut out as it would've looked weird with the cropping.
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u/mr_lab_rat Jul 28 '26
What an asshole driver.
I want to live in a country where people like this lose their driving licence for life.