[Raajiv]

Folks,

I do not know why this happens but what the heck is this ?

Monday, April 16, 2007 (Kancheepuram)
Ten revenue officials have been killed in a rail accident at an unmanned level crossing in the Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu.

A passenger train ran over their van while it was crossing the unmanned level crossing near Chengelpet. Thirteen other officials have suffered injuries.

Tragedy struck the team of 23 officials while they were on their way to attend a function.

While this is the second such major accident at an unmanned level crossing in the district, police attribute this to reckless driving.

Read it @ http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv...WEN20070008905

[Surprise]

Visibility range for the vehicles on either side should be very good on those unmanned level crossing. If it's like taking your vehicle closer to the tracks before you check for the trains, most of them prefer to drive it down.

[esteem_lover]

police attribute this to reckless driving.

Add drunken driving to that. No one in his right mind would get stuck on the track & not run for cover. These people would have thought they can stop the train.

[ad75]

sad incident..

every year 100's of lives are lost in similar accidents.
all due to dumb drivers.train obviously has the right of way.you cannot judge the speed of the train if you look at it.if you can hear a train(horn/track noise) or see the train, should let the train pass first,rather than trying your luck or driving skills.stunt drivin....HUH

[Raajiv]

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

Add drunken driving to that. No one in his right mind would get stuck on the track & not run for cover. These people would have thought they can stop the train.

Right point e_l.Well said.Guess we shall start venturing into these places and teach these ill-fated idiots called drivers the way to approach and cross a level crossing.

[airfoil]

This is terrible.

The railways should ensure that automatic signals with visual and aural warnings are installed at unmanned level crossings, to warn idiot drivers of approaching death.

[satish_appasani]

This happens in other developed countries too.

Last month a very distant relative of mine in Canada died along with her grand daughter in a similar manner when a train chipped the rear of their car. The lady's daughter who was driving the car is handicapped now loosing her both legs. They were trying to cross an unmanned railway crossing and either ignored or overlooked the flashing signals.
CityNews: Child Killed In Guelph Via Rail Collision
People are crazy when it comes to driving vs life.

[squarecut]

Trains have the right of way. And trains blow horn when approaching an unmanned level crossing. In fact, there is warning near the gate to this effect that road vehicles should wait for the train to pass before crossing the track.

It is clear that there are drivers who are ignorant/ careless and as a result, not only he, but even innocent co passengers too pay dearly with their lives.

[csentil]

People crossing the tracks in cities are also at great risk. Many a time they've been knocked down by suburban trains. I used to read atleast 1 death a week in Chennai. How many in Mumbai is not known !!

They just look at the train in the station and think they are safe. 4 or 6 tracks to cross. Mowed down by the fast or the express is a common problem. You can hear the train driver honking like mad when he's passing through a station. The sad part is most of those who die while crossing the tracks live close to rail tracks or travel by train daily !!!

[manikjeet]

One thing which come to my mind is that a train blows horn before the level crossing and the train itself makes alot of noise if the driver cann't see the train he can surely listen to the noise made by it

[vivekiny2k]

Originally Posted by manikjeet

One thing which come to my mind is that a train blows horn before the level crossing and the train itself makes alot of noise if the driver cann't see the train he can surely listen to the noise made by it

not if he had the windows rolled up, AC on, and a popular rajini number on full volume on the stereo.

one of my lady colleagues died while crossing the tracks in the same area after getting down from the local train, while talking on the cellphone.

We don't take even our own life seriously.