rinkerdink

Hi,

I'm pretty sure I crossed a railroad today when the lights were still on after the barrier went up. There are crossing camera's there so I sure I have been caught (even though I didn't see them flash). Just wondered what the damage will be when the fine comes through. I was warned by a friend not to do this but was on autopilot mentally

It will teach me for daydreaming and pulling away without checking but fingers crossed its not too severe...

RedDragon2008

throw the autopilot away and do better next time

I think you will receive a fine, but dont cut yourself up - have a drink and move forward (not straight away ie not advocating drink/drive) - best thing is you drive safely from now on.

Having scene the damage done by a 1700 tonne train to my fathers 10 tonne truck all rail crossings should be treated with respect.

Alfresco

Sound advice.

A question. Why would the booms go up if it is not safe to cross?

roaringmouse

The barriers aren't fully up until the lights have stopped flashing - just because it's possible to drive though doesn't mean the barriers are fully up, or it's legal to do so.

Lucky Lucan

I don't know what it is in Queensland but it's $700 in Victoria.

eddie007

Running the lights at a train crossing.... You're bloody lucky its only a fine you're getting hit with

JAJ

Why do the lights keep flashing after the train has passed? Undoubtedly a way to raise revenue, but is there a genuine reason?

Alfresco

Exactly.

Should be:

Train has passed -> Lights stop flashing -> Booms start to go up -> Drive through. It's not rocket science.

monkeyalan

No it's not , but it is Australia where common sense and anything to do with roads tend to steer well clear of each other.

Alfresco

Indeed! Just researched a little and found this crazy situation.

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/sa...816-24bbm.html

Pollyana

In the UK I used to cross the line at a level crossing in Sussex every day as a student. A railway worker there told me one day that the lights there had to flash until the barriers were fully up - that way anyone approaching knows there is still a hazard. Once the gates were fully up and the crossing ahead was clear no matter how high the vehicle, the lights stopped.
Made sense there, loads of double decker buses crossed every hour - if they had gone through without the gates fully open

knockoff nige

Yeah that makes sense. Those lights would be indicators for pedestrians as well who might stoop to walk under them before they are fully up.

KJCherokee

It's only the impatient drivers who get frustrated waiting the extra few seconds for the lights to stop flashing - probably the same drivers who weave in and out of traffic on the freeways to gain an extra car length and cause accidents by making other cars brake heavily to avoid them.

There have been so many traffic delays caused by cars and trucks hitting boom gates and putting them out of action that I abhor people who try to jump the lights at crossings.

DadAgain

I did this not too long ago at the crossing in Mitchelton (NW Brisbane).

I was stopped at the boom gates... watched the trains go past in both directions. The boom gates went up, I proceeded across the tracks after looking both ways to make sure no others train was coming.. and THEN I realised that nobody else was moving... Lights were apparently still flashing.

That was more than a month ago and there's been no fine - perhaps there's no revenue camera at that crossing?

Pollyana

Exactly