If you’ve ever been stuck behind a bus or ridden in one, you might have wondered why buses stop at railroad tracks. The rule was put in place to ensure the safety of the passengers and driver. While drivers had always been advised to stop when approaching railroads, a tragic incident led to the extra precautions that they are now required to take when a bus comes to a train track.
The added safety measure of buses stopping at train tracks came after a terrible tragedy that occurred on December 1, 1938. A blinding snowstorm in Sandy, Utah, had reduced visibility to near zero when a school bus headed to Jordan High School came to a stop at a railroad crossing. The driver accelerated across the train track once he assumed it was clear, but he failed to see or hear the delayed Denver & Rio Grande Western freight train headed toward the crossing at approximately 60 mph.
The train struck the center of the bus as it crossed, leading to one of the deadliest school bus incidents in America. The horrific tragedy claimed the lives of 27 of the 39 students on the bus as well as the driver.
Following this accident, many states implemented strict laws to increase school bus safety at railroad crossings. When a bus reaches a railroad track, it is legally required to stop. After the driver stops the bus, they will quiet down any noise like the radio, fans or talking students. They will then open the windows and the passenger door and listen out for any oncoming trains. The driver can only proceed once they are sure that it is safe to cross.
While the requirements vary across different states, federal law requires that all school buses come to a full stop at least 15 feet away from the train track. Drivers are advised to follow certain procedures that involve looking and listening to ensure that there are no trains on the track before crossing.
Schools across the country also implement safety maintenance guidelines that include inspections of school buses to ensure the safety of students on their way to and from school.
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