[Drive_right]

Why do buses stop and open their doors at railroad crossings? Just curious cause i saw one do it in front of me today.

[darkcloud]

Well just to listen and make sure a train is not coming. Since a school bus or a bus in general is longer then a car and doesn't cross the tracks as quickly, or have the acceleration to get out of the way. Plus the school bus usually has 20+ kids on it.

Think about it.

[mpimping]

they don't want to get hit by a train...

[c0nstant]

+1

[MTV]

Originally Posted by darkcloud

Well just to listen and make sure a train is not coming. Since a school bus or a bus in general is longer then a car and doesn't cross the tracks as quickly, or have the acceleration to get out of the way. Plus the school bus usually has 20+ kids on it.

Think about it.

Makes sense.

[BMW F22]

This is just a guess but it might also have to do with the bus's suspension. I mean crossing railroads at a fast speed must be damaging to its suspension.

[Alpine]

It's definitely for the safety of the occupants inside the bus.

well here in socal not only buses do it but street sweeperss or some kinds of construction trucks. im guessing its just so they wont break stuff or yeah, like some others were saying, the suspension

[Gearcraft]

i think its safety. i think ive seen some vehicles with certain chemicals stop at railroads too.

[MadDog]

Originally Posted by Drive_right

Why do buses stop and open their doors at railroad crossings? Just curious cause i saw one do it in front of me today.

The CA vehicle code (and probably many other states) requires that certain vehicles - schoolbuses, trucks carrying hazardous material, etc - stop before the railroad tracks and look and listen for approaching trains.

[neuzpeed]

There was actually an accident involving a bus and a train prompting the requirement for school buses to stop at railroads. I remember they didn't start stoping at railroads until maybe a decade ago or so.

[nmulax]

so why don't buses have seatbelts?

[shragon]

Originally Posted by Drive_right

Why do buses stop and open their doors at railroad crossings? Just curious cause i saw one do it in front of me today.

safety. plus it's the law.

[335i4u2nv]

what? r u crazy:?

[LateralG]

huh? before they cross the railroad, u mean?

[UncleWede]

It's a lot older than a decade. I remeber watching Schoolhouse Rock as a kid, back in the 70s. (Yeah, I'm that old) "I'm just a bill, yes I'm only a bill" and the demonstration in the cartoon was a hand coming up from the railroad crossing in front of a bus. They were explaining that some lawmaker comes up with an idea, then followed thru the process until "Congratulations bill, now you're a LAW!"

If you had seen that strawberry truck that was waiting to make a right turn, the crossing arms didn't come down and the Amtrak smashed right thru it, it was a bloody-red mess!!!!!

[MadDog]

Originally Posted by nmulax

so why don't buses have seatbelts?

From School Transportation News:


Many parents are worried about the contradiction between the need to use seat belts and child passenger seats in automobiles and the lack of these safety devices in school buses, which don't require seat belts. One reason seat belts are not required on school buses is that the greater weight and mass of a school bus means that passengers are less vulnerable in a school bus than in an automobile, and they sit above the usual point of impact. Another is the school bus passengers are not seated near doors or large window openings, so they are not likely to be thrown from the vehicle. Protection from ejection is a primary function of automobile seat belts.

But the main reason is that school buses incorporate a passive restraint system called compartmentalization, which is designed to protect children without seat belts.

[billspreston]

I'm sure some of you Chicago guys remember the Cary School Bus Accident years ago. Its a good law and keeps bus drivers on their toes and constantly aware of railroad crossings.