Level Crossing Incident in southern Austria

[eMeS]

For those who understand German - the TV images indicate what happened.

Austrian TV (Carinthia)

 

[Oscar]

I've always thought that level crossings without barriers were somewhat unsafe.

 

[33056]

Plenty of those in Austria, that one looks like the crossing at St. Michael ob Bleiburg station on the Klagenfurt to Wolfsberg line though I stand to be corrected. Nothing unsafe about them, got nice flashing red lights - as long as the drivers on the road are paying attention.

 

[Schnellzug]

So even a Merc is no match for a Siemens ER20, then.

 

[eMeS]

I've always thought that level crossings without barriers were somewhat unsafe.

Despite everything I read on these forums, I feel unsafe when crossing most level crossings. My problem is that as a car driver I like to be able to see the line and the rail traffic, and their sight lines rarely allow this.

But I expect this topic has been discussed to boredom several times over.

 

[Schnellzug]

I think a lot of automatic crossings only show red lights and/or the barriers come down rather alarmingly late sometimes; they seem to be designed so as you have to wait for as short a time as possible, but sometimes they do seem to allow very little time to get clear.

 

[David]

There is still a minimum time they have to be down before the train crosses however, unlike the continent.

In Hollend especially, the lights start flashing, and barriers come down, and a couple of seconds later the train passes.

 

[GB]

Despite everything I read on these forums, I feel unsafe when crossing most level crossings. My problem is that as a car driver I like to be able to see the line and the rail traffic, and their sight lines rarely allow this.

But I expect this topic has been discussed to boredom several times over.

Why do you feel the need to see this?

 

[eMeS]

My problem is that as a car driver I like to be able to see the line and the rail traffic, and their sight lines rarely allow this.

Why do you feel the need to see this?

Simply because I'm not accustomed to driving blind, and even "safe" systems can fail.