Miles of Union Pacific Rail Crossing Guards Malfunction in San Antonio
The Texas railroad crossing accident attorneys at Denena Points, PC note that Sunday night around 11:30, miles of Union Pacific rail crossing guards started to malfunction for unknown reasons in San Antonio, presenting a dangerous problem to motorists. The affected railroad crossing gates stretched for more than 8 miles along Highway 281 from about Jones Maltsberger to Commerce Street near downtown. The railroad crossing gate arms became stuck, frustrating and worrying late night travelers.
Union Pacific officials were investigating the bizarre malfunction and finally got the rail crossing guards working properly again about 1:30 the next morning. (Source: KABB Fox San Antonio, 9/2/13) Accounts of the dangerous Union Pacific rail crossing guard malfunction did not disclose the cause of the problem.
Our Texas railroad crossing accident attorneys cannot overemphasize the danger presented to drivers when rail crossing guard arms malfunction. Urban drivers rely on the signals to know when it’s safe to cross and when they must wait. When rail crossing arms become stuck, frustrated drivers weary of waiting and unable to rely on the signals to indicate the approach of an oncoming train may eventually take dangerous chances by driving around the arms and over the tracks. If a train should happen to come along at that time, the driver could find he’s made a fatal mistake.
Owners of the property where a rail line runs are generally responsible for installing and maintaining safety warnings, signals, and guard arms at railroad crossings. Union Pacific dutifully took charge of the malfunction in San Antonio on Sunday along its rail line.
Equipping a rail crossing with the gates, warning signals, and guard arms one sees at urban railroad crossings can cost over $100,000. Federal funds often help defray the costs of these warning signals and crossing guards in urban areas. But our Texas railroad crossing accident attorneys caution that private railroad crossings and many crossings in remote rural areas aren’t eligible for the federal funds that support crossing signals and warnings.
Our Texas railroad crossing accident attorneys point out that many rural railroad crossings only have a stop sign to warn drivers of possible danger. Private rail crossings may not even have a stop sign. That’s part of the reason why so many of the train collisions with trucks and cars that occur happen at rural crossings. Click the link to learn some safety tips to help you avoid being injured by a train at a railroad crossing.