Grade Crossing On Foot

[bill937ca]

Watch this running woman go undetected as she pushes through a closed gate at Yoyogi on the Saikyo line. Not the preferred way to cross the tracks.

 

 

From what Electric Railways of Japan co-author  and transportation consutlant Leroy Demery has said the detectors are designed to pick up stationary objects after triggering a timer.

 

If they were detecting anything larger than a small animal, the lines would be shutdown all the time. And that fact would be reported in the press like any other delay of one minute or more.

 

Here`s some comments on crossings from Leroy Demery from another list.

 

Thu Apr 3, 2008 2:12 pm

 

As long ago as 1980, busy Japanese rail lines had arrays of sensors at (unattended) grade
crossings. Each crossing also had signals for train drivers, displaying a large white "X" to
indicate that the crossing was "secure." If anything (or anyone) entered the crossing while
barriers were lowered, sensors would activate warnings - a buzzer at the crossing, the
white "X" changing to a red "O" (traced out by lights "moving" in sequence), and automatic
emergency brake application on any approaching train.

Please note that I have absolutely no idea of "how" any of this worked: e.g.

--Train detection / track circuits.
--Object / person detection at grade crossings.
--Automatic emergency braking in case of object / person detection.

Please note in addition that I observed this system in operation many times - but did not
see a "malfunction" or, in particular, a "false positive" indication (of obstruction or
intruder) at a grade crossing.

Leroy W. Demery, Jr.

 

Wed Dec 5, 2007 3:21 am

[in response to a Keio line train ride video I posted.]

--- In yahoogroups.com, wrote: "Note the lack of horn blowing at the grade crossings. Note also the 4 quadrant gates. Might
this change the NIMBY equation?"

Clark, Lyndon et al.,

"No horn blowing," but the crossing barriers do have (electronic) gongs.

Also, if anything or one enters the crossing after the barriers are down, you'd think it was
Christmas and New Year's Eve all in one, with all the lights and horns that go off ...

Also, Japan does have NIMBYs (some of whom are remarkably tenacious), and they
do file
lawsuits.

Leroy W. Demery, Jr

 

 

Tue May 20, 2003 2:16 pm

 

From another list, posted by Hiroshi Naito:

"The infrared-sensor grade crossing protection systems are very
common and proven in Japan. The system is particularily
effective if it is connected to the signal in conjunction with an
automatic protection system. If it detects an objection blocking
the track on the level crossing, it automatically drops the signal
in front to 'Stop' so that an approaching train can come to a stop
before reaching the crossing. Thanks to the spread of this type of
the protection system, accidents on level crossings have
drastically decreased in Japan. Almost all level crossings are
fitted with a protection system nowadays on busy main lines (I
think 100 % as far as busy urban lines are concerned).

"It uses a timer to distinguish between a real objection and a
moving object by counting time while the sensor is blocked. Of
course, it detects a passing train itself too, so a special track
circuit is installed in the crossing area to disable the function
while the train is passing. It is capable of detecting an object
regardless of its size, varying from a pedestrian to a large bus. If
you stop on the level crossing blocking the sensor for a certain
time period, an emergency stop would be activated. Actually, I
heard that nuisance stops sometimes occur on level crossings
protected by this system (but this adverse effect seems to be not
very significant)."

(Leroy W. Demery, Jr.)

 

 

Tue May 20, 2003 3:42 pm

 

 

--- In ..> wrote: "This sounds like trouble for the typical
American mindset. They would soon get the idea that the train
should stop for them, and would become even more brazen in
cutting around gates."

Dave et al.,

This is not a problem in Japan is because 1.) there are laws
against "interference with the safe operation" of a railway or
transport system, and 2.) flagrant scofflaws do become the
target of, shall we say, a rather uncompromising law
enforcement and justice system.

There's also a 3.), but it's not quite so concise. Let's say that
your kid develops a reputation for playing "chicken" when
crossing barriers are located. Someone, quite likely another kid,
will report yours to the local policeman at the local "koban" or
police box for "unsafe behavior." Police cultivate good
relationships with residents, who are then more likely to assist
during criminal investigations ( . . . the police also have a certain
reputation, from 60-80 years ago, to live down . . .).

("Policeman" = policewomen are not permitted to work as koban
officers . . . but "outrank" koban officers because they are
assigned to police stations, and are therefore law-enforcement
"specialists" . . .)

This is a society where neighborhood officers are often asked to
arbitrate disputes that would end up in court in this country (!!!).
The koban officer will probably talk to your kid, and to you, about
unsafe behavior, how it might cause injuries to self or others,
embarrassment to parents and so forth.


Leroy W. Demery, Jr.

Edited May 27, 2013 by bill937ca

[Davo Dentetsu]

Great post.   I'm of the theory that if they fancy being a Darwin Award recipient, then... yeah.