Report says truckers need better rail-crossing training

WINNIPEG, (Oct. 15, 2004) — A report looking into a massive truck-train collision two years ago says truck drivers need to be better trained on uncontrolled rail crossings.

The Transportation Safety Board report — which reviewed the crash that resulted in an explosion and evacuation near Firdale, Man. in 2002 — says the incident might not have happened if the truck driver had better training, says a report released yesterday.

Canadian Press reports that investigators found some commercial drivers believe crossbuck signs merely warn of an upcoming railway track crossing. In fact such signs should be treated the same way as a yield sign, CP reports TSA director said Ian Naish as saying.

Naish said it makes more sense to improve driver education rather than change 20,000 uncontrolled rail crossings across the country.

The investigation also found that driver fatigue also played a role in the accident.

One locomotive and 20 of the Toronto-bound CN train’s 70 cars were derailed in the accident. Fifteen cars caught fire. Five cars were carrying dangerous chemicals, including benzene and hexane. None of the train’s crew was badly injured.

The safety board’s investigation found the driver didn’t hear the train whistle because his window was rolled up and his radio was on. He also failed to stop at the crossing or look both ways before crossing the tracks.

— from Canadian Press, via Winnipeg Free Press