Level crossing collisions

[PCCSTREETCAR@webtv.net (John Engleman)]

       It never ceases to amaze me how many level crossing accidents
there are in Australia, and two of the simplest ways to cut down on them
are completely ignored by Australian rail operators.  First, turn on the
damned locomotive or suburban train headlights, ALL THE TIME!  Anyone
with even an ounce of common sense that has ever looked at an
approaching train will tell you that you can see the train much farther
away and you can tell which direction it is moving when a bright
headlght is shining at them.  And for all you train drivers who will
complain that it is too bright in your eyes, turn it down on dim when
you approach another train.  In the US and Canada, every railroad's
rulebook states, "The forward or leading end of all locomotives, MU
cars, and track vehicles will display headlights on bright setting by
day and by night, except when approaching another train, when headlight
may be dimmed".  They have even gone a step furher now, and require all
locomotives that cross public crossings at grade at speeds in excess of
20 mph to have two working ditch or strobe lights on bright or flashing,
or speed must be reduced to less than 20 mph.  This applies to all
areas, city, suburbs, and country.  But Australian trains just sneak up
on the crossings with no lights at all more often than not.   And stupid
Sydney won't even use their headlights (if the even have them) at night.
Granted Sydney doesn't have that many crossings, but my God, how do they
expect anybody to see a black-fronted Tangara at night?   No wonder
people drive in front of and walk across the tracks right in the path of
oncoming trains.     The second way to cut down on level crossing
accidents is to blow the damned whistle or horn.  And not some little
short toot.....lean on the bloody thing.  Why some smart lawyer hasn't
jumped on this is way beyond me.  South Australia comes the closet to
doing it.....at least they do run with their headlights on, but their
train drivers are almost as wussy as the ones in NSW and Victoria when
it comes to whistles.   And I am not just some ranting gunzel.  I have
been a locomotive engineer on the B&O RR / Chessie System / CSX in the
US since 1973, although now off on a disability.  I have seen the
difference that whistles and headlights make, and it saves lives and
engineer's (train driver's) blood pressure every time some jerk thinks
twice about trying to beat the train because he saw that big headlight
and heard that whistle screaming at him as the train approached the
crossing.