The fact that the truck became stuck before the boom gates came down to me implies that the accident was technically preventable! Sensors to detect vehicles between boom gates would have made it feasible to inhibit the gates coming down and keep the train line signals to trains at red. Clearly, time-to-stop for individual trains at their approach speed & mass should also factor into the time before boom gates (& integrated obstruction checks) are programmed in real time to activate.
State Governments throughout Australia take note: How about a programme to rapidly institute such a protocol at all crossings?
About adelaidepete
Now live in Adelaide South Australia and have always worked in Systems & Software Engineering. I am enjoying commenting on, suggesting and discussing innovative solutions to problems and useful risk mitigation strategies and recently interested in the realm of public policy re urban planning & disasters - the focus of this blog.
I am interested in technology, gadgetry, enhancing productivity & functionality, urban planning, military thinking and public policy.
I enjoyed periods I spent in USA (Reston, Virginia Beach & Dallas) & Europe (Germany, Spain, Italy & Greece) but genuinely love Australia, most people, animals, singing, dancing & life.
City Sense 
I pay a quick visit each day a few web sites and blogs to read posts, except
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