Topic: Just Goes to Show that Technology Can't Make Up for Missing Brains

[Trainman]

Yup, I always believe my GPS, even if it told me to drive off a cliff (or onto train tracks    ):


Man using GPS drives into path of train in New York suburb
Published: Thursday, January 3, 2008 | 6:45 PM ET
Canadian Press: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BEDFORD HILLS, New York - A Global Positioning System can tell a driver a lot of things - but not when a train is coming.

A computer consultant driving a rental car drove onto train tracks Wednesday using the instructions his GPS unit gave him.

A train was barrelling toward him, but he escaped in time and no one was injured.

The driver had turned right, as the system advised, and the car somehow got stuck on the tracks at the crossing.

Metro-North railroad spokesman Dan Brucker says the man jumped out, tried to warn the engineer by waving and managed to get out of the way just before the train slammed into the car at about 100 kilometres per hour.

The car was pushed more than 30 metres during the fiery crash and some 500 train passengers were stranded for more than two hours during the Wednesday evening rush hour.

[rrocket]

How does a car "somehow get stranded" on the tracks???  Car was working 5 seconds before the turn, and now it's stuck on the tracks??  LOL....

[dr_spock]

Maybe he turned right as instructed by the GPS onto the tracks from the level crossing and got stuck between the rails.  The rails could be higher than this rental's ground clearance. 

[Schmengie]

Yup, I always believe my GPS, even if it told me to drive off a cliff (or onto train tracks    ):


Man using GPS drives into path of train in New York suburb
Published: Thursday, January 3, 2008 | 6:45 PM ET
Canadian Press: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BEDFORD HILLS, New York - A Global Positioning System can tell a driver a lot of things - but not when a train is coming.

A computer consultant driving a rental car drove onto train tracks Wednesday using the instructions his GPS unit gave him.

A train was barrelling toward him, but he escaped in time and no one was injured.

The driver had turned right, as the system advised, and the car somehow got stuck on the tracks at the crossing.

Metro-North railroad spokesman Dan Brucker says the man jumped out, tried to warn the engineer by waving and managed to get out of the way just before the train slammed into the car at about 100 kilometres per hour.

The car was pushed more than 30 metres during the fiery crash and some 500 train passengers were stranded for more than two hours during the Wednesday evening rush hour.

   

[barrie1]

I worked on the CN in the mid 60's as a yardman and brakeman for about 3 years. I watched one afternoon when 2 guys got caught between the wigwams and the mainline. They go out and ran away from their vehicle and while I was riding on the front of the yard engine approaching them at about 10 MPH we stopped. I drove their car across the tracks,Parked it there and came back while they cowarded beside our yard office. They were scared crapless and appeared well greased as well but it was Funny to the crew at the time. We also witnessed the worst of these accidents as well on the main line on occasion only. Folks do weird things around the tracks and getting a wheel stuck is only one of them.