Why does a public bus come to a complete stop when passing railroad tracks?

Answer 1

To safely survey the intersection. When entirely clear, they will pass. That way nobody's mad at the driver for maiming their children while trying to "beat the train."

Answer 2

It's a law and a major safety and liability factor. School buses and some trucks also have to do this.

First of all, it takes a bus longer to stop than a car so if a bus didnt start coming to a stop before it got to the tracks, it could easily go right over them and not be able to stop in time if the driver does see a train coming.
Second, A bus is longer, and therefor takes longer to cross the tracks, so it must see if a train is coming to prevent the people inside the bus from being hit by an oncoming train.

Answer 3

federal law requires that public buses, and trucks hauling anything hazardous stop at railroad crossings so that the driver can make sure it is safe to cross. the reason this was done is that many years ago, the vast majority of railroad crossings were not gated, and too many people died at these crossings because drivers with the above cargo would not stop and check to see if a train was coming. the law remains in effect to this day because even though the vast majority of railroad crossing are now gated, gates dont always work properly, and there are some drivers that will try to beat the gate even though they are coming down.

Answer 4

First of all it's the law. Second of all it's a safety factor. It takes a bus longer to get across the tracks than a car, so in order to get across the tracks safely, the bus comes to a complete stop before proceeding. They also make sure no cars or other trucks are in front of them in case a train does come through, they can get off the tracks in a hurry! School buses are also required to do this...sometimes those arms malfunctin, so you need to be especially careful around tracks.

Answer 5

In most states it is a law that a school bus driver stop, open the door, then look and listen both directions before proceeding. It may apply to other public buses as well.

Answer 6

It's required by law, to determine for sure that there's not a train coming.

School buses and certain classes of trucks also have to come to a full stop.

Answer 7

It's for safety. They are liable for all the people on the bus so they have to make sure they don't get smucked.

Answer 8

because they don't want the guy who got flung out of his seat to sue them, and also because in many states, its the law for a vehicle that large to stop first.

Answer 9

Plain old safty,Safty first,Better to be safe than sorry, look before you leap, Be safe, look both ways. And so on

Answer 10

In olden days they didn't had public bathroom -so that was the only time that anybody who needs bathroom could get out and take a pee or shyt outside! nowadays they use it for taking a nap or eating food!