International Railroad Discussion > Do Japanese Locomotives blow their horns at crossings?

Good Morning everybody. I was wondering if Japanese locomotives sound their horns at crossings. Or does Japan have Quiet Zones too? I saw a video of a train going through a crossing and the engineer didn't sound the horn.

railfaneric Wrote:
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> Good Morning everybody. I was wondering if
> Japanese locomotives sound their horns at
> crossings. Or does Japan have Quiet Zones too? I
> saw a video of a train going through a crossing
> and the engineer didn't sound the horn.

As far as I'm aware, there are no rules that require locomotives, EMUs, DMUs, and other trains to regularly blow horns at the crossings. This has been true as far as I can remember, which goes back several decades. No need for an anti-rule like Quiet Zones, if you think about it.

Engineers do blow the horn for potential emergencies, or blow a friendly toot for railfans, as I've witnessed those on many occasions.

Japanese have taken the expensive but proper approaches to grade crossing accidents, which is to spend money when available to eliminate grade crossings, which is an ongoing process right now. Almost all major thoroughfares in all major cities don't have grade crossings (in the entire country), with the exception of streetcars and light rail, where the slower speeds of those trains means accidents are less critical?

The frequency of trains in the country means people tend NOT to take them for granted, which means as a percentage, it's safe to speculate Japanese drivers and pedestrians pay more attention than citizens in countries with much fewer trains. Grade crossing accidents STILL occur, however.

In the bigger picture, you'll have to consider differences in culture and practices, and consider that not everything we do here in the U.S. apply elsewhere - the legal profession is much less invasive in other parts of the world, for example.

cchan006 Wrote:
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> ...
>
> The frequency of trains in the country means people tend NOT to take them for granted, which
> means as a percentage, it's safe to speculate Japanese drivers and pedestrians pay more
> attention than citizens in countries with much fewer trains. Grade crossing accidents STILL
> occur, however.
>
> In the bigger picture, you'll have to consider differences in culture and practices, and consider
> that not everything we do here in the U.S. apply elsewhere - the legal profession is much less
> invasive in other parts of the world, for example.


Which I read is a polite way of saying way too many people in this country run around with their heads up their butts, not paying attention, and figure other people will look out for their well being. Then when something happens due to their own stupidity they run to a lawyer and sue the heck out of whoever hurt them. In other words too many people refuse to take responsibility for their own actions.

Railbaron Wrote:
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> cchan006 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > ...
> >
> > The frequency of trains in the country means
> people tend NOT to take them for granted, which
> > means as a percentage, it's safe to speculate
> Japanese drivers and pedestrians pay more
> > attention than citizens in countries with much
> fewer trains. Grade crossing accidents STILL
> > occur, however.
> >
> > In the bigger picture, you'll have to consider
> differences in culture and practices, and
> consider
> > that not everything we do here in the U.S. apply
> elsewhere - the legal profession is much less
> > invasive in other parts of the world, for
> example.
>
>
> Which I read is a polite way of saying way too
> many people in this country run around with their
> heads up their butts, not paying attention, and
> figure other people will look out for their well
> being. Then when something happens due to their
> own stupidity they run to a lawyer and sue the
> heck out of whoever hurt them. In other words too
> many people refuse to take responsibility for
> their own actions.

Without lawyers and suing whomever, our current leader could never have built his business empire. Think about it.

PERichardson Wrote:
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> Railbaron Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > cchan006 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > ...
> > >
> > > The frequency of trains in the country means
> > people tend NOT to take them for granted, which
> > > means as a percentage, it's safe to speculate
> > Japanese drivers and pedestrians pay more
> > > attention than citizens in countries with
> much
> > fewer trains. Grade crossing accidents STILL
> > > occur, however.
> > >
> > > In the bigger picture, you'll have to
> consider
> > differences in culture and practices, and
> > consider
> > > that not everything we do here in the U.S.
> apply
> > elsewhere - the legal profession is much less
> > > invasive in other parts of the world, for
> > example.
> >
> >
> > Which I read is a polite way of saying way too
> > many people in this country run around with
> their
> > heads up their butts, not paying attention, and
> > figure other people will look out for their
> well
> > being. Then when something happens due to their
> > own stupidity they run to a lawyer and sue the
> > heck out of whoever hurt them. In other words
> too
> > many people refuse to take responsibility for
> > their own actions.
>
> Without lawyers and suing whomever, our current
> leader could never have built his business empire.
> Think about it.

think about this: JURIES render verdicts, NOT attorneys.

your turn.........

66

PERichardson Wrote:
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> Without lawyers and suing whomever, our current
> leader could never have built his business empire.
> Think about it.

Yup, thought about it. His real estate footprint in Japan is small, probably because doing big real estate deals usually involve the Yakuza. He kept his hands cleaner by staying on this side of the Pacific and schmoozing with the lawyers. :-)

Had he seriously dabbled in Japan, he might have ended up buying a railroad or two. World's richest man (briefly) before the Japanese economic bubble burst owned a railroad, Seibu Railways. This is around the time Trump was making a name for himself in New York, and I'm sure his "competitive spirit" would have made him consider buying a Japanese railroad. Something to REALLY think about.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/12/17 17:55 by cchan006.

None of this has anything to do with blowing horns at crossings.

tomstp Wrote:
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> None of this has anything to do with blowing horns
> at crossings.

blowing horns at crossings has EVERYTHING to do with litigation.........

66

tomstp Wrote:
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> None of this has anything to do with blowing horns
> at crossings.

Good call. I did respond to the OP about differences in culture and practices, so I decided to respond to the American politics comment with a Japanese cultural twist.

Yes, there are lawyers in Japan, and that means a judicial system, too. Yes, there have been accidents and incidents (railroad or not) where accountability needs to be determined, and damages/punishments are dished out depending on who's fault they were. We had our Chatsworth, and they had their Amagasaki, and if you're curious, you can look them up.

The railroad (JR West) was blamed for the Amagasaki accident, but instead of a government mandate for PTC, the courts focused on changing the oppressive and unsafe work environment. Hazing/bullying of the engineer and his desperate desire to keep his job led to the overspeed and derailment. Many managers (including the CEO) lost their jobs.

Did you know in New Zealand there are no lawyers?

tomstp Wrote:
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> Did you know in New Zealand there are no lawyers?

Do trains blow horn for grade crossings in New Zealand?

tomstp Wrote:
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> Did you know in New Zealand there are no lawyers?

The New Zealand Law Society would be very surprised to hear that, given that it's the professional association of lawyers for the country. New Zealand follows the British system where lawyers practice as either barristers or solicitors, but both categories are lawyers.

Dave

Whoa, then a fella told me wrong! I thought that was to good to be true.

Under Japanese law, cars and pedestrians are obliged to temporarily stop before the railroad crossing, similarly to US school buses, but unlike many other countries. In addition, because railroad gates are popular, cars can not physically cross the railroad crossing.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Level_crossing#Japan