Why do buses open their doors when crossing railroad tracks?

LuvsThatTrivia

It is my understanding that there is a law about school buses stopping at railroad tracks. (I remember the School House Rock song "I am only a bill." The reason is a safety procedure to prevent accidents of school buses. http://www.nsc.org/library/facts/railroad.htm Nov 17 05, 10:36 PM

Gnomon

Buses certainly don't open their doors when crossing railway tracks in Europe. Nov 18 05, 3:47 AM

Flynn_17

That's right, most buses speed up just in case. But then I think that it would impossible for level crossing barrier to come down on a British bus. Far to long, they are. Nov 18 05, 9:03 AM

LuvsThatTrivia

The law is valid in the USA. The bus driver is to listen signs of an oncoming train. This was created mainly for school buses. Nov 18 05, 12:50 PM

wwefan77

In Canada it is the same the reason why they do that is to see if the train is coming. Nov 18 05, 12:53 PM

skypilot024

Opening the doors allows the operator a clearer view of the oncoming vehicles on that side of the bus. The glass in the door reflects the inside of the bus making it difficult to see outside clearly. Nov 18 05, 8:48 PM

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