Railroad Crashes

When railroads intersect streets and highways at grade crossings the vehicular traffic is often controlled by active rail devices such as flashing lights, bells, and crossing gates. Nearby vehicular intersections may also be interconnected to the rail crossing such that the approaching train interrupts the normal traffic signal operation. As the train approaches the intersection, and while the train is across the roadway, the traffic signal should operate in a special mode called preemption. Rail preemption is a complex aspect of traffic signal design and operation.

Mr. Marceau has designed many traffic signals with railroad preemption. He is also a published author and lecturer on reconstructing crashes at rail-highway intersections. Mr. Marceau is often consulted by other engineers for rail-highway design and he investigates crashes at intersections with railroad preemption.

Despite the fact that railroad preemption is complex, even to many traffic engineers, crash investigators, and police officers, Mr. Marceau has experience in explaining the pertinent details to different audiences. If your case involves a vehicle or pedestrian crash at a railroad-highway intersection it will be imperative that you understand the technical details of the case to best evaluate the case. It will also be critical that the court understand these details to render a correct verdict.