Apple to Add Grade Crossings to Maps After Federal Recommendation

[kdarling]

Interesting. Didn't realize that there was a service specifically for trucks (and presumably other types of commercial transportation). Can you elaborate on the differences? Enquiring minds want to know!

There are also RV specific GPSes (which I think use a version of the truck GPS databases). E.g.:

The GPS Store - Truck & RV GPS models

Basically they can be set to your vehicle's size, so the GPS route can avoid low overpasses, overweight roads and bridges, tolls, roads forbidden to trucks or commercial vehicles, and so forth.

The truck version also includes POIs such as overnight stops, truck repair places. The RV version is similar along with Campgrounds.

 

[2010mini]

Interesting. Didn't realize that there was a service specifically for trucks (and presumably other types of commercial transportation). Can you elaborate on the differences? Enquiring minds want to know!
[doublepost=1482245668][/doublepost]

What you are describing is a combination of upcoming technologies referred to a "Vehicle-to-Vehicle" and "Vehicle-to-Infrastructure".

V2V: http://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle-Shoppers/Safety-Technology/v2v–comms
V2I: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_infrastructure_integration

There is a lot of work necessary to making these both functional AND safe... but we'll get there.

GPS for commercial drivers like truckers, will not allow you to drive on roads where it is illegal or dangerous. It will alert you if you make a wrong turn.

 

[2457282]

There have been five accidents at the crossing since 2008.

Obviously, any accident is one too many. But given that we are averaging less than 1 at grade accident per year, should we not look at bigger causes? What can a GPS app do that would help reduce accidents? Maybe speed limit indicators and warning? Maybe emergency contact button if lost or distressed? routing to nearest police or hospital available at all times? These are just off-the-cuff ideas, but I do not think that the identifying at grade crossing will reduce these accidents and certainly would not have done anything for the one quoted in particular.

 

[RadioGaGa1984]

Apple maps is still unusable for anyone who uses google maps. One of the main reasons I'll be switching away from iPhone soon. This company is in the toilets.

I use Apple maps daily without issue. Also just an FYI the case the NTSB cited was from a user using Google maps. Reading comprehension not a strong suit I guess. Anyway thanks for playing come back tomorrow.

 

[campyguy]

Obviously, any accident is one too many. But given that we are averaging less than 1 at grade accident per year, should we not look at bigger causes? What can a GPS app do that would help reduce accidents? Maybe speed limit indicators and warning? Maybe emergency contact button if lost or distressed? routing to nearest police or hospital available at all times? These are just off-the-cuff ideas, but I do not think that the identifying at grade crossing will reduce these accidents and certainly would not have done anything for the one quoted in particular.

Good points, however, I'm going to default to driver fatigue and inattentiveness and disregarding signage and the rules of the road as significant factors - this coming from my own professional experience. If you've seen some of the things I've seen...

Going back to my OP, the person of interest was using a cell phone - yet he didn't call 911, or his boss, or the local police but did take the time to hike a mile or so after abandoning his rig. That intersection (as I follow incidents like this one as part of my professional makeup) has Automatic Active Traffic Control Devices - lights and crossing gates - but the driver was long gone before the train arrived. The engineer could have been traveling at a lower speed IMHO, but I'm not one to criticize the NTSB (in this instance...). So, I'm in agreement that this intersection was pretty much covered. Deferring to the advice/sources by @kdarling - I'd rather see the NTSB require all CDL holders use a "certified" device and make GPS units as those listed at the line kdarling provided be mandatory, with checks at weigh stations and random checks by company supervisors/dispatchers.

In addition to kdarling's cited source, each of the major cell phone carriers (including VZW/Sprint/ATTWS) have a business arm that provides inventory tracking services - which would supplement those GPS units (which have been available for years).

But idiots will still be idiots...

Almost $19M to "fix" it - https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i5/skagitriverbridgereplacement/
Some of the things I've seen (and fixed...). Sigh.

 

[mw360]

Good points, however, I'm going to default to driver fatigue and inattentiveness and disregarding signage and the rules of the road as significant factors - this coming from my own professional experience. If you've seen some of the things I've seen...

Going back to my OP, the person of interest was using a cell phone - yet he didn't call 911, or his boss, or the local police but did take the time to hike a mile or so after abandoning his rig. That intersection (as I follow incidents like this one as part of my professional makeup) has Automatic Active Traffic Control Devices - lights and crossing gates - but the driver was long gone before the train arrived. The engineer could have been traveling at a lower speed IMHO, but I'm not one to criticize the NTSB (in this instance...). So, I'm in agreement that this intersection was pretty much covered. Deferring to the advice/sources by @kdarling - I'd rather see the NTSB require all CDL holders use a "certified" device and make GPS units as those listed at the line kdarling provided be mandatory, with checks at weigh stations and random checks by company supervisors/dispatchers.

In addition to kdarling's cited source, each of the major cell phone carriers (including VZW/Sprint/ATTWS) have a business arm that provides inventory tracking services - which would supplement those GPS units (which have been available for years).

But idiots will still be idiots...

Almost $19M to "fix" it - https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i5/skagitriverbridgereplacement/
Some of the things I've seen (and fixed...). Sigh.

You can keep criticising the driver all you want, but the fact is he's facing trial, so that's covered. This is not an either/or situation - both the driver and his navigation app could have been more situationally aware. Personally I don't think putting the guy in jail will deter anyone from making a wrong turn in future, but nevertheless that side is being handled for those who feel it would.

From the NYT article it seems clear he ended up on the tracks because Google Maps told him to make a turn as he approached the crossing. Again from the article, people commonly ignore reality to follow instructions from their GPS devices and that's not a trend which is going to reverse as those devices get smarter. If Google had said, 'cross the rail tracks, then make a turn,' instead of 'make a turn' then maybe this wouldn't have happened. You seem to be arguing against implementing that, in favour of just calling some people idiots. I don't see how that is going to save any lives.

 

[alexgowers]

Grade means a slope though? We call them 'level crossings'. Honesty though it's not a maps issue but terrible infrastructure, the train company/rail operator should be sued to upgrade their rail crossings to prevent accidents like this.

 

[rusty2192]

Grade means a slope though? We call them 'level crossings'. Honesty though it's not a maps issue but terrible infrastructure, the train company/rail operator should be sued to upgrade their rail crossings to prevent accidents like this.

It's short for at-grade, as opposed to grade-separated (bridge) crossings. In America, most of the railroads were built before the highways, so it's the roads encroaching on the railroads in most cases.

This crossing already had gates, lights, and signs. There isn't much more that can be done. The issue wasn't with the warning devices. The guy turned onto the tracks, so there isn't much that can be done to prevent that other than education and raising awareness to your surroundings, which this initiative may help.

It should be easy enough for Apple, Google, etc to implement this. The Feds already have the data for all crossings. It's required of the RRs and state DOTs to keep an inventory and report it to the FRA. The maps will just need to import the data and then work it into their routing systems.

 

[campyguy]

You can keep criticising the driver all you want, but the fact is he's facing trial, so that's covered. This is not an either/or situation - both the driver and his navigation app could have been more situationally aware. Personally I don't think putting the guy in jail will deter anyone from making a wrong turn in future, but nevertheless that side is being handled for those who feel it would.

From the NYT article it seems clear he ended up on the tracks because Google Maps told him to make a turn as he approached the crossing. Again from the article, people commonly ignore reality to follow instructions from their GPS devices and that's not a trend which is going to reverse as those devices get smarter. If Google had said, 'cross the rail tracks, then make a turn,' instead of 'make a turn' then maybe this wouldn't have happened. You seem to be arguing against implementing that, in favour of just calling some people idiots. I don't see how that is going to save any lives.

I don't feel the way you do. I am aware of more of the details than you are - before a reply, take a look at the intersection - no trees, a simple left turn from a major roadway onto a secondary major roadway, with great visibility. It also seems as though you're missing that this was not a collision between a truck and a train at a level (at-grade) crossing - he abandoned a stalled vehicle and didn't use the mobile phone he had with him to alert anyone before walking away.

My perspective aside, transportation engineering is my chosen profession. You may have read The Times. Documents like this one - https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/HWY15MH006_preliminary.pdf - are what I use to keep up to date and learn from. I've been in court on both sides and they're all about a metered compromise IMHO, and I've represented DOTs as the resident engineer - newspapers pretty much leave out a few things, so take a look at the two photos of what the driver was looking at and keep in mind driving is what he does for a living. "Google says 'turn right'" just doesn't fly here with me once you've seen the layout of the two intersections and read the rest of the preliminary report - it sounds like "defense attorney speak". I've written plenty of reports like that one, and I'm also entitled to my own opinion as are you. Don't criticize my opinion here, it's not going to change and I did take time to read the NTSB preliminary report first rather than relying solely on a news rag across the country. Happy Holidays to you.