Tag:crossing:whistle=optional
 crossing:whistle = optional
|
,_Broad_Street,_Bahn%C3%BCbergang_--_2022_--_1671.jpg) |
| Description |
|---|
Trains are not required to blow their horn at this specific railroad crossing, unlike at a normal crossing 
|
| Group: railways |
| Used on these elements |
    |
| Requires |
| Useful combination |
Status: approved
|
| Tools for this tag |
|
This tag indicates a whistle ban (Canada) or quiet zone (United States) regulation exempting trains from the requirement to blow their horn at this specific railroad crossing. Trains may still sound their horns when necessary but not are not required to do so routinely, as they would be at a normal crossing.
This value is the default in countries, such as the UK, where trains are not required to blow their horn at level crossings by law. In the US, the presence of a quiet zone is generally marked at the crossing by one or more W10-9(P) "NO TRAIN HORN" signs, and is also required by law to be stated in the public (FRA) records for that level crossing.
This value is named optional instead of the seemingly more obvious no because, in North American practice, a locomotive crew may still blow the horn if necessary to warn a crossing user who hasn't caught on to the fact there's a train bearing down on them, or to signal their presence to a railroad work gang. This tag can be used by road routers to warn road users that train horns are unlikely to be present at a crossing, or by rail users who need information about horn practice at a specific crossing.
Partial quiet zones (where trains blow their horns during the day, but not at night, for instance) are tagged as a crossing:whistle:conditional=* using the standard conditional restrictions syntax.
Examples
Level crossing in a partial quiet zone in San Jose, California
crossing:whistle=yes
crossing:whistle:conditional=optional @ (22:00-07:00)
_San_Gabriel_Sub_crossing_at_Rialto_Avenue.jpg)
