Obnoxious Loud Train Horns of Norman, Oklahoma

Several times a day the trains of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad pass through Norman, Oklahoma.

Observe that the horn is blasting even as the locomotive is crossing the gated intersection. This is very common.

Over the years their horns have become louder. Sometimes they sound like a howling herd of stampeding elephants. This is probably because car stereos and radios, which are another noise nuisance in the community, have become louder and the railroad operators want their horns to be heard by these drivers.

DEATH OF A STUDENT IN COLLISION WITH A TRAIN

In 2004, a University of Oklahoma student named Mark Goodnight died after his automobile collided with a train in Norman.

In a letter to the editor of the campus newspaper, his sister Kari Goodnight commented on the death of her brother. Go here for the letter and see the last two scans on page 2:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=73685&l=e5576&id=567381284

She said that, according to the investigating officer, Mark was driving between 25 and 28 miles per hour when he slammed on his brakes and skidded into the path of the train.

Why didn't Mark see the train and the flashing red lights and hear the loud bells before it was too late?

His sister Kari provides a big clue when she writes:

"I have driven over those tracks myself, and I never hear the bells if I am listening to my radio. The train whistle seems to blend in with the music and the flashing lights rarely catch my attention because they are so far off to the side of the road."

Kari appears to be making an argument for even LOUDER train horns so that she and her friends can listen to their LOUD car stereos and still hear them.

In all likelihood, her brother died because he was distracted by the noise of his loud car stereo or radio. David Boren, the president of OU, has tolerated boom cars on that campus ever since they started showing up.

Research has demonstrated that loud auto stereos impair drivers' ability to respond quickly to objects emerging in the peripheral vision field. This is exactly consistent with Kari Goodnight's report that "flashing lights rarely catch my attention because they are so far off to the side of the road." The research was reported in New Scientist, July 19, 1997, by Laura Spinney.

VIDEOS ABOUT BOREN'S QUEERNESS AND CLARKE STROUD'S GOOFINESS:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6FWi7k8yhc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS7bSAB4KuQ&feature=channel

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• norman
• oklahoma
• noise
• pollution
• train
• horns

[IslandGrower]

Oh and by the way I just put four 15 inch subwoofers in my truck with a 7,000 watt amp... 150 DB... louder than a jetplane.

I love to cause terror on the streets and here in Canada there aint no fucking noise rules... cheaaaa.

USA can lick my asshole.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

I leave comments like this online so the boomheads can display to the world that they are hateful vulgar scum who take pleasure in inflicting pain on others with their audio violence.

[frankly1970]

So what about the kid who dies a week ago Sunday? Any advice for him not being gay. Need not worry now, he got hit by a train. Well, you can work on some ideas and maybe figure out how Boren is at fault.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

It's pretty trashy of you to try to take advantage of this tragedy in order to advance your propaganda. Why am I not surprised? You are a total jerk. Get lost.

[mfhayes]

There are noise control ordinances for car stereos, and it's near impossible to enforce.

Florida established quiet zones to get rid of the obnoxious train horns, but as a result, far more accidents occurred. This is likely the fault of loud car stereos, as you said... but if we aren't going to be able to effectively enforce car stereo laws, how are we going to do away with loud train horns?

[MichaelPhillipWright]

Many cities have laws making it a violation to blast entertainment noise loudly enough that it can be heard 50 feet or more from the vehicle. These can be enforced in court. The standard is clear and unambiguous. The problem is that in many cities the enforcement effort is way too weak. This is a problem of political will -- not constitutional law. People at the grass roots who are sick of the noise-makers need to be demanding better enforcement efforts.

[ProfessorIgor]

if they weren't that loud, it would offer the families of train vs. vehicle victims ample amunition when they attempt to suit the rail co. for killing their irresponsible drivers. There's NO excuse for not hearing a train horn. Here, they only chime at ungated crossings... luckily all of them in town are gated.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

You've just disclosed your absence of a moral conscience. Respect for other people's right to quiet is not the reason why you don't blast your horn in the city. You are afraid of getting a ticket.

[conrailbuff]

Exactly.

If I was sorrounded by corn fields I'd blare it like crazy. I live in the city and I wouldnt blare it for fun cuz of the many cop cars all over the place. Even though I dont like cops, they keep peace.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

I see. You love train horns, and since you are obviously a very considerate and civil person, you only indulge your habit when you're far away in an isolated rural area, so no one else will have to hear the disruptive noise. Right?