Dr. John Petersen
The harm caused by train horns is recognized by medical professionals around the world, by a majority of TCPalm poll respondents, but not by Indian River County commissioners.
Below is a brief sample of medical literature.
A 2012 German paper shows that train noise at night is associated with a higher probability of awakening than aircraft noise. A 2010 Korean article reported on sleep disturbances caused by train trains. A 2011 Norwegian paper showed that even the sound of a train horn at night can disrupt REM sleep. A 2010 Swiss paper showed that the sound of train horns increased the use of sleeping pills.
It seems clear that no further research is needed to know that train horns are harmful to our health and quality of life.
It was a quiet night here in Vero Beach. Trains are now prohibited from routinely sounding their horns at railroad crossings. At that time, many railroad crossings consisted only of railroad markings. Something that would clearly not be considered appropriate today.
Emergency services angle:Martin County Sheriff: Use caution when considering whether to create a Brightline quiet zone
Former railway executive:Safety first is the railway's motto.Don't risk more Brightline victims by not honking your horn
At the time, it was clear to everyone that there was a trade-off with safety. As a society, we make these decisions often. A 55 mph speed limit on all roads would reduce traffic fatalities.
A few years ago, the Federal Railroad Association removed horn-free zones after a rise in railroad crossing fatalities due to unsafe conditions at many railroad crossings across the country. This seemed like a reasonable choice at the time.
Published standards for train horns state that the horn must sound for a minimum of 15 seconds and stop when the lead locomotive enters the crossing. The horn should sound between 96 and 110 decibels. Usually, a train will sound its horn at the 4 minute 1 mile point from the railroad crossing. This exposes homes and businesses to loud and unpleasant noises, even if they are not near an intersection.
Because of the known harm caused by the routine use of train horns, FRA has authorized the creation of quiet zones in areas with improved safety railroad crossings. One of the key elements of intersection improvements in this area is the proliferation of quadrant gates. At this time, unlike his two previous gates, it is difficult to bypass the lowered gate.
At the February 7 Indian River County Commission meeting, the idea of creating these quiet zones ended up being rejected fairly quickly. It was clear to the committee that he was exhibiting two common types of bias: cognitive bias and negativity bias.
Cognitive bias states that if someone doesn't personally find something annoying, no one else will. Negativity bias refers to the false worry that negative outcomes from change are much more likely than positive outcomes.
Cognitive bias was evident throughout the proceedings as no one mentioned the proven negative health effects of honking noise. Negativity bias is manifested when concerns about decreased safety irrationally overwhelm the concept of positive outcomes.
It's rather illogical to think that a quiet horn a quarter of a mile away will attract more attention than the flashing lights, chimes, and lowered gates of a new intersection.
The Federal Railroad Administration’s final report, “Risks of Trespassing in Quiet Zones,” released in September 2020, concluded:
“Analysis based on basal selection also revealed no statistically significant differences in the number of trespass casualties after setting the QZ across all basal sections included in this study.”
This means that if trains do not routinely honk their horns at crossings in FRA-approved quiet zones, the crossings would be just as safe.
The time has come for people to take personal responsibility. We provide safe crosswalks, but it is the public's responsibility to follow the rules.
And politicians need to listen to voters. Commissioners were paternalistic and dismissive, characteristics that are all too common in government during the coronavirus pandemic. If train horns aren't a nuisance, he should give a 15-second blast at random during meetings.
We should vote against sleep disorders and fatigue, which affect many people, including school-aged children. No to reduced quality of life. No to a decline in asset value.
We need elected officials who represent the will of the people. In this November's local elections, as a single-issue voter, I will be voting for the person who will bring us peace and tranquility.
Dr. John Petersen is a radiation oncologist who worked at Indian River Hospital from 1993 until his retirement in 2022. During his tenure, for 12 years, he served as Chair of the Cancer Accreditation Cancer Program Committee.
