A boom barrier is something that you must have seen at a level crossing. A level crossing is where the railway tracks and the roads intersect. To keep both the vehicles on the road and the train on tracks safe, there is a barrier at the level crossings which is known as the boom barrier or automatic boom barrier. This kind of barrier is pivoted at one end and free at the other. When there is a train approaching, the barrier is lowered down, otherwise it is kept up. These barriers can be controlled both manually and electronically as well. When controlled electrically, it can either be automated or non-automated. If it is controlled manually then some person needs to manually pull down and pull up the heavy barrier. If it is electronic but not automated, then there needs to be a controller who, with a press of a button or a lever, can pull up or pull down the barrier.
How automated boom barriers work
If it is fully automated, then there needs to be no manual supervision for the lifting or falling of barriers. The most commonly used technology in automated barriers is the use of sensors. RFID tags and sensors, or ultrasonic sensors or infrared sensors are some of the common types of sensors that are used in these completely automated boom barrier gates. The use of these sensors makes it possible to detect incoming traffic or trains and lift or drop the boom gate accordingly. This is both safer and easier than manually controlling the gates and that is why more than half of the world has adapted automated gates at their level crossings. The use of sensors can accurately gauge the speed of the inbound vehicle or train as well which excludes the possibility of humane error from the equations.
The use of automated boom gates all across the world and it’s advantages
This technology has been adapted all over the world, in all the different developed and developing countries and it has shown very promising results so far. The frequency of accidents and accidents leading to casualties or injuries have dropped considerably in places where these automated boom barrier gates have been used compared to before they were used. People can be pretty callous and sometimes the person operating the boom gate might not be completely concentrated which may lead to a mistiming in lifting or dropping the gate. The commuters are always in a hurry and so if the gate is dropped too late or lifted too soon, there is a possibility that people will rush on to the tracks which might lead to a dreadful accident. If the system is automated then there is no scope for callousness. As long as the sensors are functioning properly, the system is full proof. A periodic supervision of the sensors, however, is mandatory to see if they are in working condition or not.
The automatic boom barriers have a secondary warning system installed as a part of the package as well. This warning system consists of a siren which warns vehicles when a train is coming so that people in a hurry do not try to go under the boom gate and cross the tracks anyway. This technology has been widely accepted and appreciated over the whole world. The major countries in the world have replaced the manual boom gates and swing gates at level crossing which has resulted in a significant decrease in the number of accidents at these level crossings. There is legal action that can be taken against violators in most of these countries as well.
