Flashing vs. Continuous Ditchlights

Question:  How come flashing locomotive ditch lights are not an FRA requirement yet? Of all the North American Class 1 roads, Norfolk Southern, CSX, & Amtrak all use flashing ditch lights when the horn is sounded, while Union Pacific, BNSF, Kansas City Southern, Canadian National, & Canadian Pacific do not (NS actually takes it one step further, and also has flashing ditch lights mounted on the rear of their locomotives, while UP & BNSF actually disabled the flashers on former SP & BN locomotives that were so-equipped).  I think the flashers do a better job at getting motorist's attention when warning them of approaching trains at grade crossings, as opposed to the constant-lit ditch lights.  Do you see the FRA moving to require flashing ditch lights for ALL Class 1s in the next few years or so?  I think it would reduce the number of grade-crossing fatalities.

Answer:  Since this forum is primarily aimed at answering questions or addressing issues from a trainmaster’s perspective, I’m obliged to say that, as a trainmaster, my primary concern with this issue would be to ensure the locomotives on my ready track all had auxiliary lights (aka ditch lights) in good working order.  As you say, the FRA doesn't mandate flashing over continuous auxiliary lights, leaving that decision to the railroads.

Personally, I cannot and would not argue against your logic.  I agree that flashing ditch lights would seem to create a more visible approaching train.  Interesting that only the Eastern Class I lines have opted for the flashing ditch lights.  I don’t know the western roads’ rationales for choosing continuous ditch lights.  I am not (nor would I necessarily be) aware of any initiative to make flashing auxiliary lights a requirement.  I’m not sure who would champion such a cause (probably not the railroads).  I suspect such a move would only arise from clear statistical evidence that flashing ditch lights do, in fact, improve railroad crossing safety.

Thanks for bringing the issue to this forum.  Any other thoughts out there on this issue?