Strange observation with class 4 level crossings

[MichiK]

While looking for Japanese class 4 levelcrossings (第4種踏切) yesterday, I noticed that with those quite often the warning cross is located on the right handside of the road (even if the crossing isn't restricted to pedestrian use). A particulary picturesque example is this Tokyu 5000 (from RM Library 98) passing through rural Japan.

In a land where you drive on the left side I would have expected all traffic signs to stand on the left side, too ?!

[railsquid]

Ah, but the driver will be sitting on the right hand side of the car.

[katoftw]

I not that none of the pictured crossings are for cars.

 

I also note that the crosses seem to be equal left and right sides.

[MichiK]

I'd say these ones are:

https://ameblo.jp/akiroom2/image-10659365788-11229389263.html

http://www.asahi.com/area/gunma/viewphoto2_gunma.html?area-pg/MTW201511281010600019235.jpg

https://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/wasabikuma322/diary/201411220001/

https://ameblo.jp/kh8000-blog/image-12338399748-14097284408.html

 

Not 100% sure about https://deskgram.net/p/1919683677510311571_1705376022, but I'd guess this is the access to a field or somthing similar.

 

 

Ok, class 4 crossings seem to be restricted pretty much to single track roads, so it really doesn't matter where to place the cross. Still, I would have expected a traffic sign on the usual side of the road...

 

 

[marknewton]

Its funny - as traincrew I hate level crossings. In my experience you cant trust motorists to do the right thing when they're on them. Yet I think they look great as models. There's some very nice examples you've posted, Michi.

 

Cheers,

 

Mark.

[bikkuri bahn]

Probably for visibility purposes, say a truck or bus is in front of you, you may not see the crossbucks from the drivers side due to obstruction of line of sight.  If the crossbuck is on the right it’s easily seen. 

[nah00]

On 2/14/2019 at 8:15 AM, marknewton said:

Its funny - as traincrew I hate level crossings. In my experience you cant trust motorists to do the right thing when they're on them. Yet I think they look great as models. There's some very nice examples you've posted, Michi.

 

Cheers,

 

Mark.

 

Probably because you never have to worry about your 1/160 truck driver trying to pull his low-loader flatbed over the crossing and getting stuck on the hump when you're only 500 feet away from him. 

 

It does look like a line of sight thing, most of these seem to be one lane roads and and since the warning device is strictly visual it's best to put it closest to the driver side of vehicles.