Why Do You Lift Your Feet Over Train Tracks?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Lifting your feet from the pedals while crossing over railroad tracks. No one knows the origin of this questionable maneuver, but it’s very widespread in areas with railroads. Depending on who you ask, this superstition will either

protect you from dying young

or ensure you find true love. We’re good with either result …

Why do you hold your breath over a bridge?

Smooching your beloved while passing through is also said to bring good luck. For kids, the “kissing bridges” are sometimes known as “wishing bridges,” and anyone with enough self-control (and lung power) to hold their breath the entire length of the bridge is said

to have a wish granted

.

Why you shouldn’t walk on train tracks?

Railroad tracks are private property, not public trails.

It’s illegal to walk on the tracks unless you’re at a designated crossing

. It’s extremely dangerous to walk, run, or drive down the railroad tracks or even alongside them. … Trains can’t stop quickly to avoid people or vehicles on the tracks.

Why is it good luck to hold your breath in a tunnel?

The most commonly-stated reason why people hold their breath while travelling through tunnels is for good luck. … Those giving a more rational explanation to the habit claim that

the change in air pressure when travelling through a tunnel hurts the ears

, and the pain is minimized by holding one’s breath.

How many feet should you be from train tracks?

A train can extend more than three feet beyond the rail in either direction; keep a healthy distance of

at least 15 feet

from the rails at all times. Trains can be deceptive, too. If you see one in the distance, it’s probably moving much faster than it appears.

Can you breathe in a tunnel?

#4: Holding your breath in a tunnel

Supposedly, it’s

good luck to hold your breath while driving through a tunnel

. If you can make it through the entire tunnel without breathing, then you can make a wish at the end and your wish will come true.

Is it bad luck to buy a car on a Friday?

Many people believe that

Friday the 13th is an unlucky day

to drive–even having the inaccurate reputation of being an exceptionally dangerous day to drive–and some refuse to purchase new cars on that day or drive on roads that have the number 13 in their name.

Why you shouldn’t take photos on train tracks?

It’s

Illegal


Trespassing onto railroad property

, including tracks, bridges, buildings and signal towers, is illegal. Violators are subject to a citation for trespassing. Union Pacific will seek removal from publication any photograph or video that violates this policy.

Will I get electrocuted if I step on train tracks?

Penile electrocution is

very painful

. … There have been plenty of reports of death while peeing, but few have confirmed that the pee-to-rail contact was the actual cause of death, rather than electrocution for touching a 600-plus-volt line.

What happens if you step on train tracks?

The

electricity is so strong

that if you touch the rail, you will be seriously injured or killed. – The third rail and overhead lines have electricity flowing through them at all times and are never switched off. … You don’t have to touch the overhead lines to get electrocuted.

Is it bad luck to count train cars?

Don’t count the cars on a train—

it’s bad luck

. Don’t stab your chopsticks upright into a bowl of rice—really bad luck. (And also, super rude—which, to a Japanese grandma, is almost worse than bad luck.)

What is the superstition about cats?


If a cat sneezes three times, someone will catch a cold

. When a cat washes its ears a lot, it will rain. Having a cat in a theater is good luck.

Why do you hide your thumbs when passing a graveyard?

If you see a funeral car passing, you should hide your thumb, making a fist with the thumb inside. The reason is that

the thumb is like a parent finger

, so by doing this you are protecting your parents from the spirit of the deceased that lingers around the car.

How far should you stop when a train is coming?

–Except as provided in subsection (c), the driver of any vehicle described in subsection (b), before crossing at grade any track or tracks of a railroad, shall stop the vehicle

within 50 feet but not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail of the railroad

crossing and while so stopped shall listen and look in both …

How far do you stop when a train is coming?

Stop

at least 15 feet, but no more than 50 feet

, from the nearest track when the crossing devices are active or a person warns you a train is coming. Stop if you see a train coming or you hear the whistle, horn, or bell of an approaching train. Do not go under lowering gates or around lowered gates.

Who is at fault when a train hits a car?

Due to the tremendous weight differential between a car and a train, the force of a 30-car freight train hitting a vehicle is the same as the force of a car crushing an aluminum soda can. When a collision occurs between a car and a train,

the vehicle owner is

sometimes at fault.

David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.