Doesn’t matter, there are thousands of at grade RR crossing in this country that have no safety features at all. To blame a cross-arm is like blaming a malfunctioning safety for you shooting yourself.
Well,around here,& I had supposed everywhere else,they make it illegal to go through with a crossing arm down,even with no train in sight. My hope is that someone from the railroad is charged with a crime since there was a death as a result of malfunction.....IF this is what actually happened.