Responsible Driving
Re “Rail Crossing Warning Devices,” Ventura County letters, Dec. 1.
Sherry Kiesling Fox, executive director of Rail Watch, brought to our attention that the Somis woman who died Nov. 8 was killed at a crossing with only passive controls rather than lights and a gate. Fox pointed out that 80% of our nation’s railroad crossings use passive controls and that more than half of the crossing accidents occur at these crossings. I guess that means that almost half occur at the 20% of the crossings that are “guarded” by lights and/or gates.
Fox believes it’s time for the railroad industry to take responsibility for the bad judgment of drivers. But she didn’t go far enough. The railroad industry needs to be held responsible for all those collisions that occur when motorists try to beat or drive around the gates.
Fox should take her cause to the streets. Every intersection should be equipped with safety gates to prevent drivers from driving into the path of emergency vehicles using lights and siren. Why should any of us be expected to be responsible for any of our own actions?
DON ANDERSON
Simi Valley
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