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There is a new group, or relitivly with the wacky point of veiw that the railroads are to blame. The Group is called Angels on Tracks. Here is a post from Train-sim.com message boards. Forwarded message I got this morning. (Orginal sender's name hidden) > > dear angels on track, > > > > > > I agree with your effort's to get railroad crossing's to be > > better > > > lighted with crossing light's, gates, etc. But I must say that > > your > > > slogan of " Bad crossing's kill good driver's" is not even true. > > First > > > off, the railroad has been here for over 150 years. Back in the > > old day's > > > train's crossed crossing's that only had a crossing sign at over > > 90 MPH. > > > People did not get killed. They looked, listened, and then crossed > > the > > > track. A driver that does not take the time to look before they > > cross is > > > stupid. The railroad has al way's had the right of way, and will > > al > > > way's. There is nothing that can be done about that. If you want > > to make > > > a difference, put the responsibility where it belong's. On the > > stupid > > > driver that think's that he or she does not have to slow down, > > look, or > > > listen. The Federal law requires engineers to blow there horn. Now > > The > > > engineer also suffers with a death at a crossing. many people have > > had to > > > get serious care because at night they dream of the face of the > > child > > > staring at them just before impact and there is nothing that they > > can do. > > > Please. They are just doing there job. They are just as innocent > > as the > > > person that crossed in front of the train and got hit. This nation > > has > > > gone way to far in not putting the responsibility on the person > > who is > > > actually responsible. So again I agree with you trying to get > > more > > > protection, but your slogan is false. If they were good drivers > > they > > > would not have pulled out in front of that train. > > > > > > B.P. > > > Mr. Porter. Thank you for contacting our Foundation, and while > > you state you take exception to our slogan "Bad Crossings Kill > > Good Drivers", I must tell you that the opinions of others will > > never > > alter the mission or focus of our Foundation. > > > > This slogan was not just pulled out of a hat. It is based on fact. > > Only approximately 20% of our nation's railroad crossings are > > protected with gates. Most, if not all, railroad crossings do not > > meet FHWA/AASHTO sight line requirements for safe passage > > across tracks. Even crossings with protection (gates and lights) > > malfunction. Crossings with passive markings (crossbucks, stop > > signs, Buckeye crossbucks) do not warn of an approaching train. > > All of these are BAD CROSSINGS and kill hundreds of people > > each year. To believe that all railroad crossing accidents are > > caused by irresponsible motorists, is a unfounded stereotype that > > has been accepted by unknowing individuals. > > > > And contrary to your statement ("back in the old days train's > > crossed > > crossings that only had a crossing sign at over 90 mph. > > People did not get killed").... thousands were killed each year > > and thousands were injured during the late 1800's and early/mid > > 1900's. Crossing accidents have only decreased due to railroad > > mergers, > > crossing consolidations and closures, and installation of > > protection > > devices (gates). The safest year in railroad history (1999), 1369 > > people were injured and 402 people lost their lives. I find that > > solemn > > statistic to brag about, especially to those, like myself, who have > > lost > > a loved one to a dangerous crossing. > > > > To say all you have to do is look, listen and cross, is a dangerous > > assumption and a deadly one at best. If you can't see down the > > tracks > > because sight obstructions such as trees, buildings, brush, parked > > railroad > > equipment, how can a motorist tell if a train is coming? If the FRA > > whistle > > ban is adopted > > this coming December trains will not sound their horns at whistle > > posts > > posted 1/4 mile down the track, what will you listen for? Do you > > honestly think that the railroad companies and their employees > > always > > follow required safety procedures such as train speeds, flagging > > crossings > > that have malfunctioned, etc., and the railroad companies have no > > responsibility > > for public safety? > > > > The fact is there is alot that can be done about dangerous railroad > > crossings. > > First, there is no excuse why all railroad crossings are not > > protected with > > properly functioning gates. Second, there is nothing precluding > > the > > railroads > > from funding installation of protection (gates), they just choose > > not to. > > Third, > > instead of always blaming the motorists for virtually all railroad > > crossing > > accidents, > > current educational programs and organizations (funded by railroads) > > should > > present an unbiased message, based on facts, to address the true > > causes > > for railroad crossing accidents. These messages are used to focus > > on the > > victim and not the railroads conscious disregard for public safety. > > Fourth, > > all speed tapes and event recorders should be turned over to an > > independent > > agency after an accident, not the railroads involved. Also taking > > into > > account > > most highway patrol, sheriff departments, emergency personnel, and > > first > > aid responders have been trained by our nation's railroads in > > "railroad grade > > > > crossing accident investigation" to determine the cause. Now who do > > you > > think they will find at fault? > > > > You might be interested in knowing that we have the continued > > support and > > well wishes from current and past railroad employees. We also have > > the support from experts within the railroad industry. To tell me > > that you > > support our Foundation's goals to install gates at all crossings, > > but then > > take exception with our slogan, can only be taken as lack of > > knowledge > > on your part as to what needs to change. Nowhere in our slogan do > > we > > mention railroad employees, we address the crossings. And, bad > > crossings > > also kill railroad employees. You might want to visit the > > http://www.csx-sucks.com > > website. Go to safety. Read the posts from those employees. They > > support > > what we are saying, and confirm the lack of concern that exists > > today for > > dangerous crossings. And, we also have the RRESQ link posted on > > our > > website (Crossing To Safety section). If we were not interested in > > the > > safety of all, public and railroad employees, why would we have a > > link on > > our website? > > > > I will not argue with you. I will repeat that you are sadly > > mistaken > > and too readily willing to accept what has been accepted for far too > > long > > as to what causes these accidents. Only those people with a > > sincere > > wi***o stop these needless tragedies, will open up their minds and > > look at the other side of the story............that which has not > > been > > told in the past. May God send peace and understanding to your > > heart to understand our Foundation. > > > > Vicky L. Moore, Trustee > > The Angels on Track Foundation > > Crossing To Safety > > "BAD CROSSINGS KILL GOOD DRIVERS" (R) > > > > > > > > Well Vicky L. Moore, > > Thank you for at least writing back. I have to say that I am > ignorant of some thing's and you have given me some interesting info. I > thank you for that information, but I believe that you also are ignorant > of some thing's, but you said "I will not argue with you. I will repeat > that you are sadly mistaken". That lead's me to believe that you are not > as you said ready to "open up their minds and look at the other side of > the story......" So I will not waist your time or mine. Good luck in your > work and I wish you well. > Have a super day > > B.P. Here is the link if any are interested. http://www.train-sim.com/dcforum/DCForumID1/8049.html I also find it funny, that an organization like that feels the need to send hate mail to railfans who have a quite different point of view...
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