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Gates do not prevent stupidity UPDATE: VIDEO

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<p>I agree that claiming to be a victim of a grade crossing because it doesn't have gates is classic victimology, and the reporter did show courage to buck that cultural mentality by citing an example of how readily people go around the gates.  However, the case he cites is not exactly analogous.  The drivers going around the gates in his example felt justified and safe because there was no train present.  Oddly enough, some state laws allow drivers to proceed after stopping for flashing light crossing signals if it is safe to do so.  And everyone agrees that it is safe if no train is present, in which case, the signals are assumed to be malfunctioning.  However, even the laws with this tolerance to passing flashing lights prohibit the passing of lowered gates under any circumstances.  But drivers don't know the law, and they see no practical distinction between passing lowered gates when no train is present or passing flashing red lights when no train is present.</p><p>The main question that is demonstrated by this collision is why a driver would pass the flashing lights or gates when a train is obviously approaching.  If a driver is willing to pass the flashing lights when a train is approaching, they would probably be just as willing to drive around the gates. </p>
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