This week I witnessed on two different days three commuters running across a three track railroad crossing when the bells were ringing and the gates were starting to come down. While they crossed safely to the platform to board their incoming commuter train, they were busted by a police office. Oh yes, they will be paying a steep fine. Oh yes, they weren't happy about it. and yep, they were delayed (just as they would be if they had not tried to cross the tracks).
It made me wonder about these educated folks and what makes them take the risk? When it comes to man vs train, unfortunately, the train wins. Sure you don't see the train coming from either direction, but it will become a habit and then the train will hit you on the day you lose your guard.
For those trying to cross the tracks, on foot or in vehicle, when the alarms are going, are not thinking about other people but themselves. What about the people on the train, the train engineer, their family, etc. These have higher values than the several hundred dollars they will pay in fine. The best tragic example is the recent news of a mother racing her car to beat the train (she thought it was only one train, but it turned out there was another one from the different direction) and two of four childern died and now, she's dead too.
