2 Brightline Accidents at same x-ing in two days

[Missaberoad]

One thing I've noticed that I find odd.
If I'm going 50 miles an hour people will race the crossing with no regard for lights,  gates or the train coming right at them.

However... if I'm stopped at the edge of a crossing without gates, people will stop and wait forever to make sure the train not going to suddenly move.

[John]

However... if I'm stopped at the edge of a crossing without gates, people will stop and wait forever to make sure the train not going to suddenly move.

Railfans

[JeffB]

When we were in Florida for Christmas, visiting my in-laws, my father in law pointed out the tracks for Brightline...

Not surprised this happened.  In this day and age where traffic laws seem to be optional or subjective.  Combined with the fact that it's "Florida", where just about anything can and does happen.

Incidents like this make you wonder what was going through their heads just before the train hit them, if in fact they even realized it was coming.

Loss of life is sad, I'm sure these people were someone's kids, parents, etc...  But as someone else said "thinning out the herd". 

As far as intelligence...  You have to remember "average intelligence" means that there's going to a certain number of people that are less smart than the average person.

Jeff

[sundowner]

This is nothing new, Brightline has been thinning the heard since day 1 in the Miami-PB portion of the route, now Tri-rail will get to join the party in the near future

[aikorob]

Police used to bring mangled cars to the high schools right around Prom time-----
think it would do any good to leave the wrecks next to the tracks as a warning?

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Police used to bring mangled cars to the high schools right around Prom time-----
think it would do any good to leave the wrecks next to the tracks as a warning?

Stick them on pikes as warnings to others.

[peteski]

Police used to bring mangled cars to the high schools right around Prom time-----
think it would do any good to leave the wrecks next to the tracks as a warning?

Hmmm, that might actually work. Or at least slow them down a bit to take a photo of the wreck with their smart phone, or maybe even pause, get out of their car to take a selfie with the wreck.

[wm3798]

"Florida Man"...  nuff said.

As for doing too little too late, local councils and highway departments are notorious for that at any intersection.

It's always fun to go to the ribbon cutting at a new set of crosswalks and warning signals and curb cuts...and hear the local pols carry on about their concern for safety.  The money doesn't usually get spent on this stuff until there's at least five body bags.

Lee

[nkalanaga]

Aikorob:  Sounds like a good idea, but the real idiots would gawk at the wreck as they drive by, being too distracted to ever see the train that hits THEM.

[pjm20]

Police used to bring mangled cars to the high schools right around Prom time-----
think it would do any good to leave the wrecks next to the tracks as a warning?

My old career use to leave cars outside of gates as on display (got up to every gate had one and the back gate had two) and list the sub unit with the last DUI. I don't think it had the intended effect as the unit listing was more of a scoreboard than a warning.

[Bruce Archer]

I used to tow for the Township of Neptune in NJ. We were a body shop and would tow in one-week slots. You would be amazed at what people do. And the gory aftermath.
I understand the law is you can use the RR X-ing as long as you do not interfere with the trains. CN has started to sue the drivers and companies who collide with their trains.
In Belmar, NJ on the NY and Long Branch, NJ Transit put up a steel fence to prevent people from getting hit at the station. People cut holes in it to save a few steps.
For a while loco surfing, and riding on the roofs of the Princeton Jitney was popular among people. 2 people died.

I moved to Florida from NJ. I regularly drove in Philadelphia, and New York traffic, and since I lived on the Jersey Shore drove THAT traffic also.  So I can say with some authority that every crazy driver comes to Florida!