SaxInTheCity's Blog

I've never been particularly sympathetic to motorists who get hit by trains--wait, let me clairify!

I'm talking about the drivers who insist on trying to beat the train, even after seeing the blinking red warning lights and hearing the loud "ding ding" of the crossing bells. I'm especially talking about the misguided folks who decide to drive AROUND the protective gates as--or after--they come down. What's up with THAT?

With that said, however, did you know that about a third of all public railroad crossings in Illinois and Indiana have NO warning lights, bells, gates, etc. They are completely UNGUARDED, other than a sign or two ahead of the tracks as motorists approach. Many urban dwellers might find this hard to believe...

It's up to the driver in these predominantly rural locations to yield the right-of-way at every crossing. But with NO warnings, sometimes they don't stop in time, or hear the train coming, or see the train coming...

There's been an attempt to eliminate many of these so-called "passive" crossings over the last few years, or improve them with warnings. Some crossings have even benefited from reconstruction that essentially removed vehicular traffic from the path of the trains by building bridges or underpasses for the trains to then cross over/under roads instead. 

But government leaders estimate it would cost upwards of $50 million dollars to protect every single public crossing in Illinois alone with gates and bells and lights--and most say there simply isn't the money.

And some say there isn't the need.

But is that true?

How much money is a single life truly worth?

Watch this story of Sheryl Bechard, her husband Steve, and their daughter Kacie...and decide for yourself.