Does anyone else here think that "quiet zones" are stupid?

ah! subject near , dear me. asking.

"quiet zones?" stupid, unwarranted , dangerous.

quiet zones relatively new arrival on railroad scene, developed towards end of career. in addition, there 1 on districts ran on, located in downtown sacramento. ignored each , every time ran through it. conductors decidedly unhappy, because unlike them, didn't give damn discipline doing so. but, in clear anyway. employees on engine subordinate engineer when comes safely handling engine, including conductor.

line had many, many crossings, 25 or 30, 1 block apart, extremely limited sight lines, buildings right nut on property built on. problem in instance me was, yes, locals familiar day day ops. there lot of tourists on place on place, never having been in nor aware of existence of quiet zones or grade crossings in general. make matters worse, weren't working power here, rule, there isn't loud sound signal train's approach, , little there is, including bell, doesn't propagate through stone , concrete...

me, more important head off potential tragedy.

perhaps easier grasp reasoning if put way; engineer in normal circumstance, if hit , kill @ grade crossing , can proved whistle not blowing, or bell not ringing, or head light and/or ditch lights not illuminated, open charge of manslaughter. so, if whistle vital safety device recognized law, stipulating importance element of crime, why in world use enjoined reason? cannot both ways. either vital or isn't. don't use = prison, use = formal investigation , resultant discipline, including fines and/or suspension?

yeah. know, quad crossing gates. , going gamble human life on them? truth is, not fail-safe. yup. have battery power failure, other circumstances can render them inoperative. twice in career has happened me there 2 instances crossed crossings @ maximum authorized speed (40 mph in both cases) not working. last line of defense? whistle. pedestrians touring downtown can't see me until it's late , aren't hear me approaching well. , here last line of defense prohibited?

beyond foolish. beyond irresponsible. approaching criminal negligence human life.

did actions make difference? we'll never know. cannot prove negative, never killed anyone. statistically, engineer working thirty years can expect kill 3 people. know couple of dozen not lucky was, including guy killed nine, including 8 teenagers on graduation night died in 1 fell swoop. so, got three, 3 , else's three.

incredibly, know unlucky engineer ever walk planet, struck , killed hie own teenage daughter outside of sacramento near place called ben ali.. (were around then, andy?) lost marriage , else. took own life couple of years later.

fate hunter. need not help.

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i think fact there more accidents @ crossings "quiet zones" says all.

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