Idiot Drivers and Sunrail Trains (University: university, law, medical)

[aax]

Originally Posted by WithDisp

We jail people for drunk driving which at it's maximum killed 27 people (Carrollton, KY), and averages less than 1 fatality per accident.

Derailing a train can and often does cause hundreds of deaths and major injuries.


The economic damage caused by a train wreckage can be in the millions- that's in heavy duty railcar and rail repair- as well as downage of infrastructure.


Idiotic and reckless drivers should not be driving. It is not a right, it is a privilege.

Your missing a key point.

With drunk driving there is intent. They got in the car knowing they were drunk.

There was no intent here. Unless you believe she deliberately wanted to hit the train.

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by aax

Your missing a key point.

With drunk driving there is intent. They got in the car knowing they were drunk.

There was no intent here. Unless you believe she deliberately wanted to hit the train.

She sure as hell crossed the guardrails on purpose to try to “beat the train.” Then tried to say her car stalled. Yeah okay. Just as bad.

[aax]

Well when you want everyone from the world to move to Orlando, from countries where they don't drive by any rules, don't be surprise. Things like this will happen. You can't have it both ways.

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by aax

Well when you want everyone from the world to move to Orlando, from countries where they don't drive by any rules, don't be surprise. Things like this will happen. You can't have it both ways.

Actually America has some of the worst drivers because it is one of the cheapest and easiest countries to get a drivers license and buy a car.

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by bmw335xi

Actually America has some of the worst drivers because it is one of the cheapest and easiest countries to get a drivers license and buy a car.

I remember my brothers driving exam in Montreal. He had to get on the expressway, in traffic (think I4 is bad? There are like 5 I4’s in Montreal... and the lanes are narrow and full of potholes), go on city streets with pedestrians, stop at stop signs hidden behind bushes....

Mine, in FL, consisted of a few stop and go drills in a huge strip mall parking lot.

[aax]

Stay in your lane!

[WithDisp]

Originally Posted by aax

Your missing a key point.

With drunk driving there is intent. They got in the car knowing they were drunk.

There was no intent here. Unless you believe she deliberately wanted to hit the train.

No. That's bullying tactics used against drunk drivers.

Yes. Many know they are drunk. Yet, being intoxicated means reduced judgment on the individuals part.
Places that have instituted murder chargers for drunk drivers claiming they are aware getting in a car while intoxicated is an intent to kill others is an extreme leap. Groups like MADD play on emotions and have had DD charges wildly inflated compared to their statistically dangerous counterparts.

Still though, it is MORE likely to have a more catastrophic effect by driving onto train tracks when the signal implies you cannot. So the SAME level of intent is there- a driver is making an irrational decision jeopardizing their own safety and others in the interest of saving time or not paying attention.


If you created a system where fines and jailtime was directly related to injury and damage- the criminal punishment for driving over train tracks while an active train is present would be a more severe charge than Drunk Driving. Meanwhile the existing charge for such is 10x lower.

This isn't a teachable moment for this person.
It's time for the society who pays for these public services to not allow a few idiots to ruin everything for the rest of us.

[Tominftl]

Good, thin the herd. Stupidity has a price to pay. Want to stop on the tracks? Go right ahead.

[aax]

Was the train actually damaged? It looked like the SUV was the real loser.

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by aax

Was the train actually damaged? It looked like the SUV was the real loser.

Of course it damaged the train.
But that’s not the point. The point is that this had a major impact on hundreds of people, some who probably had emergencies more pressing than whatever caused this lady to decide this was a good idea.

Vehicles getting damaged is not the big issue.