Oh, what has become of common sense?
A lot of questionable things happen in this crazy, wacky world, but I was left with a real head scratcher the other day.
While making a left turn behind a bus in Woodinville, I suddenly found myself staring at a set of flashing hazard lights and at a dead stop in the middle of the intersection.
This wasn’t just a quick stop. This was a full-on, 10-second, let’s sit here and wait stop.
The reason?
Apparently it’s necessary to stop at railroad crossing – even one that hasn’t been used in more than five years.
If the green traffic light, saying “it’s OK to cross” wasn’t enough proof a ghost train wasn’t going to come flying through and crush into the side of the bus, I would think the waste-high weeds between the metal railings would be a dead giveaway that NO TRAINS USE THESE TRAIN TRACKS!
This prompted me to do a little investigation.
Apparently in the summer of 2010, King County Metro changed its rules that buses must stop every time before they drive over railroad tracks — even when there is no train coming.
OK, fair enough. I respect the safety aspect.
But the rules also stated that buses aren’t required to stop at streetcar tracks, marked abandoned rail lines, or crossings controlled by traffic signals showing green lights.
And since no train has used these tracks since the Spirit of Washington Dinner Train made its last run in 2007, I’m pretty certain it was clear both ways.
No, I’m not blaming the driver. I’m sure he’s instructed by higher powers to stop at all these ghost train intersections on the Eastside.
I’m quite possibly making a mountain out of a mole hill. But I think these supposed safety precautions present more safety concerns than anything. All it takes is an inattentive driver, not expecting the hazard lights, to slam into the back of a bus, or the person who did stop for the lights.
More than anything, my frustration comes down to a lack of common sense in our lawsuit-happy society. I don’t need small print at the bottom of television commercials telling me my truck really can’t snowboard or my soft drink won’t really make me fly.
And I don’t need the bus in front of me stopping at a set of railroad tracks that is no longer in use.
Issaquah/Sammamish Assistant Editor Kevin Endejan can be reached at kendejan@issaquahreporter.com or 425-391-0363, ext. 5054.
