Oh Dear! Why didn't she run? Not enough time? What a terrible thing.

The woman who was killed by a NY train earlier in February was also driving a luxury SUV, a Mercedes. Simply not worth it to risk your life in an attempt to save your expensive car.

I can see that happening due to traffic. Given the number of accidents and suicides, why are there still level crossings (affording easy access to the train line) on the peninsula?

If this was any other country, even developing countries; these level crossings would've have been converted to bridges or over/underpasses. The US in 21st century has truly become a third world country when it comes to meeting 20th century infrastructure standards.

There should be a sign warning drivers not to drive across the tracks until it is clear on the other side. Often drivers beep or otherwise aggress the car in front of them to advance to get through the green light. I have seen cars box in a vehicle stuck on the tracks. Thankfully the light turned green before a train came along. Maybe even a metering light could be set up for train track crossings?

car said, "There should be a sign warning drivers not to drive across the tracks until it is clear on the other side."

There doesn't need to be a sign. This is driving 101. Don't stop your car on train tracks. Just like you don't stop your car in the middle of an intersection. If you can't judge it, err on the side of safety and stay back until you can see that your way is clear.

I'm so sorry this woman lost her life, but there's no need to nanny state railroad crossings because one person didn't remember her driver's ed training.

The answer to CP Resident's question about crossing improvements (and I'm amazed how many people apparently STILL don't know this, given that the issue has been thrown around vigorously for years ) is money.

Caltrain has managed to improvise operating funds (often barely, from year to year) for a couple of decades -- things were quite iffy just a few years ago -- but has struggled even to maintain existing equipment, let alone to contemplate the literally hundreds of millions required for physical changes to separate the crossing levels.

One of the particular attractions of the High-Speed Rail project has been the overlap of priorities with Caltrain. The electric service required for HSR is the same that Caltrain has planned for years to upgrade to. Among the very first beneficiaries of major HSR funding (regardless of the future course of events) would be Caltrain, years before any long-distance trains ever ran. And, Caltrain grade separation is also one of the elements HSR would fund.

In other parts of San Mateo County, cities are building grade separations by elevating the train tracks and allowing roads and sidewalks to safely pass underneath. These projects are paid for with county sales tax money. Why isn't Menlo Park applying for our share of this money?

Peninsula Driver said: "There doesn't need to be a sign. This is driving 101. Don't stop your car on train tracks. Just like you don't stop your car in the middle of an intersection. If you can't judge it, err on the side of safety and stay back until you can see that your way is clear."

Then why post speed limit signs in school zones? That is also knowledge required for getting a license.

My point was to post signs to REMIND drivers that they have a full right to stop and wait for the road to clear on the other side of the tracks. I stop and wait EVERY TIME, but have been honked at, or aggressively passed by drivers behind me (you must know the type - they vrooom vroom by you at the first opportunity as if to say "let me show you how it's done, clueless slowpoke" Nanny state? Please call in the nanny when such drivers act like children! ) I never let other drivers bully me into poor judgement, but it would be helpful to have a sign there to remind THEM about the law. Clearly there are many out there who are not aware of this law!

Ps - I read a very disturbing comment on the Palo Alto biards about this story. It mentioned that drivers crossing the tracks are often caught off guard by a car that has to suddenly stop for pedestrians crossing the road. This sounds like it should be looked into immediately!

The U.S. isn't the only country with street level crossings. Germany has many. The difference is that we live in a rule breaking society, especially here on the peninsula and the Germans follow the rules.

The cross rails go down in Germany and no one crosses even though there is ample time and room to do so by bike, car and foot. You stand and wait.

Around here people run lights (several people at a time on the red) don't wait for pedestrians, drive 10-15 miles over the speed limit in residential areas and yes wait on the tracks at stop lights. Start following the rules.

People need to be ok with being a few minutes late, leave earlier, or pare back their commitments.

"The difference is that we live in a rule breaking society, especially here on the peninsula and the Germans follow the rules. The cross rails go down in Germany and no one crosses "

2008 figures for level crossing accidents show Germany with 52 fatalities, 0.06 per 100K capita, worse than UK (0.02) and Spain (0.04), same as France (0.06).

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