Illinois is on the verge of installing lights and gates at a railroad crossing where a man was killed earlier this year. When the accident occurred there was nothing more than a crossbuck at the crossing; a stop-sign has since been added to prevent train accidents, but nothing has proved to more effective than lights and gates. It is tragic that a man had to lose his life to precipitate the installation of basic safety mechanisms that should have been installed as soon as the technology became available. The rest of Illinois and the country should follow suit. Illiopolis mayor, Bonnie Peyton, accurately stated, "That was a senseless loss of life." All railroad crossing accidents that occur because of inadequate safety are senseless.

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