I am a resident of Florida, and the recent incidents involving the Brightline train have been deeply disturbing. The blatant disregard for railroad crossing signs and warnings has resulted in an alarming number of collisions. Drivers are ignoring these warnings, driving around the barriers when they are down or trespassing on the tracks, leading to tragic outcomes. Cars that collide with the train often cause it to derail and collide with other objects and discharge debris, putting the lives of people on the train as well as in the vicinity at risk. As of now, 100 people have lost their lives due to this reckless behavior. I personally witnessed such an incident in Pompano Beach where a trespasser got killed.

All railroad crossings that the Brightline trains pass through follow the required railroad regulations with more than adequate safety measures, complete with barriers, flashing red lights and audible bells. In light of people ignoring these, Brightline has taken measures to ramp up the safety measures around the tracks and raise awareness of railroad safety, which are reasonable steps, yet people still ignore them. And despite this, the blame for all these collisions is put on Brightline by media outlets and other parties. The blame cannot be shifted to the moving train when people choose to ignore warning signals, drive around downed railroad crossing barriers, and subsequently get hit. It is the responsibility of drivers to follow traffic laws, respect warning signals, and prioritize safety at all times. While Brightline is taking steps to try and prevent this, there is only so much they can do to dissuade people from going on the tracks, so stricter measures are clearly required through legal means in order to deter these people.

The situation is dire and requires immediate action. I propose that traffic cameras be installed at every railroad crossing throughout Florida to identify people who bypass the barriers. Furthermore, I demand that any driver caught on camera violating these rules be ticketed and have their driver's license revoked immediately, and for there to be signs to warn that this will be the penalty. This harsh measure is necessary to protect the lives of not only the drivers and trespassers, but everyone on the train as well as in the vicinity of the crossings. The traffic cameras and these strict measures will serve as a deterrent for those considering breaking the law.

Your support is needed to make our roads safer by holding violators accountable for their actions through stringent monitoring systems at railroad crossings across Florida and through harsh penalties. Please sign this petition today!