Quote:
Originally Posted by golfing eagles
OK, here's my assessment (then I'll duck  ):
181 posts on this thread, and it looks like those few posters with poor vision or who have had an unnecessarily close call with a gate are all in favor of spending millions to "improve the visibility of gates"---that would be the gates that 99% of us know are there. According to the stats, just short of 1/2 of those gate "crashes" are mechanical failures, so discount them. I find the argument that people don't know that they are there to be lame. So, we now have those with poor vision---who shouldn't be driving. Those with poor driving skills---who shouldn't be driving. And those who are impatient and try to piggyback through--who should fined repetitively.
Basically, the gate-crashing problem is just a microcosm of the general problem of driving in TV---especially in RB's. I also suggest that spending that $$$ to improve visibility will only minimally impact the number of gate crashes since if you can't see or control your vehicle, you'll hit them anyway.
OOPs, I forgot the drunks----who should have the book thrown at them before they hit something that's living. |
They certainly could be more visible. There is a reason that the road crews and first responders wear optic green instead of red and white.
However, changing all of the gates would cost money, and there are, no doubt, more dangerous issues to be addressed than this one. Really, what are we talking here? A relatively affluent population bumping into a gate at 2 mph? A pittance of property damage at worst? Not a situation likely to engender a lot of political concern.
Since the gates are located on public roads, even something as simple as putting some optic green reflective tape on the arms would take them out of compliance with Federal standards, which would entail a lengthy process of getting permission from an agency buried in a labyrinth of bureaucratic layers.
Another thing I find intriguing about the whole gate arrangement is the question of who is ultimately responsible, financially, for the maintenance and repair and continued operation of the gates. Their existence serves the residents of TV, yet they are on public roads.
Does the public, which would include county residents who are not residents of TV, get any value from their existence? Why should they be on the hook for something that slows down automobile traffic, for the benefit of those of us in TV who drive golf carts? Which makes me wonder if that is the reason that the enforcement and repair of damage to these devices seems to fall on TV.