About 30 years ago I was driving on a 2-lane road in the middle of nowhere and I came to a railroad crossing. The crossing had no blinking red lights or crossing gate, just an X-sign that read "Stop, Look, Listen". An additional hand lettered sign had been nailed up, probably by a local farmer, that read, "WARNING: The average time for a train to cross this road is 34 seconds, whether your car is on the tracks or not."

Now, I have never had any personal experience of being run into by a train, but I can get a pretty good picture of what would happen, and in my vision, the train always wins.

Now we cut to a few months ago. I read in the newspaper that a guy is hit by a train at a railroad crossing and is killed. The article explains that this particular crossing is equipped with flashing red lights, a warning bell, and gates that drop down blocking the road. After testing, it is determined that all of this safety equipment is (and was) in working order. So, how could this tragedy happen? Very simple. According to witnesses, the driver stopped his car behind the gate, waited a few seconds, and then drove around the gate on the wrong side of the road. Kabang, instant junk (the train was traveling at 70 MPH).

Then I read that this guy's family had sued the railroad, the city and county where the accident happened, and just about everybody else, AND WON, receiving millions. It seems that there was no warning sign at the crossing that said: "WARNING: Driving around this gate on the wrong side of the street may result in serious injury or even death."

It occurs to me that this is the age of the "Warning Label" and that personal accountability for what happens to us is out the window. With this in mind, I have come up with some drag racing related Warning Labels, to be pasted on each car as it comes through the gate.

"WARNING: Pit space is on a first come, first serve basis. Arriving at the track late may result in your being pitted near the outhouses."

"WARNING: The public address system at this track is sub-par. Parking a long distance from the PA speakers may result in your missing the first round of competition."

"WARNING: This drag strip is sanctioned by NHRA (or IHRA). All safety rules mandated by NHRA (or IHRA) will be enforced. Failure to adhere to these rules will preclude you from further competition."

"WARNING: The starting line system is operated electrically. Leaving the starting line prior to the green light being illuminated may result in your being disqualified."

The neat thing about these Warning Labels is that we no longer have to be accountable for what happens to us. Common sense will no longer be required. If, for instance, we are late on the 'tree, we can blame (or possibly sue) the promoter for not issuing us a Warning Label, defining the potential result of a poor reaction time. (WARNING: You snooze; you lose.) Drag racing will definitely be better because of these warnings, don't you think?

But then, I read an interesting article in the newspaper the other day. It seems that a 44 year old lady was diagnosed with cancer, which she blamed on her 2 pack a day smoking habit. This lady started smoking at age 13. In court it was determined by the tobacco companies attorneys that the Surgeon General's mandated Warning Label was on the cigarette packages prior to this woman first starting to smoke. The label read: "WARNING: Cigarettes may be hazardous to your health." When confronted by this in court, she stated that while she had read the warnings, she DIDN'T FULLY UNDERSTAND THEM.

She was awarded $22 million.

Well, there goes the drag racing Warning Labels, because I know that while many racers can read the words printed in the NHRA, IHRA, or FFW Rulebooks, some racers just "don't fully understand them".

I guess that we will need to revert back to personal accountability for what happens to us at the track.