Regarding the Metra-car crash in Elmwood Park, similar traffic conditions prevail at most busy intersections, where vehicles enter the intersection even as the lights turn red. But the consequences are far less severe. The intersection is just blocked, and other traffic cannot proceed.
Many drivers would refrain from doing this if they were not so concerned that traffic in the other lane would pass them and then move directly in front of them by changing lanes, thus preventing them from crossing the intersection at all.
I’m sure the same is often true at railroad crossings. Lane-changing at crossings should be forbidden while the gates are up, and this prohibition should be vigorously enforced. People would then happily wait before entering the crossing when it was blocked, since they would no longer fear that they would lose their turn when the traffic in front of them cleared.
