Originally Posted by
VTcharter
Sorry, but not only are the lights required to be on crossing ANY runway per my GOM, they will be on while I am the Captain crossing a runway in my aircraft as a good safety practice...GOM or not. It has no bearing whether the runway is "active" or "inactive". Any pilot / crew, can mistakingly line up to land or takeoff on the wrong runway as has been proven many times, and forward facing lights are not all that visible to the aircraft lined up perpendicular to me. Sorry if it bugs you, but I will stick to good safety practices and GOM SOP's over your discomfort...no offense. I don't agree with them being on while on the taxiway though.
There comes a point in which you need to weigh if the practice is more beneficial than harmful. The odds of an aircraft appearing out of no where to hit you after ATC has cleared you across the runway is pretty remote. I find it much more likely for the crew that got blinded to miss a sign or hold line while they regain their vision and cause an incursion, which could lead to a disaster.