The prevailing public reaction to the disaster was one of shock and outrage, directed against several issues and people: why were there so few lifeboats? Why had Ismay saved his own life when so many others died? Why did "Titanic" proceed into the ice field at full speed? The outrage was driven not least by the survivors themselves; even while they were aboard "Carpathia" on their way to New York, Beesley and other survivors determined to "awaken public opinion to safeguard ocean travel in the future" and wrote a public letter to "The Times" urging changes to maritime safety laws.