Jumping on the Train Bandwagon

Since I wrote my September 14 blog on Positive Train Control and the tragedy in Los Angeles, I see everyone has jumped on the same bandwagon. Local and national news media, even the mayor of Los Angeles wants to know why the Metrolink trains don't have fail safe devices.

The answer? Read my last blog! The government, for the most part, lets them run rampant with little regulation. They regulate based on body count, rather than on sound safety principles. If there are enough dead bodies and injuries, a little momentum is created and that lasts until the furor dies down and can be swept under the rug.

Think it only happens on the railroads? Think again!

The airline industry is regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and you'll find that after something happens, they start sending out notices requiring inspection and correction to airlines. However, some of the corrections do not have to be met for years! Thus, you could very well be flying on an aircraft that is unsafe, and has not been inspected or repaired, although the FAA knows it's very possible it's a ticking time bomb.

Here's a story on a 737 jet where a protruding bolt caused an explosion upon landing, and the FAA gave airlines flying similar aircraft 24 days to examine their planes. After four more planes were found with similar issues, they shortened the inspection time to 10 days. WTF? Why not ground all that series planes until safety inspections were completed? Because, in another case of the tail wagging the dog, the cost and inconvenience to the airlines would be too great. So, instead, let you fly on a potential time bomb and see what happens.

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Boeing_737_inspection_deadline_shortened_after_four_jets_found_with_similar_fault_to_China_Airlines_plane

That's playing Russian Roulette with your life, folks! And you don't even get to hold the gun!

Bottom line is that the government doesn't hold the big boys to the same tight restrictions and rules as they do you. You're more likely to be cited and fined for a safety violation in your automobile that might kill or injure you, than a railroad or airline that will kill or injure hundreds!