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Re: The Investigation: Texting Might Not Be the Cause.
Author: Tom H
Date: 09-25-2008 - 09:29
What bothers me most about the blog is the phrase "criminally negligent." This reporter doesn't know any more or less than other reporters about railroading but, it worries me that his source could be some politician/district attorney that might be feeling the need to prosecute for the loss of 25 lives.
In the past train crews have only been prosecuted in cases where they have been doing something illegal in conjunction with an accident. Like Ricky Gates doing drugs and running a red signal. If the conductor were charged based on what we know so far I would consider prosecution way out of line.
I always see folks saying let the NTSB do their job. They have already told us what happened. The engineer ran a red signal. The NTSB’s function is not really what happened, it is why it happened and how to prevent it. The railroads and FRA always wrap up their investigations long before the NTSB because they look for a cause, not necessarily a solution. Railroads have short timeline to charge an employee with a rule violation if they are aware of it. Railroads know they will get solutions from the NTSB.
The NTSB will make some recommendations, possibly, such as signs at stations reminding engineers about delayed within a block. They will look at the cars and make recommendations for improvements and they will cut and paste their recommendation for PTC from past reports.
In the past train crews have only been prosecuted in cases where they have been doing something illegal in conjunction with an accident. Like Ricky Gates doing drugs and running a red signal. If the conductor were charged based on what we know so far I would consider prosecution way out of line.
I always see folks saying let the NTSB do their job. They have already told us what happened. The engineer ran a red signal. The NTSB’s function is not really what happened, it is why it happened and how to prevent it. The railroads and FRA always wrap up their investigations long before the NTSB because they look for a cause, not necessarily a solution. Railroads have short timeline to charge an employee with a rule violation if they are aware of it. Railroads know they will get solutions from the NTSB.
The NTSB will make some recommendations, possibly, such as signs at stations reminding engineers about delayed within a block. They will look at the cars and make recommendations for improvements and they will cut and paste their recommendation for PTC from past reports.
