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Re: NTSB Goodwell, OK, head-on collision animation and timeline
Author: OldPoleBurner
Date: 03-06-2013 - 22:05
The real experts at NTSB are nowadays way too damn busy dodging the political experts, both on the inside and on the outside - from Congress and corporate lobbyists; to have much of a chance. One thing is obvious here, that since the animators plainly did not feel any need to consult with any actual experts, the information conveyed here cannot be entirely trusted to accurately interpret the facts in the case.
Since the last hundred or so railroad collision investigations reported on by the NTSB, have contained numerous conclusions that are simply not supported by the facts, as presented in the reports (most of them under political pressure); we have a whole lot of bigger problems with the NTSB than whether or not they got the lens colors in the correct order.
Yes, I once touted the NTSB's objectivity and deep expertise, and the value they provided my profession (signal engineering) in the effort to prevent future accidents. I even once thought of them (by direct experience) as the new "Untouchables". But this more recent NTSB habit of making speculative "If this" or If that" assertions in their final reports, without including any factual data that backs them up; just reeks of bias.
So I went checking and comparing notes with other signal engineers around the country, and discovered that specific railroad supply vendors had hired lobbyists to directly influence the NTSB at the very top; and also to pressure them via certain Senators, including those two hypocrites from California. All this to get the government to pressure the railroad industry into buying their products, which were not selling well at all in the free market.
Needless to say, my respect for them has diminished greatly - as they are turning into just another politically motivated and corrupted arm of government. And there certainly are enough of those already, to gag an elephant!
But worst of all, the likely outcome of all this, is that with less reliable causal information available, and federal politicians dictating extremely technical decisions; public safety is bound to suffer in the long run.
OPB
Since the last hundred or so railroad collision investigations reported on by the NTSB, have contained numerous conclusions that are simply not supported by the facts, as presented in the reports (most of them under political pressure); we have a whole lot of bigger problems with the NTSB than whether or not they got the lens colors in the correct order.
Yes, I once touted the NTSB's objectivity and deep expertise, and the value they provided my profession (signal engineering) in the effort to prevent future accidents. I even once thought of them (by direct experience) as the new "Untouchables". But this more recent NTSB habit of making speculative "If this" or If that" assertions in their final reports, without including any factual data that backs them up; just reeks of bias.
So I went checking and comparing notes with other signal engineers around the country, and discovered that specific railroad supply vendors had hired lobbyists to directly influence the NTSB at the very top; and also to pressure them via certain Senators, including those two hypocrites from California. All this to get the government to pressure the railroad industry into buying their products, which were not selling well at all in the free market.
Needless to say, my respect for them has diminished greatly - as they are turning into just another politically motivated and corrupted arm of government. And there certainly are enough of those already, to gag an elephant!
But worst of all, the likely outcome of all this, is that with less reliable causal information available, and federal politicians dictating extremely technical decisions; public safety is bound to suffer in the long run.
OPB
