Join the discussion on the following article:
Senators call for cameras on tracks, train crews
Are there inward facing cameras in airplane cockpits? And if not, why when the potential to recreate 9-11 is there? Cockpit doors notwithstanding.
Inward facing cameras are only useful for after-the-fact evidence. They would have done no good in this instance.
As always, the most clueless and least qualified come up with the most worthless solution to the problem. Want to solve the problem with a big government solution in order to keep the big government lovers happy? Very simple. Regulate railroads like the trucking industry. No more than 8 hours on duty with a maximum time of 11 for the day. After taking a 30 minute break after the first 8 hours, the operator is allowed to work for 3 more hours. No more than 70 hours worked spread over 8 days of working. 10 hour break is mandatory before going on duty. Start work at the same time every day. Require a daily log which must be kept current and logs kept with the operator for the past two weeks and filed with the government. Require the operator to get out and fully inspect his vehicle before moving at the start of the day and again at the end of the day. Then require the operator to log any safety issues and get them repaired. Inspection time counts as time worked.
They have no idea what they are talking about.
How about inward facing cameras on Congress and what they do. Oh yeah, like watching paint dry. That would make more engineers zone out.
Schumer follows cameras like flies follow dung.
Micro Sleep has long been the bain of railroads, truckers, and anyone else working odd and long hours. Perhaps a cost effective and quick solution would be to require a two man crew for a set number of days after a shift in hours worked. This is only to help with the transition period and not a permanent option. Also, the engineer involved in the accident seems to have taken responsibility. This individual is a truly remarkable person.
Schumer and Blumenthal are pathetic. Neither could recognize a double-stack container car from a crosstie. Neither would be caught dead riding MNR or any other transit vehicle unless it was for a photo op. Never since taking office have either gone out and campaigned for more train service and new equipment for either MNR or, more importantly, Amtrak.
But read their statements in the wake of this accident. They never ever miss a chance to grandstand. Wait 'till next week and another domestic or international crisis. They’ll forget all about Spuyten Duyvil.
The better solution is two people in the cab, installation of alerters if not already installed. Alerters are a pain, but they do work. As Daniel above said, cameras are for after the fact, not to help in prevention.
Chuck “The Schmuck” Schumer never missed a photo-op.
As a teamster bus driver, cameras are a fact of life. Every transit bus in the Twin Cities is equipped with five cameras, including forward and aft facing, one trained on the driver, another trained at boarding passengers, and a fifth trained on the passenger compartment. Nobody can get away with anything on a modern transit vehicle, so it’s time for locomotive engineers to get used to the idea. Cameras are coming; it’s only a matter of time. They’re used for protecting drivers from dangerous passengers, proving liability when an idiot cuts off a bus, and also as a teaching tool to improve a bus driver’s defensive driving skills. The cameras only upload to headquarters whenever an event, like an impact or hard breaking, trips the system to “make a movie.” Otherwise, it’s just like any other data recorder: the system just records over its old data until somebody pulls the tapes.
Dear Commenters,
You all realize that ‘J. Guse’ is the ‘Man that Never Was’. He has been created by the Trains staff to increase activity on this site.
I mean, c’mon, can anyone really hold these views!?
1: Guse is ADVOCATING for the application of truck driver’s working rules for railroad employees. (In case none of you have figured it out, he drives a truck for a living.)
2: Yes, many people DO hold views similer to Mr. Guse’s. I don’t agree with him very often, but I personally have known people who really do think that way.
I know many of us do not like Mr. Guse’s views, opinions, or politics, but I think it’s time to cease the personal attacks on him. He is entitled to his way of thinking, and as a Trains subscriber, he IS entitled to post his views, opinions and politics as they apply to the stories here on the news wire.
Now, with that out of the way,
Once again, the politicians have already figured out everthing that it will take the NHTSA six months to discover, and seem to have all the answers! Will NOBODY SHUT THEM UP!?!?!
So now will Congress do something about the semi rigs hauling down the freeways 10-15 miles per hour over the speed limit with the resultant carnage? Oh, I forgot the 90 persons killed on the highways is way different than a train incident…
Where are these 2 idiot liberals background in running a railroad?
Goosie, if it wasn’t for regulations that YOU hate soooo much, the death toll due to overworked operators and and defective equipment would be to the levels of a third world country. Judging by your shrill rants, you DON’T give a rat’s ass about safety.
This is ridiculous. Airplanes don’t have cameras for pilots (only audio recording, the black boxes). Buses don’t require cameras for their drivers. Why should trains be any different? The cameras would be more of a nuisance than of any assistance. Why discriminate against railroads? Either all or none.
i will not comment on my Ct senators intelligence in this feedback.
cameras are like closing the barn door after the horse is out.
i have worked shift work before and can tell you I’ve never seen an individual at some time or another did not nod their head.
whats more how many times have we seen pictures of our senators and congressmen asleep in chambers.
Alerters are a definite help in these situations, but they are not fail safe. To err is human. The best solution is two sets of eyes and brains and use of technology.
The problem with technology is it requires someone to monitor and maintain it. This monitoring of technology and its required maintenance takes away from the task at hand, as an a tamping machine does no more than tamp. The operator does no more than operate the tamping machine. In the old days the track gang when tamping would notice a switch point that needed repaired. The tamping machine doesn’t see it, nor care about a switch point. automation does not think, see, or carry any responsibility.
this why we need both human and technology working together and not cameras.
These two demonstrate the ability only politicians have: interchangeable ends of the digestive tract.