Do government authorities get a pass on regulatory enforcement? … A look at DC's subway crash.

Island Turtle ^ | June 23, 2009 | Corky Boyd

[Corky Boyd]

Last week I wrote that about the suppression of an EPA report identifying the locations of “high hazard” coal sludge sites. I questioned whether the federal government was giving another government entity favored treatment, in this case the TVA -- which was the source of the original massive spill. It appears this may have been so the case of the fatal subway crash in Washington DC.

In a report in the Washington Post today, a NTSB Board member says Metro failed to heed the advice of federal regulators to either strengthen the cars or take them out of service. They did neither.

"[National Transportation Safety] Board member Deborah Hersman also said the southbound train that crashed into another train on the Red Line near Fort Totten was one of the oldest in Metro's fleet. Five years ago, federal regulators said that model car should be strengthened to better protect occupants in the case of a collision.

'We recommended to either retrofit those cars or to phase them out of the fleet,' Hersman said. 'They have not been able to do that and our recommendation was not addressed. So, it has been an unacceptable status.'"

[razorback-bert]

Based on I this, I forsee no recalls for Government Motor cars.

[Venturer]

Certainly that isnt what caused the wreck, Train car have telescoped since the beginning of railroads. These folks are just looking around for something to blame the loss of life on.

[dr_who]

I would say yes. Everything points to total incompetence and neglect so far.

[Mr. Lucky]

Jeez, remember when trains were operated by middle age guys who had to have 20 years service as a brakeman or fireman before they were allowed to sit behind the throttle?

[dr_who]

No, but I figure an attentive ten year old may have been able to prevent this crash.