Railroads Want a Repeal of Safety Laws

Tragedy struck Chatsworth, California four years ago when 25 people were killed and 135 more were injured because of a negligent engineer. After this accident, the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 was set into motion, which demanded railroad companies to start a $13 billion project. New technology was then implemented for passenger trains and hazardous material trains. The technology, known as Positive Train Control (PTC), included a GPS and wireless communication devices to monitor trains and automatically apply the brakes if the train is about to make a dangerous maneuver. Human error is the leading cause of railroad accidents.

All railroads must install PTC by the end of 2015, but there is much opposition. Many railroad companies are saying that PTC is unaffordable, and that there are cheaper options for installing safety mechanisms. Some are saying the cheaper option is the less safe option, leaving a huge argument to be overcome. Some railroad company advocates want the PTC requirements repealed, while others don't want to go that far, but possibly extend the deadline for PTC installation which would give companies more time to afford the installation.

It is important to understand that opponents of the bill are not opponents of safety; they are simply concerned about justification of the bill. Opponents say that PTC would only save four or five lives a year, while advocates are saying that any potential life saved is worth the risk. Train accidents can occur due to faulty equipment as well as human error, but the results are always the same: extremely serious or fatal. If you have been injured in a railroad accident, contact a Houston train accident attorney from Arnold & Itkin today. A Houston personal injury attorney from our firm will listen to your case and fight to see that you get the compensation you deserve.