Comments on: Train Safety Effort

By: andrew

andrew — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 01:23:51 +0000

8% is a way smaller number than I guessed.

By: Matt the Engineer

Matt the Engineer — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:56:17 +0000

Little known fact: you’re 20,000 times more likely to die in a collision with a live shark transport vehicle than a collision with a giant waterlogged marshmallow. ;-)

Also: 43% of statistics are made up on the spot.

By: Johnny

Johnny — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 22:33:55 +0000

And comparing injury rates between modes: Rail freight transport incurs about 8% of the injuries that trucks do per trillion ton-miles

By: Johnny

Johnny — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 22:32:35 +0000

Comparing rail freight to road freight: rail freight transport incurs about 13% of the fatalities that trucks do per trillion ton-miles.

By: andrew

andrew — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:59:41 +0000

I think this

A motorist is almost 20 times more likely to die in a crash involving a train than in a collision involving another motor vehicle.

first assumes that you are in the accident.

What it should say is

“A motorist involved in a train accident is almost 20 times more likely to die in a crash than a motorist involved in a collision with another motor vehicle.”

It’s not true as it’s written.

By: Joshua Kelley

Joshua Kelley — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:42:12 +0000

You’re right. I misread that.

By: Paul

Paul — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:16:52 +0000

That 20x more likely to die statistic makes sense to me. If you are comparing people in car/train accidents with people in car/car accidents,it makes sense that the people in the train accident are more likely to die. The way this is stated here is misleading though.

By: Joshua Kelley

Joshua Kelley — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:46:18 +0000

Here’s the graph

By: Joshua Kelley

Joshua Kelley — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:45:07 +0000

Image didn’t show up:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3288/2977364459_71c9b92460_o.jpg

Also got info from:
this site.

By: Joshua Kelley

Joshua Kelley — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:43:38 +0000

I compiled some data from Operation Lifesaver’s website (http://www.oli.org). They are cited in the article as a training resource. I copied their data into an Excel table and graphed it.

As much as people are concerned about safety, the nationwide trend is that train collisions and fatalities are going DOWN. They imply that nationwide, it is going up.

There is a “Did You Know?” on the website which I don’t believe:

A motorist is almost 20 times more likely to die in a crash involving a train than in a collision involving another motor vehicle.

Another observation: Washington is number 25 on the 2007 list of Crossing Collisions & Casualties, Trespass Casualties. Compared to #1 Texas (home of BNSF), we’re REALLY good.

Sorry for the ramblings. I’m in the 10th hour of a 12-hour graveyard shift.