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QUOTE="Bruette, post: 448786, member: 4773"]Boris, I remember the 1987 Maryland train collision if you have time check that link and let me know if it is accurate.
Louis: The link is generally accurate, although some of the references can be taken with a grain of salt. The sole cause of the accident was that the Conrail Lite Engine movement, failed to comply with Rule 292, (STOP SIGNAL), on #1 track at Gunpow Interlocking, and crossed out on to #2 track in front of train #94 (or #194). The other "Contributing factors" Gates and Cromwell's drug usage, the lack of a split rail derail coming off of #1 track, at Gunpow, the distraction of the portable TV set, the failure of the on duty trainmaster to check the physical condition of the crew upon reporting, the supposedly excessive speed of the passenger train, because a conventional car restricted to 110 MPH, mixing of freight and passenger trains on the same tracks are irrelevant. The cause was a blown stop signal.
That doesn't change things, alcohol or other drug impairment, distracting electronic devices, or male/female guests, do not belong on the "flight deck" of an aircraft, or the cab of a locomotive or control car. People, no matter how good intentioned, are human, and prone to error. That's why some segments of our economy want to automate flight operation, rail traffic, and even personal carriage, to eliminate the human factor.
Everyone, associates drug impairment with "illegal" substances, but prescription drugs, and over the counter medicines and supplements can also impair an individual given the right combination of chemicals. Alcohol has been legal since Prohibition was repealed. There is much political and economic pressure to legalize cannabis nationwide. Where does one draw the line? Where do we go from here?
Current regulations require approval of the corporate medical department, when a railroad employee is prescribed medication. If they deny permission, or determine that the medication will cause impairment, the employee cannot work. Most operating railroad employees don't get sick days, some arbitrator denied them because "he" felt that railroaders would abuse them. faced with no income, most people take their chances, or don't take the medication, and infect everyone. I'm talking about legally obtained medications, not contraband.
I was present for the very first post accident drug test at a hospital in or near Suffern, NY on July 1, 1987, the day the regulation went into effect. A crew out of Port Jervis, NY (EL), overshot the stop signal at SF Interlocking, in Suffern. They had to be tested. I was filling the Division Road Foreman's vacancy in Elizabethport, NJ and investigating the incident. Along with the Division risk management officer, we had to arrange for the "Post Accident Blood / Urine tests and actually walk the hospital personnel through the requirements. We were sailing on untested waters, and were effectively winging it, because no one had pre arranged for anything. Ultimately, the crewmembers were clean, and they served time for their screw-up, which was a simple case of misjudging braking distance .at daybreak. Fatigue may have been a factor, but everyone was concerned with the possibility of impairment.
The process we used to persuade the hospital to even participate in the testing, getting the crew to voluntarily agree to the testing. (Automatic 9 month suspension without pay for refusal), and the manner the facility administered the test were all subject to scrutiny from our bosses, senior management, the labor organizations and the Federal Railroad Administration. No one bothered to think of this in advance
FWIW, most people who use alcohol or "recreational drugs" are not addicts, just folks relaxing or having "fun". They do not see themselves as a threat to anyone, including themselves. Others are reckless and uncaring but they are in a small minority. Gates and Cromwell were
functional until that day at Gunpow. Most of their generation smoked weed, it was part of the culture. I'm not justifying their behavior, but when something is glorified by the entertainment industry, and among peers, it becomes a culture. The cool factor! These two fellows, were hired under Jimmy Carter's program requiring Federal Contractors to hire the chronically unemployed. Well, there were reasons why these folks were chronically unemployed... something that well intentioned folk who propose these requirements, never seem to consider.
Having lived under intense Government Regulation and scrutiny for most of my railroad career, I am personally not interested in seeing any more laws or regulations at any level further, regardless of intention. I do not want anything reducing my personal freedoms. We have lost much especially since 9/11, and at times it appears that we live in a Police State. It's not a matter of my having nothing to hide, that's irrelevant. I shouldn't have to show identification, while on or about my property, for instance. The world is no more dangerous now than it was in the 1930s when all of those gangsters, glorified by the entertainment industry, were running about creating havoc.
Boris[/QUOTE]
As usual you exceed my expectations, thank you!
Have you ever heard of a Robitussin party? Drink enough Robitussin and you get high. I don't care what they are impaired by, I don't want stoners, drunks or whatever on the road with my kids. Or even out in public with them. Impaired people are unpredictable and that makes them dangerous.
A heroine addict told me "if you take methadone, zanax and drink alcohol its get you as high as heroine". They can get the methadone and zanax for free. No wonder we have zombies wandering the streets.
Methamphetamine is another plague. Yesterday I was at a traffic light on Pratt street @ Light street in downtown Baltimore. I saw a guy insanely dancing on the side of the road and singing to himself with no shoes on! As they say on the streets "he was tweaking". Lock these low life scumbags up!
I would legalize any and all drugs, but I would make sure the Police have the means to do proper testing. Do what ever they want, just keep it on your own property and don't harm anyone else. The sanctity of a persons own property should only be breached with a justified and valid court order.
In my mind your right to privacy ends at your property line. Public property needs to be kept safe for all of us.
I use to be in favor of complete anarchy, then I had kids. I can't be with them all day everyday. I have to have faith in law enforcement and our courts and I do.