Trains.com

Rules written in blood

Posted by Fred Frailey
on Thursday, May 14, 2015

The rules by which trains operate on American railroads were written in blood. As the rail network developed in the 19th century, every accident was a lesson learned -- and brought a new rule to prevent it from happening again. Today the General Code of Operating Rules is a 167-page collection of lessons learned. But even 185 years of experience haven't yet protected railroads from the danger no rule can banish: simple human error.

(For the remainder of this commentary, please go to CNN.com.)

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