Focus in CTA crash falls on operator fatigue, speeding

[brooklynite]

Source: Chicago Tribune

Federal investigators will focus on whether a CTA train operator fell asleep at the controls and if an automatic braking system was working properly as they seek to pinpoint the cause of a spectacular crash Monday that left a Blue Line car perched atop an escalator.

The operator may have fallen asleep shortly before her train smashed through a “bumper” at the end of the track at O’Hare International Airport just before 3 a.m., according to a transit union representative.

The driver, whose name has not been released, told people she nodded off moments before the crash, said Robert Kelly, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 308.

“I can confirm that she was extremely tired,” Kelly said. “Indications are she might have dozed off.”

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-ohare-train-crash-20140324,0,1750012.story

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If the Union is willing to throw the operator over the side this quickly, I'm thinking the facts are pretty much not in dispute.

[840high]

1. When you're responsible for

peoples lives - how the hell do you nod off?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

3. How the hell do they not have an operational automatic braking system?

For Christ sake, my car can park itself and some new models with avoid simple rear end collisions.

I don't know how, in modern times, one train can hit another or slam through the end of the line bumper.

[valerief]

4. How the hell are tired people ALLOWED to drive other people? nt

[awoke_in_2003]

5. Have you ever worked mids?

I worked it for seven years. You NEVER get used to it. Humans are not meant to be consistently up at 3 AM

[adirondacker]

2. Nothing a 35 hour work week and 30 days paid vacation a year wouldn't solve for the most part.

I've had a couple of near death experiences from people that were overtired operating machinery. Unfortunately there won't be any attention to this until some politician or his/her close family member is involved.