| In the days of wagons and travel by horseback, | | | | prevent bankruptcy and soon became a law to |
| we wanted more! More power, more speed and | | | | ensure victims would be compensated regardless |
| more options for shipping. The railroad heard our | | | | of company status. We still have more-but the |
| pleas and in less than two-hundred years, we now | | | | cost increases almost daily. |
| have more. | | | | Railroad liability is strictly governed because |
| More rails crisscrossing the country, more | | | | hazardous materials, perishable items and |
| passengers travelling than was foreseen at | | | | passengers are the most common freight. In |
| speeds never before imagined and more victims | | | | addition, school buses, pedestrians and regular |
| than was expected. | | | | traffic must cross the rails frequently creating |
| Railroad liability issues grew accordingly with | | | | more potential for accidents. Airways, railroad and |
| problems related to warning signs and alerts to | | | | trucking regulations made a difference but other |
| pedestrians and other traffic unfamiliar with the | | | | considerations soon became known. |
| rapid growth. More power and speed brought | | | | Industry growth was a direct result of faster and |
| more danger as well. | | | | more powerful transportation options; the |
| Today Amtrak, subways and jets are common | | | | possibility for large shipments of manufactured |
| options, very different from traveling across the | | | | goods increased productivity and created jobs |
| lands in a wagon. Respectively tragedy occurs | | | | that did not exist before this capability became |
| where many victims were injured at one time | | | | common. Once again, the need for more became |
| and once again, we want more. | | | | obvious. |
| We want more safety, more regulations and | | | | Fumes, oil-spills and noise affected our health and |
| more awareness for prevention sake. The focus | | | | we wanted more and better options as well as |
| on public transport systems was centered around | | | | compensation for damages that progress brought. |
| service capabilities more than safety issues and | | | | Terrorist learned to use our progress against us |
| the potential for disaster was overlooked in favor | | | | and the need for 24 hour, 7 days per week |
| of profit. | | | | regulation enforcement became necessary. |
| The United States Department of Transportation | | | | The word 'more' is the language of growth and |
| came into existence in 1966 after ninety-two | | | | the more growth we accomplish the more we |
| years of society demanding more. The USDOT | | | | need to accomplish to maintain the life-style we |
| regulates performance, accountability and | | | | created. Airways and railroad liability have become |
| enforces law regarding public safety. The goal is | | | | major issues as we struggle with progress |
| to make transportation more economical, more | | | | created by the demands for more. |
| competent, more expeditious, and more socially | | | | Today we have learned to use foresight in |
| responsible; once again, we have more. | | | | answering the demands for more, regulations are |
| Those who answered the call for more and at a | | | | already in place to smooth transitions of growth |
| considerable profit I might add, found themselves | | | | and there seems to be no limit to potential |
| in an unforeseen situation. The need for liability | | | | growth, as we still want more. |
| insurance coverage was a financial decision to | | | | |