After Ohio Train Derailment, Voters Support Strict Safety Regulations for Railroad Companies
By Sabrina Jacobs
The recent train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio created an environmental disaster that has shed light on the lack of regulation of U.S. railroad companies. The derailed train, which was operated by Norfolk Southern, spilled hazardous chemicals that leaked into the air, soil, and water and forced residents to evacuate the area.
The accident is only made worse by its avoidability. For years, railroad companies lobbied against a 2015 safety rule that required electronically controlled brakes for trains carrying hazardous cargo. The Trump Administration eventually repealed the rule, claiming that the cost outweighed the benefit. Other efforts to reduce costs, such as major cuts to the railroad workforce and reduced inspection times, have made accidents like the one in Ohio – and the dozen other train derailments in 2023 so far – much more likely to occur. In order to maximize profit, railroad companies have also made their trains longer and heavier, despite the safety risk.
Data for Progress finds a clear plurality of voters — 49 percent — blame train operator Norfolk Southern for the derailment in East Palestine, while 10 percent blame the Department of Transportation. Fifty percent of Democrats, 52 percent of Independents, and 47 percent of Republicans direct their blame toward Norfolk Southern.
While railroad companies like Norfolk Southern claim that new electronic braking systems are too expensive to install, experts insist that the derailment could have been avoided had the train been upgraded to electronic braking systems.
Seventy-six percent of voters believe that U.S. regulators should require railroad companies to install upgraded electronic braking systems in their older trains, including 88 percent of Democrats, 76 percent of Independents, and 66 percent of Republicans.
Voters also believe that current precautions for the transportation of hazardous materials don’t go far enough. Fifty-eight percent of voters say there are still too few safety precautions in place for railroad companies that transport hazardous materials. This includes 62 percent of Democrats, 60 percent of Independents, and 54 percent of Republicans.
To address these risks, voters across party lines are in favor of increased safety measures, including 89 percent of voters who support setting higher standards for maintenance on railroads and strengthening safety regulations on railroad cars carrying explosive substances. Eighty-six percent of voters support placing limits on the length and weight of freight trains carrying hazardous materials.
Data for Progress also finds voters are in favor of improving working conditions for rail workers. Eighty percent of voters support ensuring that all railroad workers receive paid time off and 71 percent of voters support giving rail workers a more flexible schedule. Sixty-eight percent of voters also believe rail workers should have a salary increase.
In order to avoid future train wrecks, it’s crucial that U.S. regulators act now to implement stricter rules and safety standards. The damage that hazardous materials can do to the environment and to communities is far too high to look the other way. Voters across party lines clearly agree that in order to avoid future tragedies, strict regulations on railroad companies must be put in place.
Sabrina Jacobs (@Bri_jacobs) is a staff writer at Data for Progress.