Transportation Disasters Research Articles

The wreck of Amtrak's Sunset Limited: news coverage of a mass transport disaster.

Using the 1993 crash of Amtrak's Sunset Limited in Mobile, Alabama, this study examines the safety education provided by seven newspapers. A total of 117 news stories were analysed for five primary themes: overall story category, passenger safety theme, train personnel safety theme, train safety theme and rescue safety. Sixty-three per cent were found to contain at least one safety theme paragraph within the larger story. A total of 631 paragraphs were identified as safety theme paragraphs, 32 per cent of which were passenger safety themes, 8 per cent were train personnel safety, 31 per cent were train safety and 29 per cent were rescue safety themes. As in previous research, safety themes rarely appeared alone; more often than not, a story contained a mixture of all themes. Some safety themes appeared more frequently than others, but overall, the safety themes present a complete view of the safety issues surrounding the crash. Safety themes are embedded within a story framework which reflects the three stages of disaster news work. Images of normalcy tragically disrupted by the crash abound as do images of passengers escaping and aiding others. Disaster relief personnel and aviation officials are shown working to restore order and solve the mystery of the crash. Within this framework we can learn what to expect when a train crashes and what we might have to do in a similar situation.

Crisis support following the Herald of Free-Enterprise disaster: a longitudinal perspective.

Crisis support was assessed with survivors of the Herald of Free Enterprise ferry sinking at 3 and 6 years postdisaster. It was found that reported levels of support received from family and friends decreased over the first 3 years after the event but increased over the subsequent 3 years. In addition, higher retrospective ratings of crisis support received in the immediate aftermath of the disaster were found to predict lower levels of posttraumatic symptomatology as assessed by the Impact of Event Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory at a later period. The results replicate earlier findings following the Jupiter Cruise ship disaster and are thought to have implications for the assessment and treatment of survivors at high risk of disturbance.

The Common Disaster and the Unexpected Education: Delta Flight 1141 and the Discourse of Aviation Safety

News coverage of transportation disasters, such as the crash of Delta Flight 1141, reveal the disaster behavior of passengers, flight personnel and rescue workers. Within a mystery framework, the Flight 1141 discourse provides clues that readers can use to construct their own disaster behavior awareness. The media must expand their pedagogical role beyond natural and technological disasters and begin providing basic airplane safety behavior information.

Crisis support following the Herald of free‐enterprise disaster: A longitudinal perspective

AbstractCrisis support was assessed with survivors of the Herald of Free Enterprise ferry sinking at 3 and 6 years postdisaster. It was found that reported levels of support received from family and friends decreased over the first 3 years after the event but increased over the subsequent 3 years. In addition, higher retrospective ratings of crisis support received in the immediate aftermath of the disaster were found to predict lower levels of posttraumatic symptomatology as assessed by the Impact of Event Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory and the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory at a later period. The results replicate earlier findings following the Jupiter Cruise ship disaster and are thought to have implications for the assessment and treatment of survivors at high risk of disturbance.

Psychological consequences of the Kegworth air disaster.

The study sought to quantify psychiatric morbidity among survivors of a major air crash and to identify aetiological factors linked with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Sixty-eight of the 79 survivors (86%) were assessed at a clinical interview within one year of the disaster. The majority also completed the General Health Questionnaire, the Impact of Events Scale (IES) and the Zung Anxiety and Depression Scales. Fifty-four of the study group (79%) met DSM-III-R criteria for a psychiatric disorder within one year of the disaster, of whom 27 (50%) had PTSD. Those who saw injured or dead people at the scene, or had sustained less severe injuries as measured by their Injury Severity Scores, or were under 35 years old, were significantly more likely to develop PTSD. High rates of psychiatric morbidity are found in survivors of transportation disasters. Further studies are needed to identify those at most risk and to evaluate the benefits of psychological intervention.

132. Medical Response and Preparedness for Maritime Transportation Disasters in Singapore

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Transportation disasters--a review.

In 1991 we invited colleagues to contribute to a special issue on transportation disasters . We were interested in studies of survivors and other directly affected persons, such as medical personnel and rescue workers, following transportation accidents such as air-crashes, train-derailments or crashes, bus accidents and ferry or other maritime disasters. Follow-ups have been performed or planned after many of these more well-known disasters . The prevalence of these events makes it important to learn their psychological impact, to help improve our understanding of, and interventions with, survivors. Studying the effects of traumatic stress on disaster survivors will also, contribute to our empirical and theoretical knowledge about the relationship between biolagical/somatic and psychological symptoms. In this introductory paper, same studies on the psychological and psychiatric effects of train, maritime, and flight accidents are reviewed . Following the introduction are the four papers in our special section which describe empirical studies of a number of these incidents .

Transportation disasters—A review

Transportation disasters—A review

The Kings Cross fire: psychological reactions.

The psychological reactions of 50 survivors of the King's Cross fire, which hit London's underground railway system on the 18th day of November 1987, are described. Results are presented for the Impact of Event scale, the General Health Questionnaire (28-item version), the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire and a King's Cross Event Schedule. These are investigated in relation to (a) validity measures, (b) relationships between exposure and personality, and (c) spontaneous de-briefing. Two thirds of the sample had significant levels of psychological distress (meeting the "caseness" criterion on the GHQ). Both personality (neuroticism and L-scale) and degree of trauma exposure were related to subsequent reaction. Spontaneous debriefing was associated with subjective benefit. Transportation disasters present particular problems in relation to research and service delivery.

The kings cross fire: Psychological reactions

AbstractThe psychological reactions of 50 survivors of the King's Cross fire, which hit London's underground railway system on the 18th day of November 1987, are described. Results are presented for the Impact of Event scale, the General Health Questionnaire (28‐item version), the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire and a King's Cross Event Schedule. These are investigated in relation to (a) validity measures, (b) relationships between exposure and personality, and (c) spontaneous de‐briefing. Two thirds of the sample had significant levels of psychological distress (meeting the “caseness” criterion on the GHQ). Both personality (neuroticism and L‐scale) and degree of trauma exposure were related to subsequent reaction. Spontaneous debriefing was associated with subjective benefit. Transportation disasters present particular problems in relation to research and service delivery.

Marine Traffic Regulation in the United States

Marine traffic in the United States has been selectively regulated since the late 1800s to control the use of busy federal anchorages and to improve vessel movements in certain narrow waterways. The application of modern technology to marine traffic regulation began with lighted traffic signals in the 1930s and expanded in the United States and worldwide after World War II to include harbor advisory radar services with voice radio communications. The establishment of vessel traffic services (VI’S) was stimulated by the need to reduce marine accidents, and was enabled by the advent of navigation radar and voice radio communications. Operation of VTS systems by the U.S. Coast Guard has had a checkered history of progress and retreat. The Coast Guard’s VTS program, which had been substantially reduced before the Exxon Valdez shipping disaster, is being rebuilt as a national response to public concern over maritime safety. This paper provides an interpretive history of marine traffic regulation, and offers insights on issues from the past that influence current VT’S system planning and installation.

Emotional processing in survivors of the Jupiter cruise ship disaster

Twenty-three survivors of the Jupiter cruise ship disaster completed the Impact of Events Scale, a measure of intrusion and avoidance, as well as measures of arousal and affect at two points in time: between 3 and 7 months (Time 1) and between 12 and 14 months (Time 2) following the event. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between intrusion and avoidance and symptoms of depression and anxiety. The results suggest that although higher scores on intrusion and avoidance are strongly associated with poorer psychological outcome at each point in time, it is only intrusion which may be predictive of later symptoms. Avoidance would seem to be a response to early distress. These data are discussed with reference to a cognitive—emotional processing model of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Principal components analysis of the impact of events scale in adolescents who survived a shipping disaster

The Impact of Events Scale has become one of the most widely used instruments in the assessment of post-traumatic stress reactions in adults. However, its reliability and validity with adolescents remains uncertain. The aim of the present study was to investigate its psychometric properties with a sample of 334 adolescent survivors of the Jupiter cruise ship disaster. Recent research with adults has found slight differences in the factor structure of the scale and these were confirmed in this study. Moreover, the factor structure appears to be different for girls and boys. It is concluded that scores on the Impact of Events Scale might reflect sex differences in reactions to traumatic events which may have important diagnostic implications.

Screening and Psychological Debriefing of Adolescent Survivors of Life-Threatening Events

There is a perceived need for schools and casualty departments to receive appropriate information and guidelines in order to minimise the effect of PTSD. A recommended screening battery for PTSD was administered at the start of a two-session debriefing group and again three months later to a group of seven young survivors of a minibus accident. No studies using this screen other than those of shipping disasters have been reported to date. Screen scores were compared with those of survivors of the cruise ship Jupiter. No significant differences were found between minibus survivors when assessed at six months (before intervention), and Jupiter survivors, who when assessed at five months had already undergone debriefing. Post-debriefing assessment of minibus survivors demonstrated significant reductions on all measures.

Crisis support in the aftermath of disaster: a longitudinal perspective.

Crisis support was assessed over an 18-month period with survivors of the Jupiter cruise ship disaster. It was found that the support received from family and friends decreased significantly over time. In addition, higher crisis support in the immediate aftermath was found to predict less post-traumatic symptomatology at a later period. The results are thought to have implications for the assessment and treatment of survivors at high risk of disturbance.

Crisis support and psychiatric symptomatology in adult survivors of the Jupiter cruise ship disaster.

The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between crisis support and psychiatric symptomatology among adult survivors in the year following the Jupiter cruise ship disaster. Evidence is presented that support decreases over the following year, and that higher levels of crisis support are strongly related to better psychological outcome. Crisis support is shown to retain its association with symptomatology even when satisfaction with support is partialled out. These data are discussed with reference to the debate over the relative importance of received vs. perceived support.

Children in Shipping Disasters

Children in Shipping Disasters

Psychological aftereffects of transportation disaster.

ABSTRACT: Natural and technological disasters are compared, and studies of Transportation Mass Disaster, i.e. catastrophies of road, rail, air and sea, are reviewed with respect to the psychological aftereffects on victims, including survivors, bereaved and helpers. Transportation Mass Disasters are noted to have a number of features in common, including complicating factors which may contribute to the high incidence of post-disaster psychological morbidity. ‘To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive …’ R. L. Stevenson

Modelling Waves, Tides and Currents

ABSTRACT Modelling of water related structures prior to construction is often beneficial in anticipating problems; post construction modelling can suggest remedial measures or reasons for project failure. The paper describes various water resource related physical models developed and in use at the hydraulics laboratory of Canada's National Research Council (NRC). Examples of studies conducted using these models include an investigation of navigation improvements along the St. Lawrence River, a harbour repair study of Point Sapin, New Brunswick, a port development in Senegal, breakwater studies and an investigation of the Ocean Ranger drill ship disaster off the east coast of New foundland.

Surging Motion and Longitudinal Strength of a Ship in Rough Seas

Longitudinal ship motions have been investigated by means of the linear strip theories such as O. S. M. etc. On the other hand, the nonlinear simulation programs for longitudinal ship motion and strength have been developed for the purpose of analysis of slamming and whipping phenomena caused by hydrodynamic impact forces, and they have been successfully applied for several actual disasters to investigate real process of the disasters. In case of rough seas that may cause ship disasters, surging motions become significant, which have been experienced in model experiments and actual ship navigation. Here a difficulty arises; the effects of surging motions have been disregarded in the previous investigations of longitudinal motion and strength.In the present paper, surging motions of a ship among elevated waves are determined step-by-step by considering instantaneous ship configurations and Froude-Kriloff forces acting on the ship; it is performed by the use of a revised version of the nonlinear simulation program TSLAM for longitudinal ship motion and strength, since the original version is for a ship advancing with uniform speed. As results of the investigation, the increase of thrust can be calculated and compared with the previous experiments, which shows good coincidence. For the longitudinal strength, however, no significant effects appear in the present example calculations.