Boston Molasses Disaster

In 2010, every 2-hours three people were killed in alcohol-related highway crashes. The same year, The Coast Guard reported 154 recreational boating fatalities , 22.9%, of which involved alcohol use as a contributing factor. (Drunk Drivers by the Numbers 2012) By contrast, trains and metros have significant fewer incidents and deaths involving alcohol but these sporadic events can cause larger, more wide spread destruction. This is why the United States Government has taken measures to ensure that public train and metro services are run and conducted by individuals that are alcohol free. In this paper I will explore the repercussions when these measures were not in place or were not enforced by over-viewing significant alcohol related train
The Boston Molasses Disaster showcases what might be the weirdest way alcohol has created a train related accident, On January 15, 1919, a tank on a train that contained molasses that was meant to be for fermented to make industrial alcohol exploded, creating a gigantic wave of 2.3 million gallons of molasses that reached speeds of up to 35 miles an hour and reached heights of almost 40 feet . (On This Day , 2015) One hundred and fifty people were injured by this accident and twenty one people were killed; the disaster also included trapping a dozen horses, destroying buildings, homes and part of the elevated train. An investigation into the accident suggested that the tank may have been overfilled with molasses as a response to the newly enacted prohibition of alcohol. A theory is that the fermentation process created so much carbon dioxide that it raised the pressure in the train tank and was the cause the of explosion. (On This Day,
Since then, railroads are required by law to certify that their engineers are trained and properly qualified, this includes that the engineers have no drug or alcohol related motor vehicle incidents for the five-year period before certification. Another effect was that an older rule, Rule G (The use of intoxicants or narcotics by employees subject to duty, or their possession or use while in duty, is prohibited. — UCOR, 1962) was changed:

“An employee who reports for duty under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicant, cannabis in any form, an amphetamine, a narcotic, a hallucinogenic drug, any controlled substance (as defined by federal law), or a derivative or combination of any of these, or who uses any of the foregoing while on duty, will be dismissed. Possession of any of the foregoing while on duty, or possession, use, or being under the influence of any of the foregoing while on Company or occupying facilities provided by the Company is prohibited.” (ECRF,