Aug
4
As of Wednesay, 1 August 2007, catostrophic bridge disasters were rare. After the events of Wednesday, catostrophic bridge collapses remain rare, and will remiain rare.
We have evidence in video form. and from the Northwestern University, Infrastructure Technology Institute. Bridge disasters have happened about every decade or so. There no reason to believe the frequency will not decrease. We learn from our experience and get smarter. Further, there is no evidence of anything which would suggest an increase in frequency. Rare events do not become common events without a reason.
Tags: BitsBlog, Technology
August 4th, 2007 at 22:25
And, as our society has become more reactive to any unfortunate isolated events, and more litigious, we seem to be forced to exert heroic efforts to make sure the same thing never happens again. Mind you, I am convinced there are things that could likely could be done better, and probably right to take a closer look at high-risk bridges, but proposals to inspect every bridge styled like the one in Minneapolis quickly, creates new risks as other scheduled inspections are delayed, and creating unnecessary fear in the public. We have to stop reacting to every problem by trying to make it impossible to repeat. Get sensible, people.
And, oh my gosh, let’s stop creating hundreds of super-stories in the media on the topic. I’m sick of it!