2/10/2004: Overloaded Kenyan train

[Undertoad]

Overloaded public transportation is an IotD regular thing, and here we have a train near Nairobi, Kenya.



It turns out that this overloading is due to a government regulation of private minibuses. Apparently many Kenyans get around via minibuses, and they are very unsafe; and the government has demanded safety considerations such as the wearing of seatbelts, and took 100 minibuses off the streets in one day.

Thus, they take the train. Which, you imagine, is MUCH less safe.

This kind of unsafe safety regulation happens all the time, and not just in the third world. Suppose a ladder is a little unsafe. We over-regulate, or over SUE the LADDER maker; the ladder maker raises the price to overcome the regulation/lawsuits; and so the price increases, so many people don't buy the ladder. And thus they still use their older ladder, which is less safe, or they climb up on chairs and such, which isn't safe at all.