Addressing the deadly Washington D.C. train crash Debbie Hersman of the National Transportation Safety Board said the operator of the train that “slammed into a stationary train in front of it apparently had activated the emergency brakes in a failed effort to stop before the accident.” as reported in the Washington Post. Hersman said the “emergency brake button, known as the ‘mushroom,’ was depressed, and the steel rails showed evidence that the brakes were engaged.”

Kicking off 2012 with car recalls
General Motors is planning to announce a recall on January 14, 2012. Over 4,000 of its 2012 Chevrolet Sonics will be subject to the recall. It has been discovered that the front brake inner or outer pad may be missing from these vehicles. Read more here.