Three Years of "Tech Safe Transport"

After 36 posts, some reflections on why I started this blog, and how the journey has been so far.

It's exactly three years since I started “Tech Safe Transport.” Over those 36 months I've done 36 blogs – so I’ve kept up an average “beat rate” of one a month. It's been difficult at times but my blessing and my curse is that I have a compulsion to write about things I think are interesting and important, so one way or another I’ve managed to wring the copy out.

Back at the end of 2020 it was becoming increasingly clear to me that changing technology was creating risks and potential accident scenarios that might not be visible to safety managers, operators, or even safety engineers. The objective of the blog – if it is not already obvious to you - has therefore been to gently lead people into these areas.

With the accelerating pace of change of technology we all need to be comfortable thinking and making decisions in the technological space. To fail to do so risks major accidents and human tragedy. It also risks creating a headwind to the continued growth of the mass transportation we all need, to live sustainably on our small green planet.

In the transport sector large volumes of people, technology and huge amounts of energy converge to create risk. There is little room for error, as was described clearly in my interview with Peter Robison – the Author of “Flying Blind: The 737 Max Tragedy and the Fall of Boeing” and the related post I wrote on that modern cautionary tale.

Reflecting on the first three years of the blog, and looking back at what I've posted it's actually been a very broad range of topics. I’ve posted a lot on software assurance and cybersecurity but this wasn’t my original intent. Those who know me professionally know that my background is in risk management and its just that my assessment of future risks keeps taking me back to these topics. But I've also posted on human behaviour and safety culture (including a fascinating interview with Diane Chadwick-Jones on ‘Safety Behaviour and Incentives’). I’ve looked at governance and also on the natural human tendencies and behaviours that will always exist regardless of how technology evolves. And I blogged about drones, war, hydrogen and science fiction.

Someone recently said to me, in a passing comment:

I like your blog. When it comes in I make a cup of tea and read it.

That made me happy because that’s exactly what I wanted the blog to be: a refuge in your busy day. I’ve tried to write readable content which shines a light on interesting stories or trends and that might also be useful, thought provoking or educational.

So finally, thanks for reading the blog. If there was no one to read I would have no reason to write it, which would be a great shame (for me at least). In that vein, I'd really appreciate it if - as part of your New Year's resolutions - you could share the blog with a handful of people who you think would really enjoy it, ideally with your personal recommendation to subscribe.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays. I hope you really enjoy any time you’re able to take away from work over the festive period and that you have a relaxing, refreshing time.

See you all in 2024.

George