Question

Difficulty: HardCourse of Action

Context: A newly commissioned rapid transit metro line has been experiencing frequent, unexplained automated emergency braking incidents during peak hours, causing significant delays and resulting in minor passenger injuries due to sudden decelerations.

Proposed Course of Action: The transit authority should immediately disable the automated braking system across the entire metro line and instruct train operators to rely exclusively on manual braking to maintain the schedule and prevent further sudden decelerations.

Determine whether this proposed course of action is logically sound and practically advisable.

Answer: Answer

Answer

The proposed course of action is logically flawed and practically inadvisable (False).
The proposed course of action is invalid because it violates a core principle of problem-solving: the remedy must not be worse than the disease. Disabling a critical automated safety system to prevent delays and minor jolts introduces an unacceptable risk of major train collisions. A logically sound course of action would involve suspending service for diagnostic testing or running trains at significantly reduced speeds, rather than completely removing vital safety protocols.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the problem presented in the context.
An automated safety system is malfunctioning, leading to service delays and minor injuries from sudden stops.
Understanding the exact nature and severity of the problem is essential before evaluating any proposed solution.
2
Evaluate the proposed course of action against the criteria for a valid administrative response.
The proposed action dictates completely disabling the malfunctioning safety system to prioritize the train schedule and stop the minor injuries.
A valid course of action must practically address the issue without introducing new, significantly worse problems.
3
Assess the logical consequences of implementing the proposed action.
Relying exclusively on manual braking by removing the automated safety net drastically increases the probability of severe, high-speed train collisions.
Administrative decisions must weigh the risks and benefits; solving minor injuries and delays by risking catastrophic accidents is a logically flawed and extreme approach.

Key Concept

Evaluating the feasibility and safety implications of administrative remedies to ensure they do not introduce disproportionate harm.
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