NTSB’s Most Wanted Safety Improvements
On October 28, 2008, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued its annual list of Most Wanted Safety Improvements. The list is designed to raise public awareness about transportation safety issues for many modes of transportation, including airplanes, trains, oil pipelines, and commercial trucks.
Relating to commercial trucking, the NTSB again advocates for the mandatory use of on-board electronic data recorders to assure compliance with hours of service regulations. Also, the NTSB seeks adoption of more stringent regulations to prevent medically unqualified drivers from operating commercial vehicles. In particular, the NTSB recommends:
- Establishing a comprehensive medical oversight program for interstate commercial drivers.
- Ensuring that medical examiners are qualified.
- Tracking all medical certificate applications
- Enhancing oversight and enforcement of invalid medical certificates, and
- Providing mechanisms for reporting medical conditions.
The NTSB notes that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s response to these issues has been “unacceptable.”
The NTSB is an independent Federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant accidents in the other modes of transportation — railroad, highway, marine and pipeline — and issuing safety recommendations aimed at preventing future accidents. It’s most recent list of Most Wanted Transportation Safety Improvements can be found here.
