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EOBRs added to “Most Wanted” list by federal safety panel

WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board has issued its 2009 Federal Most Wanted List of safety improvements, including an addition calling for mandatory electronic on-board recorders (EOBRs) for all motor carriers. Also added during Tuesday’s day-long meeting of the board were policies aimed at improving the safety of emergency medical services (EMS) flight operations and restricting the use of cell phones by motorcoach drivers. 

NTSB currently has more than 1,000 safety concerns, with 271 related to highway safety. The Most Wanted list emphasizes the top 15.

“Our Most Wanted List, which was created in 1990, was designed to raise the public’s awareness and support for transportation safety issues,” said NTSB Chairman Mark V. Rosenker.  “The safety issues on this list are critical to improving transportation safety.  When acted upon, these recommendations will reduce accidents and save lives.”

Among the issues removed from the list were positive train control, which has been on the list since its inception, fatigue in the railroad industry and aircraft fuel tank flammability.

The board has no power to force the federal agencies charged with transportation safety to adopt its recommendations, but the priorities list is often cited during Congressional budgeting and oversight hearings of the “modal agencies” such as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration.

“All of these safety related issues highlighted in the Most Wanted List should be addressed promptly,” Rosenker said.  “Though we are encouraged by progress being made, resulting in some items being removed from the list, several of these safety concerns have been on this list since its inception. That is unacceptable.  I urged the modal agencies to move on these safety recommendations immediately.”

The Safety Board has long advocated the use of on-board recorders for all motor carriers to increase hours of service compliance by commercial drivers.  The board added EOBRs to the Most Wanted List because the FMCSA’s current proposal is not applicable to all operators subject to hours of service regulations, does not establish the proper incentives, and does not create a level playing field for compliance with the rules, NTSB said.  The board also contends EOBRs would also result in more accurate data collected on accident conditions.     

Remaining on the list in the highway mode are recommendations to improve the safety of motor carrier operations; to prevent medically unqualified drivers from operating commercial vehicles; to enhance protection for motorcoach passengers; to enhance protection for school bus passengers; and to prevent collisions by using enhanced vehicle safety technology. 

“New technologies like anti-collision devices and electronic stability control are already proving their worth in saving lives on our highways,” Rosenker said.

Tuesday’s decision regarding rail safety comes after Congress, responding to September’s deadly train crash in Los Angeles, passed a railroad safety bill that was signed into law by President Bush. The law will require more rest for workers and the installation of positive train control technology that can stop a train in its tracks if it’s headed for a collision.

For nearly two decades, NTSB officials pushed for widespread use of this technology. Federal officials have said it would have prevented the Sept.12 crash that killed 25 people.