The National Transportation Safety Board revealed its 10 Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements for 2017-18 on Nov. 14.
The list includes: eliminating distraction; reducing fatigue-related accidents; ending alcohol and drug impairment; requiring medical fitness; and increasing implementation of collision avoidance technology.
Also on the list are: ensuring the safe shipment of hazardous materials; strengthening occupant protection; expanding recorder use; improving rail transit safety oversight; and preventing the loss of control in flight in general aviation.
“Transportation safety is not a destination, but a continuing journey, and our efforts to improve safety must never stop,” NTSB Chairman Christopher Hart said. “It takes a concerted and continuing effort by industry, government and private citizens to save lives. For 26 years the Most Wanted List has been our roadmap from lessons learned to lives saved. It represents actions which, if taken, will save lives, prevent injuries and reduce property damage in all modes of transportation.”
The NTSB has moved to a two-year cycle for the list instead of issuing it annually to give stakeholders in and outside of government more time to make the suggested changes. According to the NTSB, the list reflects what the agency believes are the areas in transportation safety with the greatest opportunity for change and to save lives.
Highway fatalities increased by 7.2% from 2014-2015, the largest increase since before the NTSB was founded in 1967. What’s more, such traffic deaths rose another 10.4% in the first half of 2016, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
