Transportation Safety


In April 2010, Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland spews huge clouds of ash that were blown across Europe, disrupting air travel.

Aircraft Volcanic Ash Sensor Successfully Tested

EasyJet, Airbus, and Nicarnica Aviation created what they called the world's first significant artificial ash cloud in order to test the AVOID sensor's ability to detect and estimate concentrations of volcanic ash in the atmosphere.

Illinois DOT Promotes Winter Safety

The campaign is a joint effort among organizations throughout the state.

Senate Bill Filed to Extend FAA's Fatigue Rule

If enacted into law, the Safe Skies Act would ensure that the FAA's pilot fatigue rule applies to pilots of cargo planes, just as it soon will to pilots of passenger aircraft.

IIHS Recommends Booster Seats Until Age 12

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety suggests children may need to be placed in a car booster seat until age 12.

The audit will examine FHWA

Audit of FHWA Bridge Safety Oversight Under Way

The DOT inspector general's office announced it Nov. 5 in response to a request from the top Democrat on the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

NTSB Questions the Effectiveness of FMCSA

A dustup between two federal agencies has arisen, as NTSB has recommended that DOT audit the FMCSA's oversight.

FAA Mandates Stall Training for Commercial Pilots

The final rule comes as a result of the Colgan Air 3407 crash in 2009 near Buffalo, N.Y., which killed 49 people on board and one person on the ground.

NTSB Faults City, Parade Organization in 2012 Train Accident

Four people riding on the float were killed and five others were seriously injured, and eight passengers and a deputy sheriff received minor injuries in the November 2012 accident in Midland, Texas.



"Europe continues to have one of the strongest safety records in the world, however, this positive picture cannot be taken for granted. As traffic over European skies and worldwide increases, we need to continue our efforts to maintain and even improve aviation safety," EASA Executive Director Patrick Ky said.

FAA Okays Expanded Electronics Use In Flight

Passengers eventually will be allowed to read e-books, play games, and watch videos on their devices during all phases of flight except takeoff and landing, but cell phone calls are still prohibited because of FCC regulations.

Impaired driving, vandalism, and car thefts increase on Halloween night.

Law Enforcement Agencies Wary of Halloween's Tricks

Vandalism, car thefts, and impaired driving increase on the spookiest night of the year.

MIT Prof Writes Algorithm to Solve Traffic Headaches

Berthold Horn, a professor in MIT's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, proposed a variation on adaptive cruise control technology.

cruiseship

Gigantic Size of New Cruise Ships Worries Safety Professionals

The unmatched size of recently built cruise ships -– which already skate by on safety inspections -– worries many in the safety industry.

Safety Fault Found in Bus that Killed Cyclist in San Francisco

New information shows that the bus lacked a feature designed to prevent entrapment of cyclists.

Accident Prompts BART to Suspend 'Simple Approval' Practice

The NTSB did a re-enactment of the Oct. 19 incident in which a BART employee and a contract worker were struck by an out-of-service train and killed.

BART Workers on Strike in San Francisco

After a week of negotiations, the public transportation workers have decided to go on strike, affecting up to 400,000 travelers.

Increased use of public transportation by younger residents of Brisbane and other cities in Australia and New Zealand accounts for this group

Senior Drivers Outnumber 25-34 Year Olds in Australia, New Zealand

The number of motorists in Australia older than 65 has risen by more than 1 million in the past decade, while the percentage of those from 18 to 34 who drive is falling in both countries, Roy Morgan Research reported.

DOT Funds New Transportation Research Center

Carnegie Mellon University announced the two-year, $5.65 million grant on Oct. 10.

Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 Update Adds Driving Mode

Users can silence incoming calls and texts so they won’t be distracted by them, and they can configure Driving Mode to send automatic replies to calls or texts while they're driving.

OHSairlineimage

Some Furloughed FAA Inspectors Will Return to Work

Though the change signals progress toward better air safety during the government shutdown, 2,200 FAA employees still remain furloughed.

Maritime New Zealand Aims to Change Boating Regulations for Minors

The organization supports the idea that all boaters under 15 should wear life jackets in hopes of increasing compliance in boaters of all ages.

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