Transportation Safety


Big Push Coming for New Highway Bill

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and numerous other organizations are behind the Make Transportation Job #1 campaign to have Congress act before March 31.

OSHA Orders AirTran to Rehire Whistleblower, Pay $1 Million

"Retaliating against a pilot for reporting mechanical malfunctions is not consistent with a company that values the safety of its workers and customers," said Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health.

Injuries, Deaths on the Rise for Pedestrians Wearing Headphones: Study

The increased incidence of accidents over the years closely corresponds to documented rising popularity of auditory technologies with headphones.

International Cruise Ship Regulations May Be Revised

Koji Sekimizu, secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization, said regulations on the safety of large passenger ships may be re-examined in light of the investigation of the deaths from the grounding of the cruise ship Costa Concordia.

Five Freight Train Collisions in 2011 Prompt NTSB to Issue Safety Recommendations to FRA

All five recommendations focus on the need for railroads to disseminate information related to these accidents to their employees and to emphasize the need for crewmembers to operate trains in accordance with restricted speed operating rules, NTSB said.

U.S. Automakers' Fortunes Revving Up

Sharply higher employment in the auto manufacturing and auto parts manufacturing sectors to meet rising demand will support tens of thousands of jobs elsewhere.

On-Duty Firefighter Fatalities Down from 2010: USFA

Heart attacks were responsible for the deaths of 48 firefighters (59 percent) in 2011, nearly the same proportion of firefighter deaths from heart attack or stroke (60 percent) in 2010.

New Record Low for NYC Traffic Deaths

New York City leaders announced preliminary statistics on Dec. 29 that show the city recorded the fewest annual traffic fatalities since records were first kept in 1910. Fire deaths in 2011 were the second-lowest number on record.



Better Emergency Lighting Coming to Passenger Railcars

The Federal Railroad Administration's new proposed rule also would require photoluminescent and electrically powered low-location emergency exit path markings, and using high-performance photoluminescent material for emergency signs.

FMCSA Supervisor Sentenced in Bribery Case

James H. Wood accepted bribes from consultants working for Canadian trucking companies. In exchange, he postponed safety inspections and ensured the companies would receive satisfactory ratings, according to the U.S. attorney's office in Buffalo, N.Y.

Report Blames Control System Flaws for Chinese High-Speed Rail Crash

The July 2011 crash was one of the biggest stories of the year in China, and it triggered widespread public anger over the government’s building program and commitment to public safety.

Second Annual Electric Vehicle Safety Standards Summit Report Available

More than 140 fire and electric safety professionals gathered at the meeting to review and refine the current implementation plan for electric vehicles and identify and address any obstacles related to fire and electrical safety standards.

New OSHA Web Page Offers Winter Hazards Guidance for Workers

The page includes guidance for workers clearing heavy snow in front of workplaces and from rooftops, workers encountering downed power lines or traveling on icy roads, and utility workers restoring power after winter storms.

Volvo's Accident Research Team Profiled

The team visits 20-25 truck accident scenes annually to determine how the accidents happened and what happened to the truck involved. Since its formation in 1969, the team has investigated more than 1,600 crashes and has built an extensive database.

Pilot Fatigue Rule Wins Praise, Protest

The NTSB's chairman and the head of the FedEx branch of the Air Line Pilots Association International say it's a mistake that the rule does not cover cargo aviation operations.

Stranded Ship's Problems Revealed

Records discovered from an inspection when the ship docked in western Australia in July 2011 identified 17 violations, the New Zealand Herald reported.

NIOSH Releases Video on Police Bike Safety

Over the last several years, NIOSH researchers have investigated the potential health effects of prolonged bicycling in police bicycle patrol units.

Container Weighing Plan Gets Major Boost

The decision by the International Association of Ports and Harbors earlier this month to back requiring that the weight of loaded export containers be verified before the vessel is loaded means both ports and carriers endorse it.

ATA Offers Winter Road Safety Tips

America’s Road Team Captains, professional truck drivers chosen by the American Trucking Associations, are offering advice on how to navigate through congested highways and extreme weather conditions to arrive at your destination safely.

DOE: Public to Vote on America's Next Top Energy Innovator

The voting among projects from 36 start-up companies will take place in January.

Featured

Artificial Intelligence

Webinars