Transportation Safety


The Pennsylvania Convention Center in downtown Philadelphia is the host site for the 2011 National Safety Congress & Expo. (Paul Loftland photo)

All Aboard for Safety

Historic Reading Railroad Terminal is the site of the National Safety Congress & Expo’s long-awaited return to Philadelphia.

Banking on Bipartisanship

Jackie Gillan, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, has high hopes for increasing highway safety through the pending surface transportation bill.

Road Casualty Figures Drop in Britain

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) said it welcomes the significant drops in death and injury but cautions that the success is partly due to unusual economic and weather factors which may not continue in coming years.

Washington State's TACT Program Still Working Well

Highly visible enforcement targeting aggressive drivers of cars and trucks continues to reduce large-truck fatality crashes, with 26 occurring in 2010, according to an update published in The Police Chief magazine.

Hazardous Fungicide, Bactericide Leads to Firm's $207,200 Fine

FAA alleges Simplot, a food processing and agricultural company, offered a non-standard fiberboard box containing a five-gallon plastic jug of bactericide and fungicide to UPS.

FMCSA Begins Safety Crackdown on Passenger Vehicles

The strike force, launched in coordination with the summit, is part of FMCSA's nationwide Passenger Carrier Strike Force. The two-week inspection sweep will continue through Oct. 7, 2011.

FAA Renewing Mandate for O2 Concentrator Physician Statements

The agency’s notice estimates 1,735,000 passengers bring a portable oxygen concentrator aboard a commercial aircraft. All of them must carry a signed physician statement explaining the oxygen therapy they need.

Traffic Accidents Still Plaguing Military Services

Excessive speed and fatigue are among the causes of motorcycle and automobile fatalities, and alcohol-related accidents are a year-round concern.



Union, Railroad Warn Workers and Trespassers of Hazards

Union Pacific Railroad, which is urging hunters to stay away from its tracks, says its police officers are now stenciling "no trespassing" in white paint on the rails as a reminder to stay off railroad property.

$715,000 Settlement in 'Buggies' Recall Case

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has provisionally accepted the settlement agreement and civil penalty from Bad Boy Enterprises, LLC of Natchez, Miss., in connection with unintended acceleration in Classic Buggies off-road vehicles.

F-22 Cleared to Fly Again

The U.S. Air Force's top officials approved ending the stand-down of all 170 aircraft after 12 incidents of pilots' experiencing hypoxia. Pilots will use additional protective equipment, according to USAF's announcement.

Cause of Norwegian Cruise Ship Fire Still Unclear

The MS Nordlys, operated by Hurtigruten ASA, has been moved to a shipyard to undergo repairs after a Sept. 15 fire. The operator says four other ships equipped with the same engine are continuing their cruises.

NTSB Investigating Reno Race Crash, Nine Dead

Nine people, including stunt pilot Jimmy Leeward, were reported killed and more than 50 others were hurt when a WWII-era plane crashed during a race.

No E-Smoking on Commercial Airlines, Either

DOT cites health concerns, not safety issues, in its proposed ban on using electronic cigarettes on all scheduled passenger aircraft. It may extend the ban to charter flights of U.S. carriers and foreign carrier aircraft that seat 19 passengers or more.

Coast Guard Opts for PFDs Rulemaking

The agency announced that one adverse comment caused it to withdraw a direct final rule to harmonize its standards with current industry consensus standards.

EMSA Fishing for New Executive Director

The European Maritime Safety Agency opened its doors in 2003 after two major oil spills occurred about three years apart off the coasts of France and Spain.

Hopkins Study Shows Risks of Offshore Helicopters

From 1983 to 2009, 178 crashes in the Gulf of Mexico alone involved 139 deaths. Mechanical failures caused 68 of them (38 percent), more than twice as many as bad weather.

IBM 'Commuter Pain' Survey Reveals Worst Cities for Driving

Commuting pain is reflected globally as 69 percent of those surveyed indicated that traffic has negatively affected their health in some way. Some 42 percent of respondents globally reported increased stress and 35 percent reported increased anger.

NTSB Cites Trucker's Cell Phone Distraction in 11-Victim Crash

Keith Laymon used his cell phone for 69 calls or text messages in the 24 hours prior to the March 26, 2010, crash in which his tractor-trailer his a 15-passenger van near Munfordville, Ky.

USPS Puts Lithium Battery Limits on Hold

The U.S. Postal Service has withdrawn a rule that would have set new limits on outbound mailing of lithium batteries to international, or APO, FPO or DPO locations to await action by the ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel.

Featured

Artificial Intelligence

Webinars