NTSB Unveils 2016 “Most Wanted” List

The National Transportation Safety Board released its 2016 Most Wanted List of transportation safety improvements on January 13. The list focuses on 10 broad safety improvements the agency has previously made recommendations on that have not yet been implemented. It addresses safety issues related to private, public and commercial vehicles including cars, trucks, buses, airplanes and trains.

List items include promoting collision avoidance technology as standard features in all highway vehicles, including commercial trucks and buses; strengthening occupant protection in all modes of transportation, including better enforcement of seatbelt use; and reducing fatigue-related accidents through education, driver monitoring and other means.

The list also discusses the accident threat from drivers having undiagnosed or untreated medical conditions and includes a call for operators and regulators to require that drivers are medically fit for duty. Driver impairment due to alcohol and prescription or illegal drugs is also a concern. The NTSB partially addresses the issue by recommending to lower the limit on blood alcohol content to .05.

Preventing inadvertent spins and stalls, which the NTSB says is the worst safety threat to general aviation, is also addressed. Safety improvements call for hardware solutions and increased pilot training. The agency is also calling for the expanded use of data recorders in all modes of transportation. Additionally, several recommendations related to train safety are included on the list.

For the complete list with details go to: http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/Pages/default.aspx