The National Transportation Safety Board released its 2019–2020 Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements Monday at a National Press Club event.
The annual list highlights areas the agency believes could be improved to prevent injuries, save lives, and reduce property damage resulting from transportation accidents.
This year’s list includes eliminating distractions, ending alcohol and other drug impairment, ensuring the safe shipment of hazardous materials, fully implementing positive train control, implementing a comprehensive strategy to reduce speeding-related crashes, and improving the safety of part 135 aircraft flight operations. It also includes increasing implementation of collision avoidance systems in all new highway vehicles, reducing fatigue-related accidents, requiring screening for and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, and strengthening occupant protection.
“We at the NTSB can speak on these issues,” NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt said. “We board members can testify by invitation to legislatures and to Congress, but we have no power of our own to act. We are counting on industry, advocates, and government to act on our recommendations. We are counting on the help of the broader safety community to implement these recommendations.”
The agency has 267 open safety recommendations associated with the list items. Two-thirds of the recommendations do not require regulations to improve safety.