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<title>Driving Change: Insights from the 2024 Lifesavers Conference</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/04/19/driving-change-insights-from-the-2024-lifesavers-conference/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/04/19/driving-change-insights-from-the-2024-lifesavers-conference/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 19 Apr 2024 19:03:44 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[automated vehicles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Bicyclists]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Collision Avoidance Technology]]></category>
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<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=6389</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Anthony Lam, NTSB Transportation Safety Specialist, Office of Safety Recommendations and Communications Attendees stepped into the world of road safety innovation and collaboration at last week’s Lifesavers Conference 2024 in Denver, Colorado. Each year, experts, advocates, and policymakers convene at Lifesavers to tackle pressing issues shaping the future of safer roadways. From combating impaired driving … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/04/19/driving-change-insights-from-the-2024-lifesavers-conference/" class="more-link">Continue reading Driving Change: Insights from the 2024 Lifesavers Conference →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
Anthony Lam, NTSB Transportation Safety Specialist, Office of Safety Recommendations and Communications
Attendees stepped into the world of road safety innovation and collaboration at last week’s <a href="https://lifesaversconference.org/">Lifesavers Conference</a> 2024 in Denver, Colorado. Each year, experts, advocates, and policymakers convene at Lifesavers to tackle pressing issues shaping the future of safer roadways. From combating impaired driving to ensuring equitable access to cutting-edge vehicle technology, NTSB staff presented and moderated a variety of workshops that offered invaluable insights and strategies for creating a safer tomorrow.
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img width="1024" height="710" data-attachment-id="6395" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/04/19/driving-change-insights-from-the-2024-lifesavers-conference/lifesavers-booth-2024/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-booth-2024.jpg" data-orig-size="2048,1420" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="lifesavers-booth-2024" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-booth-2024.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-booth-2024.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-booth-2024.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6395" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-booth-2024.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-booth-2024.jpg 2048w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-booth-2024.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-booth-2024.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-booth-2024.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">NTSB staff at 2024 Lifesavers Conference exhibit booth</figcaption></figure></div>
NTSB Transportation Research Analyst Dr. Ryan Smith’s presentation, “The Oral Fluids Factor: Roadside & Evidential Testing to Reduce Drug-impaired Driving,” shed light on the rising interest in using oral fluid testing in roadside and evidential testing for drug impairment. With the landscape of cannabis legalization evolving and concerns about drugged driving escalating, the timing couldn’t be more crucial. Attendees gained insights into the nuances between preliminary and evidential testing, the mechanics of roadside testing, and the outcomes from states already implementing oral fluid testing. Discussions encompassed emerging challenges such as detecting novel drugs, ongoing research, and legal hurdles faced by states.
In 2022, we released a safety research report titled, <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Documents/SRR2202.pdf">Alcohol, Other Drug, and Multiple Drug Use Among Drivers</a>, which found oral fluid is a valuable—but underused—biological specimen for detecting drug use by drivers. The report also recommended states modify their impaired-driving laws, if they have not already, to allow for oral fluid drug testing. Smith pointed this out in his presentation, adding, “It [oral fluid testing] can play a key role in supporting the enforcement of impaired-driving laws.”
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img width="1024" height="682" data-attachment-id="6398" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/04/19/driving-change-insights-from-the-2024-lifesavers-conference/lifesavers-1/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-1.jpg" data-orig-size="2736,1824" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"4","credit":"","camera":"Canon EOS 6D","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1705990102","copyright":"","focal_length":"105","iso":"6400","shutter_speed":"0.01","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="lifesavers-1" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-1.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-1.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-1.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6398" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-1.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-1.jpg?w=2046 2046w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-1.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-1.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-1.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dr. Ryan Smith, Transportation Research Analyst, Office of Research and Engineering</figcaption></figure></div>
Smith also organized and moderated the session, “Brave New World in Cannabis Detection,” which brought together leading-edge researchers in the field of cannabis detection. Cannabis impairment is a critical issue, and researchers discussed novel ways that cannabis use can be detected in drivers. In his opening remarks, Smith stated: “More than half of the US population now lives in a state where cannabis has been legalized. Recent NTSB research demonstrates the high prevalence of cannabis use among drivers, second in prevalence only to alcohol. Effective methods for detecting signs of cannabis impairment are critical for getting impaired drivers off our nation’s roadways.”
NTSB Office of Highway Safety Program Manager Ellen Lee gave a presentation on the dangers of speeding titled, “Not so Fast & Furious – Channeling Our Energy to Prevent Speed-related Fatalities,” which highlighted the urgent need to address speed-related fatalities through a comprehensive approach. Lee talked about the NTSB’s recent recommendations from <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/HWY22FH004.aspx">our investigation of a crash in North Las Vegas</a>, Nevada, where speeding and speeding recidivism were key.
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img width="1024" height="682" data-attachment-id="6400" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/04/19/driving-change-insights-from-the-2024-lifesavers-conference/lifesavers-2/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-2.jpg" data-orig-size="2736,1824" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"4","credit":"","camera":"Canon EOS 6D","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1712512118","copyright":"","focal_length":"105","iso":"5000","shutter_speed":"0.01","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="lifesavers-2" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-2.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-2.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6400" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-2.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-2.jpg?w=2046 2046w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-2.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-2.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-2.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ellen Lee, Program Manager, Office of Highway Safety</figcaption></figure></div>
Lee emphasized our findings that the driver in the crash was impaired and had received seven recent speeding offenses in the 5 years before the crash. “Despite repeated law enforcement actions, the driver’s record was inaccurate (showing only one speeding violation) and local courts treated this driver as a new offender for each violation,” Lee said.
Drawing from NTSB crash investigations and real-world examples, attendees learned about effective countermeasures and community engagement strategies. From leveraging data insights to advocating for vehicle safety technologies and infrastructure enhancements, the workshop underscored the importance of collaboration to curb excessive speed and protect lives on the road.
NTSB Safety Advocate Leah Walton moderated a thought-provoking discussion in her session, “A Safe System Approach to Address Impaired Driving” exploring where and how impaired driving fits into the five pillars of the <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/Pages/2021-safe-systems-rt.aspx">Safe System Approach</a>. Walton and her panel explored the multifaceted challenges posed by impaired driving, particularly concerning polysubstance impairment. Attendees gained a deeper understanding of the prevalence and risks associated with this behavior, along with potential policy interventions and enforcement strategies.
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="682" data-attachment-id="6404" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/04/19/driving-change-insights-from-the-2024-lifesavers-conference/lifesavers-3/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-3.jpg" data-orig-size="2736,1824" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"4","credit":"","camera":"Canon EOS 6D","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1706068948","copyright":"","focal_length":"105","iso":"5000","shutter_speed":"0.01","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="lifesavers-3" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-3.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-3.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-3.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6404" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-3.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-3.jpg?w=2046 2046w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-3.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-3.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-3.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Leah Walton, Safety Advocate, Office of Safety Recommendations and Communications</figcaption></figure></div>
In Walton’s opening remarks, she emphasized, “We cannot have a safe system while impaired driving is killing over 13,000 people a year. To achieve zero fatalities, we must expand our view of impaired-driving prevention through the Safe System lens.” With an emphasis on partnership-building at both the state and national levels, the workshop provided a roadmap for stakeholders to tackle impaired driving head-on and enhance road safety.
Stephanie Shaw, NTSB Management Analysis Officer, moderated the session, “Safety for All: How Vehicle Technology Addresses Underserved Populations.” Exploring design considerations, benefits, and challenges, attendees learned ways to extend these advancements to underserved populations. Shaw emphasized the importance of building a system that guarantees safe transportation for all who use it, regardless of socioeconomic status or mode of travel, whether it be personal vehicle, bike, walking, rolling, hailing a rideshare or an autonomous shuttle service, or taking public transportation. This sentiment encapsulated the overarching theme of inclusivity and accessibility discussed throughout the workshop.
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="682" data-attachment-id="6406" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/04/19/driving-change-insights-from-the-2024-lifesavers-conference/lifesavers-4/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-4.jpg" data-orig-size="2736,1824" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"4","credit":"","camera":"Canon EOS 6D","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1712585173","copyright":"","focal_length":"92","iso":"2000","shutter_speed":"0.0125","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="lifesavers-4" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-4.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-4.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-4.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6406" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-4.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-4.jpg?w=2046 2046w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-4.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-4.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/lifesavers-4.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Stephanie Shaw, Management Analysis Officer, Office of Railroad, Pipeline, and Hazardous Materials Investigations</figcaption></figure></div>
The Lifesavers Conference serves as a catalyst for meaningful dialogue and collaboration in advancing road safety initiatives. By harnessing innovation, data-driven approaches, and community engagement, attendees are empowered to drive tangible change and create safer roads for everyone. We hope to continue these important dialogues at next year’s Lifesavers Conference in Long Beach, California!
]]></content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>Traffic Safety Through a Public Health Lens</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/04/07/traffic-safety-through-a-public-health-lens/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/04/07/traffic-safety-through-a-public-health-lens/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Sun, 07 Apr 2024 14:22:57 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[autonomous vehicles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Bicyclists]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Child Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Collision Avoidance Technology]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[connected vehicles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Drowsy Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Electric Vehicles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Engineering]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Fatigue]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[First Responders]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impairment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Infrastructure]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Medical Fitness]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Motorcoach]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Motorcycles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pedestrians]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Public Health]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safe System Approach]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[School Buses]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Speeding]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Teen Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Transit]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=6383</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Sophia Peerzada, Safety Advocate On March 28th, I moderated a webinar titled “Traffic Safety Through a Public Health Lens.” This joint effort between the NTSB and the American Public Health Association (APHA) ahead of National Public Health Week highlighted traffic safety as a public health issue. This topic is very important to me as … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/04/07/traffic-safety-through-a-public-health-lens/" class="more-link">Continue reading Traffic Safety Through a Public Health Lens →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Sophia Peerzada, Safety Advocate
On March 28th, I moderated a webinar titled “Traffic Safety Through a Public Health Lens.” This joint effort between the NTSB and the American Public Health Association (APHA) ahead of National Public Health Week highlighted traffic safety as a public health issue.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="800" data-attachment-id="6386" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/04/07/traffic-safety-through-a-public-health-lens/2024-03-webinar-traffic-safety-some-graphic-03/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/2024-03-webinar-traffic-safety-some-graphic-03.jpg" data-orig-size="2133,1667" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="2024-03-webinar-traffic-safety-some-graphic-03" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/2024-03-webinar-traffic-safety-some-graphic-03.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/2024-03-webinar-traffic-safety-some-graphic-03.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/2024-03-webinar-traffic-safety-some-graphic-03.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6386" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/2024-03-webinar-traffic-safety-some-graphic-03.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/2024-03-webinar-traffic-safety-some-graphic-03.jpg?w=2048 2048w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/2024-03-webinar-traffic-safety-some-graphic-03.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/2024-03-webinar-traffic-safety-some-graphic-03.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/2024-03-webinar-traffic-safety-some-graphic-03.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>
This topic is very important to me as a transportation safety advocate with a degree in public health. When I was studying for my Master of Public Health degree at the University of South Florida, I was the only student in my program (that I knew of) who was interested in traffic safety. I was motivated by the Tampa Bay region’s regrettably high rates of traffic-related fatalities, and the perceptible imbalance of safety interventions along socioeconomic lines. I also knew the statistics nationwide: each year, 43,000 people die on US roadways. I thought, of course this is a public health issue—people are getting hurt and dying on our roads each day!
Since joining the NTSB in November 2023, I have had the pleasure of meeting folks who bring a public health mindset to transportation safety. In fact, the NTSB itself plays a significant role in public health by identifying transportation safety issues and issuing recommendations to make travel safer for the public.
Prior to the webinar, I connected with former NTSB Vice Chair T. Bella Dinh-Zarr, who notably referred to traffic fatalities as an “epidemic on wheels.” Of course, I was thrilled when Dr. Dinh-Zarr and public health colleagues Dr. Kathleen Carlson, Dr. David Ederer, and Dr. Mighty Fine agreed to be panelists on this first-of-its-kind webinar.
Each panelist brought an invaluable perspective to the conversation.
Dr. Carlson, a professor of epidemiology at the Oregon Health and Science University-Portland State University School of Public Health and core investigator at the Portland VA, opened the event with a review of injury epidemiology. She explained that “public health takes a scientific approach to a public health problem” as it seeks to identify the problem’s cause and develop strategies for preventing it from happening again.
Dr. Ederer, an epidemiologist at the CDC’s Physical Activity and Health Branch, followed with a presentation on the Safe Systems Pyramid and how public health principles can be applied to engineering. His presentation underscored the need to apply traffic safety interventions systematically to improve population health.
Dr. Dinh-Zarr, Senior Advisor at FIA Foundation and the Traffic Injury Research Foundation, built upon Dr. Carlson’s and Dr. Ederer’s presentations by providing concrete examples of how the public health lens has been applied to traffic safety efforts. She highlighted the NTSB’s investigation process as an example of taking a public health approach to preventing the recurrence of traffic-related injuries and fatalities.
Finally, Dr. Fine, associate executive director of the APHA’s Division of Public Health Policy & Practice, rounded out the panel by emphasizing the need to apply a health equity perspective to all traffic safety efforts. He urged traffic safety practitioners to ensure that interventions are inclusive, accessible, and culturally relevant.
Overall, it was a wonderful and much-needed discussion that I am certain each attendee walked away from having learned something new. Dr. Ederer said it best in his presentation: “Public health is a way of describing and solving problems.” Given that, I think all of us in the traffic safety space are public health practitioners.
You can view the full webinar recording here: <a href="https://youtu.be/DMNxSFNANeI?si=FDR2BhF6vZXdJDut">https://youtu.be/DMNxSFNANeI?si=FDR2BhF6vZXdJDut..</a>
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<title>NTSB at Safe Mobility</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/04/03/ntsb-at-safe-mobility/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 03 Apr 2024 17:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safe System Approach]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Speeding]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Teen Driving]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=6370</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By NTSB Safety Advocacy Division Last week, NTSB Board Member Thomas Chapman and agency staff spoke at the Safe Mobility Conference, hosted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety in collaboration with the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Attendees came from throughout government, industry, academia, the research community, advocacy, and other key stakeholder groups. … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/04/03/ntsb-at-safe-mobility/" class="more-link">Continue reading NTSB at Safe Mobility →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By NTSB Safety Advocacy Division
Last week, NTSB Board Member Thomas Chapman and agency staff spoke at the <a href="https://aaafoundation.org/2024-safe-mobility-conference/">Safe Mobility Conference</a>, hosted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety in collaboration with the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Attendees came from throughout government, industry, academia, the research community, advocacy, and other key stakeholder groups. Students and professionals alike were welcome.
The NTSB delegation discussed the agency’s investigations, recommendations, and experiences advocating for traffic safety improvements. In the closing plenary, Member Chapman capped off the NTSB’s presentations, discussing how to learn from NTSB investigations to turn the vision of zero traffic deaths into reality.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Amplifying Victims’ Voices</h4>
NTSB Chief of Safety Advocacy Nicholas Worrell set the tone with opening remarks, and Dr. Ryan Smith, of NTSB’s Office of Research and Engineering, led the discussion that followed about incorporating testimonials from victims of traffic crashes into transportation safety campaigns.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="750" data-attachment-id="6379" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/04/03/ntsb-at-safe-mobility/safe-mobility-4/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-4.jpg" data-orig-size="4348,3186" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.8","credit":"","camera":"ILCE-7RM2","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1711467524","copyright":"","focal_length":"24","iso":"3200","shutter_speed":"0.005","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="safe-mobility-4" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-4.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-4.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-4.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6379" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-4.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-4.jpg?w=2048 2048w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-4.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-4.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-4.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>
Worrell highlighted successes from both the aviation and road safety worlds, and Smith encouraged victim advocates and researchers to explore how the advocacy and research communities can more effectively work together to improve transportation safety. Both focused on the role and importance of firsthand stories in raising awareness, creating political will and public demand for change, and changing driver behavior.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" width="900" height="745" data-attachment-id="6380" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/04/03/ntsb-at-safe-mobility/safe-mobility-2/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-2.jpg" data-orig-size="900,745" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="safe-mobility-2" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-2.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-2.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-2.jpg?w=900" alt="" class="wp-image-6380" style="width:489px;height:auto" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-2.jpg 900w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-2.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-2.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-2.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure></div>
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Safe Speeds for a Safe Transportation System</h4>
NTSB Senior Advisor Ivan Cheung updated conference attendees regarding progress on safety recommendations issued from our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Documents/SS1701.pdf">2017 speeding report</a>. Speeding is about as prevalent as alcohol in fatal crashes, and the NTSB is committed to finding solutions. 
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" data-attachment-id="6377" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/04/03/ntsb-at-safe-mobility/safe-mobility-5/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-5.jpg" data-orig-size="2048,1366" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="safe-mobility-5" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-5.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-5.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-5.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6377" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-5.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-5.jpg 2048w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-5.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-5.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-5.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>
“Speeding increases the likelihood of being involved in a crash and intensifies the severity of injuries sustained by all road users in a crash. Slow down—your life or the life of your loved ones depend on it, the lives of shared road users depends on it,” Cheung told attendees.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Building a Healthy Traffic Safety Culture</h4>
NTSB Safety Advocate Bryan Delaney presented on engaging youth and teen drivers in roadway safety. Delaney explained the role of mentorship and advocacy in bringing youth into traffic safety initiatives and creating a positive youth traffic safety culture.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="680" height="454" data-attachment-id="6376" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/04/03/ntsb-at-safe-mobility/safe-mobility-3/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-3.jpg" data-orig-size="680,454" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="safe-mobility-3" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-3.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-3.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-3.jpg?w=680" alt="" class="wp-image-6376" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-3.jpg 680w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-3.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-3.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" /></figure></div>
“Engaging youth and teen drivers in traffic safety efforts will increase the effectiveness of interventions,” Delaney said. “Put youth at the head of the table, not in the seat to the side, and they engage. Empowerment leads to ownership.”
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Member Chapman: Moving from Vision to Reality</h4>
During the closing plenary, Member Thomas Chapman discussed NTSB investigations, recommendations, and positions. He stressed that attendees could learn from NTSB investigations in all modes to turn the vision of zero traffic deaths into reality.
“I am a big believer in the Safe System approach,” Member Chapman said.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" width="768" height="1024" data-attachment-id="6375" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/04/03/ntsb-at-safe-mobility/safe-mobility-1/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-1.jpg" data-orig-size="1536,2048" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="safe-mobility-1" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-1.jpg?w=225" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-1.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-1.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-6375" style="width:387px;height:auto" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-1.jpg?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-1.jpg 1536w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-1.jpg?w=113 113w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/safe-mobility-1.jpg?w=225 225w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>
Later, he described new and reiterated NTSB recommendations to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) springing from crashes in <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/HWY21FH003.aspx">Avenal, California</a>, and <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/HWY22FH004.aspx">North Las Vegas, Nevada</a>. We called on to NHTSA to:
<ul>
<li>require all new vehicles be equipped with passive vehicle-integrated alcohol impairment detection systems and/or advanced driver monitoring systems;</li>
<li>incentivize adoption of intelligent speed assistance systems that would prevent speed-related crashes;</li>
<li>require, as standard equipment in all new vehicles, <a>intelligent speed assistance </a>systems that, at a minimum, warn the driver when the vehicle exceeds the speed limit;</li>
<li>develop guidelines to assist states in implementing pilot <a>intelligent speed assistance </a>interlock programs for high-risk drivers who speed.</li>
</ul>
The conference boasted 3 interactive workshops and 3 plenary sessions, as well as 8 technical sessions featuring experts in topics such as the Safe System approach, traffic safety culture, and more. Attendees had opportunities to network, as well as to learn from new traffic safety research with a goal of moving the needle on road safety.
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<title>NTSB Advocacy Connects with the Community on Prince George’s County, MD Listening Tour</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/03/29/ntsb-advocacy-connects-with-the-community-on-prince-georges-county-md-listening-tour/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 29 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safe System Approach]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=6360</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Nicholas Worrell,Chief, Safety Advocacy DivisionNTSB Office of Safety Recommendations and Communications Recently, members of the Prince George’s County, Maryland, government reached out to the NTSB Safety Advocacy Division to participate in a week of public safety community meetings. The goal of this countywide listening tour was to learn about constituents’ concerns surrounding public safety … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/03/29/ntsb-advocacy-connects-with-the-community-on-prince-georges-county-md-listening-tour/" class="more-link">Continue reading NTSB Advocacy Connects with the Community on Prince George’s County, MD Listening Tour →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Nicholas Worrell, Chief, Safety Advocacy Division NTSB Office of Safety Recommendations and Communications
Recently, members of the Prince George’s County, Maryland, government reached out to the NTSB Safety Advocacy Division to participate in <a href="https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/local-news/maryland/prince-georges-county/residents-voice-public-safety-concerns-to-prince-georges-county-leaders/">a week of public safety community meetings.</a>
The goal of this countywide listening tour was to learn about constituents’ concerns surrounding public safety and health. County officials called on the NTSB because of our advocacy in road safety and the worrying trends they’ve seen in the county’s road fatalities. In these sessions, community members identified health, human services, and public safety concerns and worked toward solutions.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="484" data-attachment-id="6364" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/03/29/ntsb-advocacy-connects-with-the-community-on-prince-georges-county-md-listening-tour/pgc-4/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/pgc-4.jpg" data-orig-size="5322,2519" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"4","credit":"","camera":"Canon EOS 6D","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1703664769","copyright":"","focal_length":"70","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.016666666666667","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="pgc-4" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/pgc-4.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/pgc-4.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/pgc-4.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6364" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/pgc-4.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/pgc-4.jpg?w=2045 2045w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/pgc-4.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/pgc-4.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/pgc-4.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>
County Government to Residents: We’re Listening
To gather a diverse perspectives, three events took place over the course of a week. Safety Advocate Leah Walton and I participated as facilitators to capture feedback and lead discussions on traffic safety concerns. Although very similar concerns surfaced in each event, each segment of the county had its own perspective.
Themes that emerged in all sessions were:
<ul>
<li>Traffic safety</li>
<li>Crime</li>
<li>Youth engagement</li>
<li>Mental health/homelessness</li>
</ul>
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="441" data-attachment-id="6365" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/03/29/ntsb-advocacy-connects-with-the-community-on-prince-georges-county-md-listening-tour/pgc-3/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/pgc-3.jpg" data-orig-size="5267,2269" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"4","credit":"","camera":"Canon EOS 6D","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1703838428","copyright":"","focal_length":"55","iso":"125","shutter_speed":"0.02","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="pgc-3" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/pgc-3.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/pgc-3.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/pgc-3.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6365" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/pgc-3.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/pgc-3.jpg?w=2048 2048w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/pgc-3.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/pgc-3.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/pgc-3.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>
An NTSB presence helped give the traffic safety topic a seat at the table. Focusing on traffic safety concerns, Leah and I were able to provide a deeper dive into road safety issues. We discussed the road fatality statistics; shared NTSB safety recommendations around setting speeds, distraction, and impaired driving; and directed folks to NTSB.gov for more information. What was great about the sessions is that participants were not only able to share the problem areas in their community, but, through facilitation, they were also able to arrive at insights on several aspects of each issue, like the following:
<ul>
<li><a>Root causes of the problems</a></li>
<li>Effects of doing nothing</li>
<li>Possible solutions</li>
<li>Outcomes for those solutions</li>
</ul>
In traffic safety specifically, residents were concerned with:
<ul>
<li>Lack of accessible and reliable public transportation</li>
<li>Speeding</li>
<li>Lack of enforcement</li>
<li>Potholes</li>
<li>Lack of speed cameras</li>
<li>Lack of driver education</li>
<li>Distractions</li>
<li>Accountability</li>
<li>Road infrastructure</li>
<li>Impaired driving</li>
</ul>
Residents expressed concern that if the traffic safety problem wasn’t addressed, fatalities, insurance rates, and economic cost (including lost wages) would all continue to increase. They urged government officials to assess speed cameras and other traffic control devices, improve and repair road infrastructure, increase sobriety checkpoints, and enhance parking enforcement. Residents envisioned these improvements leading to safer citizens, improved mortality rates, and reduced crashes, injuries, and fatalities.
The energized exchanges that occurred during these local listening sessions showed us that the NTSB’s traffic safety concerns align with those of the local community. It was advocacy at its best, and proved the maxim, “All advocacy is local.”
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="976" data-attachment-id="6367" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/03/29/ntsb-advocacy-connects-with-the-community-on-prince-georges-county-md-listening-tour/pgc-1/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/pgc-1.jpg" data-orig-size="3703,3532" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="pgc-1" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/pgc-1.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/pgc-1.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/pgc-1.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6367" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/pgc-1.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/pgc-1.jpg?w=2048 2048w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/pgc-1.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/pgc-1.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/pgc-1.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>
The Advocate’s Takeaway
Advocates know that to connect with the community, to inspire citizens to act as advocates, they must begin by hearing the community’s voice.
To us, this meant that facilitating these sessions was our chance to hear and learn this community’s language. We knew that if we, authentically, put them first, we could not only see the problem through their eyes, but we could also see them as part of the solution. This brought to mind what <a>Nelson Mandela famously said: “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart</a>.”
Through these community events, the NTSB was able to provide valuable information about traffic safety statistics, potential solutions, and behavior changes that the participants could not only implement themselves, but could advocate to their family, friends, neighbors, and other community members. In short, in these sessions, participants became safety messengers as much as community leaders providing feedback to their county leaders.
Ultimately, this is the goal of the NTSB Safety Advocacy team—to inspire behavior change, to improve safety, and to motivate individuals to become community advocates for our recommendations and safety improvements.
Thank you to <a href="https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/36loc/pg/leg/html/msa18043.html">Councilmember Wanika Fisher</a>, Chair of the County’s Health, Human Services, and Public Safety Committee; Committee Vice Chair <a href="https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/36loc/pg/leg/html/msa17010.html">Sydney J. Harrison</a>; and County Council Member <a href="https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/36loc/pg/leg/html/msa17979.html">Calvin S. Hawkins</a> for inviting us to take part in these valuable listening sessions, to learn from and educate citizens, and to help further transportation safety.
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<item>
<title>Episode 57: Hazardous Materials Branch</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/03/25/episode-57-hazardous-materials-branch/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/03/25/episode-57-hazardous-materials-branch/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 25 Mar 2024 20:03:11 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Behind-the-Scene]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Electric Vehicles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[First Responders]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Hazardous Materials]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Infrastructure]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Lithium Batteries]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pipeline]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Rail Safety]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=6353</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB we talk with NTSB Office of Railroad, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Investigations’ HazMat Branch about their work to improve transportation safety. To read some of the investigative reports discussed in this episode, visit our webpage. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast platform. And find … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/03/25/episode-57-hazardous-materials-branch/" class="more-link">Continue reading Episode 57: Hazardous Materials Branch →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[

In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB we talk with NTSB Office of Railroad, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Investigations’ HazMat Branch about their work to improve transportation safety.
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1023" data-attachment-id="6357" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/03/25/episode-57-hazardous-materials-branch/episode-57-2/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/episode-57.png" data-orig-size="1502,1501" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="episode-57" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/episode-57.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/episode-57.png?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/episode-57.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6357" style="width:366px;height:auto" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/episode-57.png?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/episode-57.png?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/episode-57.png?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/episode-57.png?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/episode-57.png 1502w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>
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To read some of the investigative reports discussed in this episode, visit our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/Reports.aspx?mode=HazMat">webpage</a>. 
Subscribe to the podcast on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-scene-ntsb/id1286590741?mt=2">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9zYWZldHljb21wYXNzLndvcmRwcmVzcy5jb20vY2F0ZWdvcnkvYmVoaW5kLXRoZS1zY2VuZS9mZWVkLw">Google Play</a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/behindthescenentsb/behindthescene-ntsb">Stitcher</a>, or your favorite podcast platform.
And find more ways to listen here: <a href="https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/">https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/.</a>
]]></content:encoded>
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<title>NTSB and Partners Help Air Crash Victims and Their Families</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/02/20/ntsb-and-partners-help-air-crash-victims-and-their-families/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/02/20/ntsb-and-partners-help-air-crash-victims-and-their-families/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 20 Feb 2024 17:00:15 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Aviation Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Family Assistance]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Aviation]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Transportation Disaster Assistance]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=6346</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Stephanie Matonek, NTSB Transportation Disaster Assistance Specialist Today, the third International Day Commemorating Air Crash Victims and their Families, we join with survivors in remembering those they have lost. Three years ago, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), in cooperation with the Air Crash Victims’ Families’ Federation International (ACVFFI), designated February 20 the International … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/02/20/ntsb-and-partners-help-air-crash-victims-and-their-families/" class="more-link">Continue reading NTSB and Partners Help Air Crash Victims and Their Families →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Stephanie Matonek, NTSB Transportation Disaster Assistance Specialist
Today, the third International Day Commemorating Air Crash Victims and their Families, we join with survivors in remembering those they have lost.
Three years ago, the <a href="https://www.icao.int/Pages/default.aspx">International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)</a>, in cooperation with the <a href="https://aircrashvictims.com/20f/">Air Crash Victims’ Families’ Federation International (ACVFFI)</a>, designated February 20 the International Day Commemorating Air Crash Victims and Their Families. This observance was established to ensure we never forget about the victims and their families, or the unimaginable journey these families faced in the aftermath of an aviation disaster.
In the United States, the <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/tda/Pages/default.aspx">NTSB’s Family Assistance program</a> was established in part by the tireless efforts of survivors and family members advocating for change after experiencing loss and suffering from aviation disasters in the 80s and early 90s. Today, the NTSB’s Transportation Disaster Assistance (TDA) team continues this important work to ensure survivors and families are provided information, resources, and support after a disaster, no matter what mode of transportation it occurs in. Yet the TDA team that is responsible for this program cannot do this work alone. Over the decades since the NTSB’s family assistance program began, the partnerships we have made with organizations and agencies from around the world and involved in providing family assistance after transportation disasters have become an integral part of our existence. In fact, our team today is continuously reminded how important and valuable these partnerships are to ensuring we meet the fundamental needs of survivors and families when tragedy strikes.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="402" height="305" data-attachment-id="6349" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/02/20/ntsb-and-partners-help-air-crash-victims-and-their-families/tda-red-cross/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/tda-red-cross.jpg" data-orig-size="402,305" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="tda-red-cross" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/tda-red-cross.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/tda-red-cross.jpg?w=402" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/tda-red-cross.jpg?w=402" alt="" class="wp-image-6349" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/tda-red-cross.jpg 402w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/tda-red-cross.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/tda-red-cross.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 402px) 100vw, 402px" /></figure></div>
One partnership in particular has been vital to the NTSB’s family assistance program since its inception: the <a href="https://www.redcross.org/">American Red Cross</a>. At the request of the TDA team, the Red Cross provides direct care and support to hundreds of families and survivors yearly. These efforts can be seen during NTSB public events, through direct requests by those TDA assists, and on-scene at accidents that NTSB investigates.
Today we remember each and every air crash victim we have lost, and their families. And we extend our appreciation to our family assistance partners that help us ensure that those who are affected most, survivors and families, get the care and support they need, no matter where or when a disaster occurs.
]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Episode 56: San Pedro Bay Marine and Pipeline Investigation</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/02/15/episode-56-san-pedro-bay-marine-and-pipeline-investigation/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/02/15/episode-56-san-pedro-bay-marine-and-pipeline-investigation/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Feb 2024 04:59:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Behind-the-Scene]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Engineering]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Hazardous Materials]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Infrastructure]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Marine Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pipeline]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=6338</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, we talk with staff from the Office of Marine Safety, the Office of Railroad, Pipeline, and Hazardous Materials Investigations, and the Office of Research and Engineering, about the investigation of the 2021 Anchor Strike of Underwater Pipeline and Eventual Crude Oil Release in San Pedro Bay off the coast … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/02/15/episode-56-san-pedro-bay-marine-and-pipeline-investigation/" class="more-link">Continue reading Episode 56: San Pedro Bay Marine and Pipeline Investigation →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, we talk with staff from the Office of Marine Safety, the Office of Railroad, Pipeline, and Hazardous Materials Investigations, and the Office of Research and Engineering, about the investigation of the 2021 Anchor Strike of Underwater Pipeline and Eventual Crude Oil Release in San Pedro Bay off the coast of Huntington Beach, CA.
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1023" data-attachment-id="6343" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/02/15/episode-56-san-pedro-bay-marine-and-pipeline-investigation/episode-56-3/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/episode-56-3.png" data-orig-size="1502,1501" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="episode-56-3" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/episode-56-3.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/episode-56-3.png?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/episode-56-3.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6343" style="width:340px;height:auto" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/episode-56-3.png?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/episode-56-3.png?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/episode-56-3.png?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/episode-56-3.png?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/episode-56-3.png 1502w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>
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For full details on this investigation, including a recording of the Board Meeting, visit our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA22FM001.aspx">webpage</a>.
Subscribe to the podcast on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-scene-ntsb/id1286590741?mt=2">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9zYWZldHljb21wYXNzLndvcmRwcmVzcy5jb20vY2F0ZWdvcnkvYmVoaW5kLXRoZS1zY2VuZS9mZWVkLw">Google Play</a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/behindthescenentsb/behindthescene-ntsb">Stitcher</a>, or your favorite podcast platform.
And find more ways to listen here: <a href="https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/">https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/.</a>
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<title>Accident Data Dashboards: Power to the User</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/02/05/accident-data-dashboards-power-to-the-user/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 05 Feb 2024 19:41:40 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Aviation Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Aviation]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Research]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[“Yes, And” Approach Also Retains Familiar Excel Tables By NTSB Safety Advocacy Team Before reading any further, start exploring this dashboard. Addictive, right? If you care about aviation accidents, the NTSB’s dashboards get the statistics to you in an interactive format that always seems to have another layer to discover. If you use the NTSB’s … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/02/05/accident-data-dashboards-power-to-the-user/" class="more-link">Continue reading Accident Data Dashboards: Power to the User →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size">“Yes, And” Approach Also Retains Familiar Excel Tables</h2>
By NTSB Safety Advocacy Team
Before reading any further, <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/StatisticalReviews/Pages/CivilAviationDashboard.aspx">start exploring this dashboard.</a> Addictive, right? If you care about aviation accidents, the NTSB’s dashboards get the statistics to you in an interactive format that always seems to have another layer to discover.
If you use the NTSB’s static accident spreadsheets in Excel, you can keep using them. But you’re getting less information, with less control, than is available to you through the agency’s data dashboards. Many users grab the same data regularly to populate legacy products, but if you want to see the data from many points of view with more control, check out the data dashboards.
In the new <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/StatisticalReviews/Pages/CivilAviationDashboard.aspx">US Civil Aviation Accident Dashboard</a>, for example, you can customize a range of years, see the data on a map, and filter by accident details for Part 121, Part 135, and general aviation (GA) flights. Familiar Excel tables, such as Accidents by Defining Events and Phases of Flight, are still available, but the dashboard lets you further customize the selected data dynamically by operation type, injury level, and state, delivering many more possible data views than the tables provide.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="630" data-attachment-id="6331" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/02/05/accident-data-dashboards-power-to-the-user/aviation-dashboard-2-2024/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/aviation-dashboard-2.2024.jpg" data-orig-size="1311,807" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="aviation-dashboard-2.2024" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/aviation-dashboard-2.2024.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/aviation-dashboard-2.2024.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/aviation-dashboard-2.2024.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6331" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/aviation-dashboard-2.2024.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/aviation-dashboard-2.2024.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/aviation-dashboard-2.2024.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/aviation-dashboard-2.2024.jpg?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/aviation-dashboard-2.2024.jpg 1311w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Screen capture of the NTSB US Civil Aviation Summary Dashboard</figcaption></figure></div>
Historically, the NTSB Office of Research and Engineering’s Safety Research Division provided the annual census first as a printed book, and then as an <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/StatisticalReviews/Documents/AviationAccidentStatistics_2003-2022_20231228.xlsx">annually updated set of Excel spreadsheets</a>, and now, finally, as a dashboard. Additional <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Pages/GeneralAviationDashboard.aspx">GA data</a> is also available in the new format. (And, because it was our first dashboard, the division created <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Pages/GeneralAviationDashboard.aspx#AVTutorial">a video tutorial providing instructions for working with it</a>.)
“We rolled out the GA dashboard for Oshkosh (EAA Airventure),” says Senior Aviation Accident Analyst Nathan Doble, who made the annual US Civil Aviation data available and interactive in dashboard form. “We recognized that this is a new capability for many of our users, so we wanted to provide training and solicit their feedback.”
Chief Data Scientist Loren Groff adds the team was conscientious about enhancing customer experience. “We took a ‘Yes And . . .’ approach with all of the dashboards. We’ll give you that familiar government document and we’ll also give you the new dashboard version with so much more control by the user.”
“Then there is the state-by-state, monthly breakdown,” Groff explains. “We had a congressional requirement to report accidents in Alaska monthly. The NTSB data analytics team thought, if we’re doing it for Alaska, why not do it for all the states?” (The monthly data are actually updated daily and organized by year and month.)
You can bring up a list of accidents covered in all of the dashboards, which in turn link to accident reports, and plot the accidents on a map. For GA accidents, you can see what types of findings and what recommendations the NTSB has issued in connection with accidents that meet the users’ filters.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="640" data-attachment-id="6333" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2024/02/05/accident-data-dashboards-power-to-the-user/aviation-dashboard-2-2-2024/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/aviation-dashboard-2-2.2024.jpg" data-orig-size="1317,824" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="aviation-dashboard-2-2.2024" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/aviation-dashboard-2-2.2024.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/aviation-dashboard-2-2.2024.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/aviation-dashboard-2-2.2024.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6333" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/aviation-dashboard-2-2.2024.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/aviation-dashboard-2-2.2024.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/aviation-dashboard-2-2.2024.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/aviation-dashboard-2-2.2024.jpg?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/aviation-dashboard-2-2.2024.jpg 1317w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Screen capture of the General Aviation (GA) Dashboard</figcaption></figure></div>
Groff, Doble, and the Safety Research Division are taking the agency’s accident data from static tables to powerful interactive dashboards defined by the user, and in the process offering increased content and capabilities. Stay tuned as the NTSB’s dashboard capabilities continue to grow.
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<title>NTSB at 2023 National Black Caucus of State Legislators Conference</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/12/13/ntsb-at-2023-national-black-caucus-of-state-legislators-conference/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 13 Dec 2023 18:31:59 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[automated vehicles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Bicyclists]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Child Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[connected vehicles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Drowsy Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Engineering]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Fatigue]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Infrastructure]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Motorcoach]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Motorcycles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pedestrians]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safe System Approach]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Speeding]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Teen Driving]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[By Nicholas Worrell, Chief of NTSB Safety Advocacy Division On November 28, I moderated a discussion at the Pearl-Cohn School in Nashville, Tennessee, during the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL’s) 47th Annual Conference Corporate Roundtable (CRT) School Visit. The CRT represents small and large companies, associations, and nonprofit organizations. The NBCSL is a … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/12/13/ntsb-at-2023-national-black-caucus-of-state-legislators-conference/" class="more-link">Continue reading NTSB at 2023 National Black Caucus of State Legislators Conference →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Nicholas Worrell, Chief of NTSB Safety Advocacy Division
On November 28, I moderated a discussion at the <a href="https://pearlcohn.mnps.org/">Pearl-Cohn School</a> in Nashville, Tennessee, during the <a href="https://nbcsl.org/">National Black Caucus of State Legislators</a> (NBCSL’s) <a href="https://nbcsl.org/nbcsl-47th-alc-agenda/">47th Annual Conference</a> Corporate Roundtable (CRT) School Visit. The CRT represents small and large companies, associations, and nonprofit organizations.
The NBCSL is a group of black representatives in state legislatures who are united by their roots in the black community. They work to pass laws that will make life better for all and meet occasionally to ensure that the voices of those in black communities are included in legislative decisions. They also strive to lay steppingstones for the future generations of black leaders. We at the NTSB recognize the significance of equipping and empowering the next generation of leaders.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="540" height="405" data-attachment-id="6322" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/12/13/ntsb-at-2023-national-black-caucus-of-state-legislators-conference/worrell-ncbsl-1/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/worrell-ncbsl-1.jpg" data-orig-size="540,405" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="worrell-ncbsl-1" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/worrell-ncbsl-1.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/worrell-ncbsl-1.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/worrell-ncbsl-1.jpg?w=540" alt="" class="wp-image-6322" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/worrell-ncbsl-1.jpg 540w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/worrell-ncbsl-1.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/worrell-ncbsl-1.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">NBCSL Corporate Roundtable School Visit at Pearl-Cohen High School</figcaption></figure></div>
The theme of the NBCSL conference was “The Future is Now: Meeting Challenges and Creating Opportunities.”
There is an urgency to the phrase, “The future is now,” and nowhere is that urgency more obvious than in the safety of teens in the face of one of their biggest threats: motor vehicle injuries and death. Their future—potentially spanning so many years—is all too likely to be cut short, now, in traffic violence. Participants were surprised to learn that we lose 43,000 lives on our roads yearly, and that the fatality rate is disproportionately high among both black Americans and teen drivers.
As I told the young people in the audience, their futures are on the line each time they take the wheel, ride as passengers, or even cross the street as pedestrians or share the road as cyclists or motorcyclists. The deadly effect of traffic crashes on teenage lives will only change when our culture around road safety changes.
Driving sober, disconnecting from our phones and other devices, buckling up, and obeying the speed limit are all simple—and safe—practices. However, making the right choice consistently takes integrity (doing the right thing even when nobody is watching). In road safety, knowing the way is not always the hard part. You have to go the way too.
I have long worked with the NBCSL to highlight the NTSB’s many state-level transportation safety recommendations. Our outreach to the NBCSL is in the same spirit as the NTSB’s current webinar series, <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/Pages/Reaching-Underserved-Communities.aspx">Reaching Underserved Communities (ntsb.gov)</a>: a connection between the affected community and the people who are working on solutions.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="682" data-attachment-id="6324" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/12/13/ntsb-at-2023-national-black-caucus-of-state-legislators-conference/worrell-ncbsl-2/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/worrell-ncbsl-2.jpg" data-orig-size="5472,3648" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"4","credit":"","camera":"Canon EOS 6D","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1694653280","copyright":"","focal_length":"105","iso":"2000","shutter_speed":"0.01","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="worrell-ncbsl-2" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/worrell-ncbsl-2.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/worrell-ncbsl-2.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/worrell-ncbsl-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6324" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/worrell-ncbsl-2.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/worrell-ncbsl-2.jpg?w=2046 2046w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/worrell-ncbsl-2.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/worrell-ncbsl-2.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/worrell-ncbsl-2.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">NTSB Safety Advocacy Chief Nicholas Worrell moderating the Corporate Roundtable</figcaption></figure></div>
Although the day focused on more than just transportation, the students asked intelligent questions, both on how traffic violence affects their community and on how they might parlay a passion for safety into a future career. In addition to making the youth aware of the NTSB and the greater federal government as career destinations, I was able to interact with NBCSL state legislators, the people who make the laws that govern our roads. And I also put in a good word for the NTSB as a workplace to aspire to.
The November 28 program helped each attendee concentrate on their own ability to grow and change the world, rather than focus on the obstacles in their way. To hear that many were interested in working for transportation safety was an additional bonus.
I felt confident that the NBCSL’s conference would motivate young attendees to strive to build the world they want to live in, rising to meet the challenges and eagerly pursuing leadership opportunities. And now that I’ve made them aware of some opportunities at the NTSB, many may consider putting their energy into making transportation safer throughout their communities and the entire country.
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<title>How Tragedy Led to Trust: National Aviation History Month</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/11/27/how-tragedy-led-to-trust-national-aviation-history-month/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/11/27/how-tragedy-led-to-trust-national-aviation-history-month/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Nov 2023 17:17:39 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Aviation Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Aviation]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Transportation History]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=6304</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Jeff Marcus, Chief, NTSB Safety Recommendations Division From the Wright brothers’ first flight on December 17, 1903, to today, aviation has made remarkable progress. The affordability, speed, capacity, comfort, and, most importantly, safety of flight have all improved to the point that flying is one of the safest modes of transportation. But that safety … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/11/27/how-tragedy-led-to-trust-national-aviation-history-month/" class="more-link">Continue reading How Tragedy Led to Trust: National Aviation History Month →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Jeff Marcus, Chief, NTSB Safety Recommendations Division
From the Wright brothers’ first flight on December 17, 1903, to today, aviation has made remarkable progress. The affordability, speed, capacity, comfort, and, most importantly, safety of flight have all improved to the point that flying is one of the safest modes of transportation.
But that safety has been hard won. In honor of National Aviation History Month, let’s reflect on how the  aviation industry and Congressional action have evolved to further transportation safety.
The Early Days of Flying
Although most people are familiar with the Wright brothers, who did the research and development that produced the first airplane, many are unfamiliar with other important visionaries, such as Otto Lilienthal and Samuel Langley.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="826" data-attachment-id="6307" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/11/27/how-tragedy-led-to-trust-national-aviation-history-month/otto-loc/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/otto-loc.jpg" data-orig-size="1024,826" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="otto-loc" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/otto-loc.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/otto-loc.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/otto-loc.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6307" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/otto-loc.jpg 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/otto-loc.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/otto-loc.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/otto-loc.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Otto Lilienthal with glider, 1895 Photo credit: Library of Congress</figcaption></figure></div>
Karl Wilhelm “Otto” Lilienthal was a German pioneer of aviation who made the first successful flights with gliders, making the idea of a heavier-than-air machine a reality. His flight attempts in 1891 are seen as the beginning of human flight. Lilienthal made over 2,000 flights in self-designed gliders until his death on August 9, 1896, when he was unable to regain control after his glider stalled. Falling from about 50 ft, he broke his neck and died the next day. At the time of his death, Lilienthal’s total lifetime flying time was about 5 hours. The Wright brothers later cited Lilienthal’s death as the point when their serious interest in flight research began.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="748" data-attachment-id="6310" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/11/27/how-tragedy-led-to-trust-national-aviation-history-month/langley-potomac-loc/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/langley-potomac-loc.jpg" data-orig-size="1024,748" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="langley-potomac-loc" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/langley-potomac-loc.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/langley-potomac-loc.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/langley-potomac-loc.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6310" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/langley-potomac-loc.jpg 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/langley-potomac-loc.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/langley-potomac-loc.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/langley-potomac-loc.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Samuel Langley’s Experimental Tandem Biplane on the Potomac River, 1896 Photo credit: Library of Congress</figcaption></figure></div>
Another early aviation pioneer was Samuel Langley. In addition to being an American aviation innovator, Langley was the third secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. His first aviation success came on May 6, 1896, when his unpiloted, steam-powered, fixed-wing aircraft, weighing 25 pounds, made two flights—one 2,300 ft and the other 3,300 ft—after a catapult launch from a boat on the Potomac River. He followed that on November 11, 1896, with an improved aircraft model that flew more than 5,000 feet. In 1898, based on the success of his models, Langley received grants of $50,000 from the War Department and $20,000 from the Smithsonian to develop a piloted airplane.
Langley gave up on the project after two crashes on take-off on October 7 and December 8, 1903 (just a few days before the Wright brothers’ successful flight). The Smithsonian displayed Langley’s device as the first human-carrying airplane in the world capable of sustained free flight, triggering a decades-long feud with Orville Wright.
The first aviation fatality in a powered aircraft crash came on September 17, 1908, when, during a demonstration flight for the War Department in hopes of getting a military contract for their invention, Orville Wright crashed his aircraft, injured himself, and killed his passenger, Signal Corp Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="822" data-attachment-id="6311" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/11/27/how-tragedy-led-to-trust-national-aviation-history-month/selfridge-wright-loc/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/selfridge-wright-loc.jpg" data-orig-size="1024,822" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="selfridge-wright-loc" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/selfridge-wright-loc.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/selfridge-wright-loc.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/selfridge-wright-loc.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6311" style="width:482px;height:auto" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/selfridge-wright-loc.jpg 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/selfridge-wright-loc.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/selfridge-wright-loc.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/selfridge-wright-loc.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lt. Selfridge & Mr. Wright stepping into the Wright airplane at Ft. Myer, 9/17/1908 Photo credit: Library of Congress</figcaption></figure></div>
The Wright Flyer flew four circles around Fort Myer at an altitude of 150 feet. Halfway through the fifth, the right propeller broke, creating a vibration. The damaged propeller hit a guy-wire bracing the rear vertical rudder. The wire tore out of its fastening allowing the rudder to swivel to the horizontal sending the Flyer into a nosedive.
Wright cut the engine and glided to about 75 feet, but then the aircraft descended nose-down into the ground. Wright and Selfridge were thrown forward, and Selfridge struck one of the wooden uprights of the framework, fracturing the base of his skull. He died 3 hours later without regaining consciousness. Wright suffered severe injuries and was hospitalized for 7 weeks.
Despite the setback, aviation continued to develop worldwide, and on January 1, 1914, the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line became the world’s first scheduled airline. The airline provided service between St. Petersburg, Florida, and neighboring Tampa—a distance of about 23 miles with a travel time of 23 minutes (compared to 2 hours by boat). A one-way fare was $5.00 (approximately $130 in 2020 dollars), and flights rarely exceeded an altitude of 5 feet. The service terminated on May 5, 1914.
The Birth of Commercial Aviation
During the 1920s, airlines began to offer regular commercial air service. The were 24 fatal commercial airline crashes over 1926 and 1927, 16 in 1928. In 1929, which remains the worst year on record, there were 51 fatal crashes, about 1 for every 1,000,000 miles flown. In today’s world, this rate would result in 7,000 fatal airline accidents per year, or about 20 every day.
Partly in reaction to this accident rate, Congress passed the Air Commerce Act, which President Calvin Coolidge signed into law on May 20, 1926. The act established federal control over civil aviation by making the secretary of commerce responsible for improving air commerce by designating and establishing airways; establishing, operating, and maintaining aids to air navigation (but not airports); sponsoring and conducting research and development to improve such aids; licensing pilots; issuing airworthiness certificates for aircraft and major aircraft components; and investigating accidents.
On March 31, 1931, a Fokker F-10A operated by Transcontinental and Western Air (which evolved to become TWA) crashed near Bazaar, Kansas, after the wooden structure of one wing failed in flight. The crash killed eight people, including Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne. The investigation found that the wooden wing became moist over time, causing the glue connecting the wing to the body to weaken, allowing the wing to separate. At the time, the investigation was publicly criticized for its secret nature. This crash brought about significant changes in the airplane industry, and was of cultural significance, given the death of Rockne and the public perception of aircraft safety. This accident, which killed a well-known public figure and the secretive nature of the investigation brought public attention to learning from accident investigations to prevent such disasters in the future. The intense public interest forced the Department of Commerce to make the results of aircraft accident investigations more transparent.
The investigation of the Bazaar, Kansas, crash resulted in a public expectation that the US government would objectively investigate crashes and publicly release its findings. In 1934, the Air Commerce Act was amended to require that reports on probable causes of fatal aircraft crashes be made public and banned the use of such reports and related evidence in court proceedings.
On May 6, 1935, a Douglas DC-2 operated by TWA crashed near Atlanta, Missouri. Its pilots were trying to make an emergency landing before their fuel ran out. The crash killed five, including Senator Bronson M. Cutting of New Mexico. Public debate and criticism over the cause of the accident showed the need for an independent investigative body.
Investigators from the Bureau of Air Commerce concluded that several factors led to the crash, including communications malfunctions, darkness, inaccurate weather forecasts, worsening weather at the destination airport, and errors in judgment, both from the airline dispatchers and the flight crew. They also found TWA in violation of several aviation regulations. Senator Cutting’s death drove Congress to investigate the Bureau of Air Commerce’s management of civil aviation. Senator Royal S. Copeland established a special subcommittee that harshly criticized the bureau in a report. Partly as a result, in 1938, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, which transferred federal responsibilities for nonmilitary aviation from the Bureau of Air Commerce to a new, independent agency: the Civil Aeronautics Authority.
Focus on Safety
On June 30, 1940, the Civil Aeronautic Authority was split into the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) and the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB). The CAA area of responsibility was air traffic control, safety programs, and airway development. The CAB focused on safety rulemaking, accident investigation, and economic regulation of the airlines.
During the 1950s, airline travel expanded. A midair collision on June 30, 1956, between a TWA Super Constellation and a United Air Lines DC-7 over the Grand Canyon killed all 128 occupants of the two airplanes. The collision occurred while the airliners were flying under visual flight rules in uncongested airspace. The accident showed that, even though US air traffic had more than doubled since the end of World War II, little had been done to expand the air traffic control system or to increase safeguards against midair collisions. This accident led directly to the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, which President Dwight Eisenhower signed on August 23, 1958. The law created the Federal Aviation Agency and led to the creation of the air traffic control system as we know it today.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="698" data-attachment-id="6313" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/11/27/how-tragedy-led-to-trust-national-aviation-history-month/air-traffic-control-loc/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/air-traffic-control-loc.jpg" data-orig-size="1024,698" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="air-traffic-control-loc" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/air-traffic-control-loc.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/air-traffic-control-loc.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/air-traffic-control-loc.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6313" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/air-traffic-control-loc.jpg 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/air-traffic-control-loc.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/air-traffic-control-loc.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/air-traffic-control-loc.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Air traffic control booth with staff at Washington National Airport, Arlington, Virginia, 1958 Photo credit: Library of Congress</figcaption></figure></div>
On October 15, 1966, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Department of Transportation (DOT) Act, which created the new cabinet-level department with five major agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration. The DOT Act also created, within the DOT, an independent National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) with authority to investigate accidents in all modes of transportation. The new DOT began operations on April 1, 1967.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="670" data-attachment-id="6315" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/11/27/how-tragedy-led-to-trust-national-aviation-history-month/ntsb-origin/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/ntsb-origin.jpg" data-orig-size="3981,2606" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"USDOT","camera":"","caption":"President Lyndon Johnson signed the Department of Transportation Act that created the NTSB in 1966 (source: USDOT).","created_timestamp":"-126156000","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="ntsb-origin" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="President Lyndon Johnson signed the Department of Transportation Act that created the NTSB in 1966 (source: USDOT).
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/ntsb-origin.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/ntsb-origin.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/ntsb-origin.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6315" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/ntsb-origin.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/ntsb-origin.jpg?w=2048 2048w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/ntsb-origin.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/ntsb-origin.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/ntsb-origin.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">President Lyndon Johnson signs the Department of Transportation Act that created the NTSB, 1966 Source: NTSB.gov</figcaption></figure></div>
In 1974, Congress made the NTSB completely independent of the DOT with the Independent Safety Board Act of 1974, which also prohibits the use of any portion of an NTSB report as evidence in a lawsuit related to matters discussed in the report and, with few restrictive exceptions, bars discovery, admittance into evidence, and public release of transcripts or recordings of a “cockpit or surface vehicle . . . voice or video recorder,” if not made public by the NTSB. In 1996, the Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act expanded the role of the NTSB to include coordinating victim and family assistance following a major aviation accident.
The history of aviation, and the remarkable safety enjoyed today, are the result of the detailed aviation accident investigations throughout the years. And that work continues at the NTSB today, because we know that, from tragedy, we draw knowledge to improve the safety of us all.
Jeff Marcus, Chief of the Safety Recommendations Division, is retiring from federal service on December 29 after 43 years.
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<title>Marking World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/11/17/marking-world-day-of-remembrance-for-road-traffic-victims/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/11/17/marking-world-day-of-remembrance-for-road-traffic-victims/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Nov 2023 15:58:41 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Drowsy Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Family Assistance]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Fatigue]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Holiday Travel]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pedestrians]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safe System Approach]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[School Buses]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Speeding]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Teen Driving]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=6299</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Nicholas Worrell, Chief, NTSB Safety Advocacy Division Sunday, November 19, is the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. Every year on this day, people around the world honor the memories of crash victims. All of us at the NTSB want to express our condolences to those who have lost loved ones to … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/11/17/marking-world-day-of-remembrance-for-road-traffic-victims/" class="more-link">Continue reading Marking World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Nicholas Worrell, Chief, NTSB Safety Advocacy Division
Sunday, November 19, is the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. Every year on this day, people around the world honor the memories of crash victims. All of us at the NTSB want to express our condolences to those who have lost loved ones to motor vehicle crashes.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" width="717" height="1024" data-attachment-id="6301" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/11/17/marking-world-day-of-remembrance-for-road-traffic-victims/poster-wdrrsa-23-en_date/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/poster-wdrrsa-23-en_date.png" data-orig-size="1200,1714" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="poster-wdrrsa-23-en_date" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/poster-wdrrsa-23-en_date.png?w=210" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/poster-wdrrsa-23-en_date.png?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/poster-wdrrsa-23-en_date.png?w=717" alt="" class="wp-image-6301" style="width:411px;height:auto" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/poster-wdrrsa-23-en_date.png?w=717 717w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/poster-wdrrsa-23-en_date.png?w=105 105w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/poster-wdrrsa-23-en_date.png?w=210 210w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/poster-wdrrsa-23-en_date.png?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/poster-wdrrsa-23-en_date.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 717px) 100vw, 717px" /></figure></div>
The NTSB works tirelessly to discover the cause of a crash and issue recommendations to prevent future crashes. From tragedy, we identify and advocate for improvements that move us toward a safer transportation system.
It can be said that much of the NTSB’s function is to remember, as we fight for the implementation of our safety recommendations even long after a crash. We remember crashes. We remember the recommendations that stemmed from them. And we never forget recommendations just because they have not yet been acted upon or because too much time has passed.
Similarly, victim advocates–those who have lost loved ones to senseless crashes–are often at the forefront of safety improvements, driven on by the memory of those they lost.
One of the better known and longest-tenured advocacy organizations, <a href="http://www.madd.org/">Mothers Against Drunk Driving</a>, grew from a mother who lost her daughter to a national movement of victim advocates who support one another and work tirelessly to prevent future impaired-driving tragedies.
The <a href="https://inoneinstant.org/">In One Instant Teen Safe Driving Program</a> was founded after a mother escorted her daughter to the funerals of three friends who were killed in car crashes. In One Instant has been implemented in more than 4,000 schools in all 50 states and educates young drivers on the risks associated with distracted, impaired, and reckless driving.
In 2017, the NTSB hosted the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O84dspivic4">Act2End Distracted Driving Roundtable</a>, which gave a voice to victim advocates impacted by distracted driving. Advocates spoke about turning their personal tragedies into effective advocacy efforts to prevent others from going through what they have endured.
It is not unusual for the NTSB to find itself supported by victim advocates in our quest for action on our safety recommendations. This goes beyond NTSB-hosted roundtables and webinars to our testimony in state legislatures about changes to the rules of the road. Why? Because, like the NTSB, these advocates remember, and they will not stop fighting for change until the highway deaths stop.
You don’t have to be personally affected by a crash to mark the World Day of Remembrance in your thoughts and in your actions. This World Day of Remembrance, commit to redoubling your attention to safe driving. To drive distracted, fatigued, or impaired is to forget the danger and impact our decisions can have on families, friends, and our communities.
Remembrance is not only an honorable response to tragedy, but a sacred duty to protect each other from future crashes and loss of life. Before you get behind the wheel, make sure you’re rested and sober. Put the phone away. Don’t speed. Remember that your life, and the lives of others, can be changed irrevocably by just one bad driving decision.
Remember those lost to protect the future of loved ones still with us.
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<title>Flight Attendants Continue to Be Seriously Injured in Turbulence</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/11/13/flight-attendants-continue-to-be-seriously-injured-in-turbulence/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Nov 2023 22:41:54 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Aviation Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=6289</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Action Needed Now to Prevent Future Injuries and Accidents By Jana Price, PhD, NTSB National Resource Specialist In 2021, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) published a safety research report about preventing turbulence-related injuries. We found that turbulence was involved in more than a third (38%) of Part 121 air carrier accidents between 2009 and … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/11/13/flight-attendants-continue-to-be-seriously-injured-in-turbulence/" class="more-link">Continue reading Flight Attendants Continue to Be Seriously Injured in Turbulence →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
Action Needed Now to Prevent Future Injuries and Accidents
By Jana Price, PhD, NTSB National Resource Specialist
In 2021, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) published a <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Documents/SS2101.pdf">safety research report</a> about preventing turbulence-related injuries. We found that turbulence was involved in more than a third (38%) of Part 121 air carrier accidents between 2009 and 2018. The NTSB report included 24 recommendations aimed at reducing the incidence of turbulence accidents and associated injuries.
The good news for travelers is that wearing a seat belt while flying virtually eliminates the risk of being injured if an airplane experiences turbulence. Our research found that passengers accounted for just 21% of those who were seriously injured due to turbulence, and nearly all of those passengers were unbelted when the turbulence occurred.
When turbulence occurs, it’s usually flight attendants who suffer. Flight attendants accounted for 79% of all seriously injured occupants in the turbulence-related accidents we studied. These injuries often occur as flight attendants prepare the cabin for landing; that is, when the seat belt sign is typically illuminated for passengers. In our 2021 report, the NTSB concluded that having flight attendants seated with their seat belts fastened earlier in the descent phase of flight would reduce the rate of flight attendant injuries due to turbulence (and, consequently, the rate of turbulence-related accidents overall). Our report <a href="https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/A-21-038">recommended</a> that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revise the turbulence guidance it provides to airlines, including revisions concerning the phases of flight and associated altitudes at which flight attendants should be secured in their seats. However, 2 years later, the FAA has not yet acted on this recommendation.
The NTSB is not the first to recommend that flight attendants be seated and buckled in altitudes where turbulence risk is higher. More than 20 years ago, the <a href="https://www.cast-safety.org/apex/f?p=102:1:481427411114::NO::P1_X:">Commercial Aviation Safety Team</a>, a government-industry working group, recommended a policy to remain seated from takeoff to cruise and from 20,000 feet until landing. However, such a policy was never widely adopted, and serious injuries from turbulence under 20,000 feet have continued to occur. Since the NTSB turbulence safety research report was published in August 2021, as shown in the table, there have been 30 air carrier accidents involving turbulence. Reports are completed and publicly available for 11 of those accidents, and more than half of them involve flight attendants who were seriously injured when the airplane experienced turbulence at or below 20,000 feet. The following are examples of these accidents.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="704" height="922" data-attachment-id="6293" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/11/13/flight-attendants-continue-to-be-seriously-injured-in-turbulence/turbulence-blog-table-graphic/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/turbulence-blog-table-graphic.jpg" data-orig-size="704,922" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="turbulence-blog-table-graphic" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/turbulence-blog-table-graphic.jpg?w=229" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/turbulence-blog-table-graphic.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/turbulence-blog-table-graphic.jpg?w=704" alt="" class="wp-image-6293" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/turbulence-blog-table-graphic.jpg 704w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/turbulence-blog-table-graphic.jpg?w=115 115w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/turbulence-blog-table-graphic.jpg?w=229 229w" sizes="(max-width: 704px) 100vw, 704px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Part 121 air carrier accidents involving turbulence between August 2021 and September 2023. See the <a href="https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/query-builder/route/?t=published&n=32">list of turbulence-related Part 121 air carrier accidents since 2008</a>.</figcaption></figure></div>
<ul>
<li>On August 21, 2021, as American Airlines flight 2760 descended to land in Chicago, Illinois, the aircraft encountered turbulence at 7,000 feet. A flight attendant who had been walking through the aisle to prepare for landing fell to her knees because of the turbulence and fractured her kneecap.</li>
<li>On August 19, 2022, as United Airlines flight 1400 descended to land in Columbus, Ohio, the aircraft encountered turbulence at 10,000 feet. A flight attendant in the rear of the aircraft fell and fractured her ankle.</li>
<li>On August 29, 2022, as Delta Air Lines flight 2968 descended to land in Detroit, Michigan, at approximately 20,000 feet, the flight began to experience turbulence. A flight attendant was thrown into a galley counter, fracturing her rib.</li>
<li>On September 1, 2022, as United Airlines flight 1675 descended to land in Denver, Colorado, below 13,000 feet, the aircraft encountered turbulence as the flight attendants were taking their seats. A flight attendant placed her hand on the jump seat to lower it when severe turbulence occurred, causing her to fracture her hand.</li>
<li>On September 4, 2022, as Delta Air Lines flight 673 descended to land in New York City, at 13,000 feet, the aircraft encountered turbulence, which caused a flight attendant to fall and subsequently break her foot.</li>
<li>On November 10, 2022, as American Airlines flight 2548 descended to land in Miami, Florida, at 18,000 feet, the aircraft encountered unexpected turbulence. As a result, a flight attendant in the aft galley was thrown to the floor and fractured her spine.</li>
<li>On February 16, 2023, as Spirit Airlines flight 641 descended to land in New Orleans, Louisiana, at 7,000 feet, the aircraft encountered turbulence. Three flight attendants fell to the floor. One flight attendant fractured her ankle. The other two flight attendants received medical treatment for minor injuries.</li>
</ul>
In each of these cases, the seat belt sign was illuminated, and the passengers were belted. In some cases, the flight crew knew turbulence was possible during the descent and communicated this to one or more flight attendants, but the flight attendants were not seated in time. In other cases, the turbulence was unexpected. However, in every case described here, if there had been a policy for flight attendants to be seated and belted at 20,000 feet, these serious injuries would likely have been prevented.
Flight attendants spend their careers working to keep us safe. Our 2021 safety research report concluded that asking flight attendants to be seated earlier during the descent phase of flight could reduce serious injuries and accidents related to turbulence. The FAA has not made updating its guidance in this area a priority, but the agency must do so to avoid serious injuries that are entirely preventable.
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<title>Collision Avoidance Technology and Teen Driver Safety: A Parent’s Guide to New Vehicle Technology</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/10/17/collision-avoidance-technology-and-teen-driver-safety-a-parents-guide-to-new-vehicle-technology/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/10/17/collision-avoidance-technology-and-teen-driver-safety-a-parents-guide-to-new-vehicle-technology/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 Oct 2023 15:31:44 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[automated vehicles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Collision Avoidance Technology]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[connected vehicles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Teen Driving]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=6283</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Bryan Delaney, NTSB Safety Advocate Since 2007, Teen Driver Safety Week has emphasized safe driving practices among young drivers and fostered important conversations on the future of teen driver safety. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has long advocated for teen and young driver safety. This includes directly encouraging teen drivers to use their … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/10/17/collision-avoidance-technology-and-teen-driver-safety-a-parents-guide-to-new-vehicle-technology/" class="more-link">Continue reading Collision Avoidance Technology and Teen Driver Safety: A Parent’s Guide to New Vehicle Technology →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
By Bryan Delaney, NTSB Safety Advocate
Since 2007, Teen Driver Safety Week has emphasized safe driving practices among young drivers and fostered important conversations on the future of teen driver safety.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has long advocated for <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/safety-topics/Pages/teen-driver-safety.aspx">teen and young driver safety</a>. This includes directly encouraging teen drivers to use their seat belts, put their phones away while driving, always drive sober, avoid drowsy driving, limit the number of passengers in the car, and follow the speed limit.
The NTSB also issues recommendations to states to improve their laws, whether specifically for teen drivers (for example, by enacting strong graduated drivers licensing laws) or for all drivers (such as enforcing a .05 g/dL blood alcohol concentration limit and strong seat belt laws).
In addition to teen driver responsibility and changes to laws that will make driving safer for teens, advanced driver safety technologies are shaping the future of teen driver safety.
According to a recent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) study, crash avoidance features and teen-specific vehicle technologies have the potential to prevent or mitigate up to 75% of fatal crashes involving teen drivers. But that potential depends on <a href="https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/driving-technology-promises-large-safety-benefits-for-teens">properly using this technology</a>.
Below is a guide to the functions and safety benefits for collision avoidance technologies that are widely available in vehicles today.
Adaptive Cruise Control: Adaptive Cruise Control helps your vehicle maintain a safe following distance from the vehicle in front of it by automatically adjusting your car’s speed. This technology helps reduce the likelihood of rear-end collisions, a common crash scenario among teen drivers.
Lane-Keeping Assist: Lane-Keeping Assist uses cameras and sensors to monitor lane markings and automatically provide steering assistance to keep the vehicle in the lane.
Forward Collision Warning: Forward Collision Warning systems use sensors to monitor your vehicle’s speed and the speed and distance of the vehicle in front of you and sends alerts of a potential crash.
Automatic Emergency Braking: Automatic Emergency Braking takes Forward Collision Warning to the next level by automatically applying the brakes to avoid or mitigate a crash. Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking: Pedestrian automatic emergency braking systems are designed to initiate an automatic braking sequence to avoid a forward crash with a pedestrian or bicyclist. Blind Spot Warning: Blind Spot Warning systems alert drivers with visual or haptic warnings during lane changes if a vehicle is detected in an adjacent lane.
Adaptive Headlights: Adaptive Headlights improve lighting to changing roadway conditions, such as a curve, to improve visibility on the road. Because nighttime driving is particularly risky for teen drivers, adaptive headlights can improve driving conditions for inexperienced drivers. As collision avoidance technology becomes more broadly accepted and evolves, getting the best safety benefit from the technology for the newest drivers remains critical to teen driver safety. During Teen Driver Safety Week, we encourage parents and their teens to understand the driver assistance technologies in their vehicles and learn how to properly use them to improve safety.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="539" height="1023" data-attachment-id="6286" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/10/17/collision-avoidance-technology-and-teen-driver-safety-a-parents-guide-to-new-vehicle-technology/final-draft-2023-09-teen-safe-driving-digital-infographic-05/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/final-draft-2023-09-teen-safe-driving-digital-infographic-05.jpg" data-orig-size="2250,4271" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="final-draft-2023-09-teen-safe-driving-digital-infographic-05" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/final-draft-2023-09-teen-safe-driving-digital-infographic-05.jpg?w=158" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/final-draft-2023-09-teen-safe-driving-digital-infographic-05.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/final-draft-2023-09-teen-safe-driving-digital-infographic-05.jpg?w=539" alt="" class="wp-image-6286" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/final-draft-2023-09-teen-safe-driving-digital-infographic-05.jpg?w=539 539w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/final-draft-2023-09-teen-safe-driving-digital-infographic-05.jpg?w=1078 1078w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/final-draft-2023-09-teen-safe-driving-digital-infographic-05.jpg?w=79 79w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/final-draft-2023-09-teen-safe-driving-digital-infographic-05.jpg?w=158 158w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/final-draft-2023-09-teen-safe-driving-digital-infographic-05.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 539px) 100vw, 539px" /></figure></div>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Inside the NTSB’s Vehicle Recorder Lab</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/10/06/inside-the-ntsbs-vehicle-recorder-lab/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/10/06/inside-the-ntsbs-vehicle-recorder-lab/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 06 Oct 2023 19:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Engineering]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Recorders]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Research]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=6253</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Bryan Delaney, NTSB Safety Advocate If you watch the news coverage of a plane crash, you will very likely see investigators wearing the iconic blue jacket with “NTSB” written in bright yellow on the back. On scene, these investigators evaluate the wreckage and locate the flight recorders or “black boxes,” which contain essential information … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/10/06/inside-the-ntsbs-vehicle-recorder-lab/" class="more-link">Continue reading Inside the NTSB’s Vehicle Recorder Lab →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<h6 class="wp-block-heading">By Bryan Delaney, NTSB Safety Advocate</h6>
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="644" data-attachment-id="6256" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/10/06/inside-the-ntsbs-vehicle-recorder-lab/listening-room1-copy/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/listening-room1-copy.jpg" data-orig-size="5032,3165" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"3.2","credit":"","camera":"ILCE-7RM2","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1666885384","copyright":"","focal_length":"16","iso":"2500","shutter_speed":"0.0125","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="listening-room1-copy" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/listening-room1-copy.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/listening-room1-copy.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/listening-room1-copy.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6256" style="width:506px;height:auto" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/listening-room1-copy.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/listening-room1-copy.jpg?w=2048 2048w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/listening-room1-copy.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/listening-room1-copy.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/listening-room1-copy.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">NTSB recorder specialist listens to and transcribes audio from a Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) in the CVR Listening Room.</figcaption></figure></div>
If you watch the news coverage of a plane crash, you will very likely see investigators wearing the iconic blue jacket with “NTSB” written in bright yellow on the back. On scene, these investigators evaluate the wreckage and locate the flight recorders or “black boxes,” which contain essential information about the accident. Investigators transport the recovered flight recorders, the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and the flight data recorder (FDR), to the NTSB headquarters in Washington, DC, where engineers use state-of-the-art technology and equipment within our Vehicle Recorder Lab to review the device’s content.
Throughout the year, the Vehicle Recorder Lab receives on average more than 400 electronic devices to examine. The experts within this lab play an important role in determining the probable cause of accidents in all modes of transportation. Most of the devices the Vehicle Recorder Lab receives are not CVRs and FDRs, which are designed to survive and accident, but other electronic devices that are no longer functioning and often require use of our Chip Recovery Lab.
Few get the opportunity to go inside our Vehicle Recorder Lab, see the technology we use, or meet the people behind the scenes whose electronic forensics skills help determine the probable cause of accidents. Let’s take a virtual look inside the lab.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="625" data-attachment-id="6258" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/10/06/inside-the-ntsbs-vehicle-recorder-lab/recorder-lab-chasis-copy/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/recorder-lab-chasis-copy.jpg" data-orig-size="5168,3157" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"4","credit":"","camera":"ILCE-7RM2","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1666881590","copyright":"","focal_length":"24","iso":"1600","shutter_speed":"0.00625","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="recorder-lab-chasis-copy" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/recorder-lab-chasis-copy.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/recorder-lab-chasis-copy.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/recorder-lab-chasis-copy.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6258" style="width:521px;height:auto" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/recorder-lab-chasis-copy.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/recorder-lab-chasis-copy.jpg?w=2046 2046w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/recorder-lab-chasis-copy.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/recorder-lab-chasis-copy.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/recorder-lab-chasis-copy.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A flight data recorder inserted into the Data Extraction Rack.</figcaption></figure></div>
Arrival to the “Dirty Room”
Once a recorder arrives at NTSB headquarters, engineers take it to the lab’s “Dirty Room,” so called because of the condition of many of the electronic devices that arrive at the lab (damaged and usually covered with debris). First, the condition of the evidence as it arrived in the lab is documented and photographed. Engineers then perform any mechanical work needed to access the internal components of a damaged device. This can involve using cutting wheels, shears, and even hammers and pry bars. The devices are disassembled then transferred to other rooms and labs that have more specialized equipment to conduct closer inspections.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="760" data-attachment-id="6260" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/10/06/inside-the-ntsbs-vehicle-recorder-lab/dirty-room-copy/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dirty-room-copy.jpg" data-orig-size="4327,3214" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"4","credit":"","camera":"ILCE-7RM2","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1666882408","copyright":"","focal_length":"23","iso":"200","shutter_speed":"0.016666666666667","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="dirty-room-copy" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dirty-room-copy.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dirty-room-copy.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dirty-room-copy.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6260" style="width:531px;height:auto" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dirty-room-copy.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dirty-room-copy.jpg?w=2046 2046w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dirty-room-copy.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dirty-room-copy.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dirty-room-copy.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Engineer evaluates an Electronic Flight Information System (EFIS) from a recent crash investigation in the dirty room.</figcaption></figure></div>
Microelectronics Lab
In the Microelectronics Lab, engineers inspect the electronic devices to determine if they contain information that can be downloaded and analyzed, if they require further detailed repair and recovery, or if they are damaged beyond recovery. Sometimes devices arrive relatively undamaged and can be downloaded using a manufacturer’s standard procedure, but often the devices are severely damaged by fire, impact, and/or liquid immersion and are no longer functional. In the Microelectronics Lab, engineers can use methods that include working down to the individual chip level to extract data while minimizing the possibility of data loss.
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="695" data-attachment-id="6262" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/10/06/inside-the-ntsbs-vehicle-recorder-lab/chip-lab-overview-copy/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/chip-lab-overview-copy.jpg" data-orig-size="4645,3154" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"4","credit":"","camera":"ILCE-7RM2","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1666884036","copyright":"","focal_length":"12","iso":"1000","shutter_speed":"0.00625","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="chip-lab-overview-copy" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/chip-lab-overview-copy.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/chip-lab-overview-copy.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/chip-lab-overview-copy.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6262" style="width:529px;height:auto" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/chip-lab-overview-copy.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/chip-lab-overview-copy.jpg?w=2048 2048w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/chip-lab-overview-copy.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/chip-lab-overview-copy.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/chip-lab-overview-copy.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">An active workstation within the Microelectronics Lab used to test and probe electronic devices.</figcaption></figure></div>
Visual Inspection Microscopes
An initial visual inspection is performed using digital and optical microscopes. The condition of the integrated circuits and other essential electronic components inside each device are evaluated and documented. Engineers identify areas of concern on circuit boards and electronic components such as broken connections, cracked components, or signs of corrosion. Once engineers ensure any damage to the memory chips have been repaired, a transplant of the memory chip can be conducted to a working device, or in some cases, the memory chip can be read directly.
X-Ray & CT Scanner
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" width="763" height="577" data-attachment-id="6265" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/10/06/inside-the-ntsbs-vehicle-recorder-lab/microsoftteams-image-32/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/microsoftteams-image-32.jpg" data-orig-size="763,577" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="microsoftteams-image-32" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/microsoftteams-image-32.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/microsoftteams-image-32.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/microsoftteams-image-32.jpg?w=763" alt="" class="wp-image-6265" style="width:291px;height:auto" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/microsoftteams-image-32.jpg 763w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/microsoftteams-image-32.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/microsoftteams-image-32.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 763px) 100vw, 763px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">An x-ray taken from the lab’s x-ray scanner. Here, a microSD card from a device involved in an accident is examined for potential damage.</figcaption></figure></div>
If engineers identify any concerns during the visual examination, they will transfer the memory device to the X-ray scanner to identify any potential internal issues on the memory devices. Under certain circumstances, a computed tomography (CT) scanner is also used to construct a 3D view of the component for further inspection. Once reviewed, engineers use the NTSB’s vast array of chip recovery tools to collect data.
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="696" data-attachment-id="6270" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/10/06/inside-the-ntsbs-vehicle-recorder-lab/microsoftteams-image-33/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/microsoftteams-image-33.jpg" data-orig-size="4554,3098" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"4","credit":"","camera":"ILCE-7RM2","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1666884199","copyright":"","focal_length":"19","iso":"1600","shutter_speed":"0.00625","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="microsoftteams-image-33" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/microsoftteams-image-33.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/microsoftteams-image-33.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/microsoftteams-image-33.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6270" style="width:540px;height:auto" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/microsoftteams-image-33.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/microsoftteams-image-33.jpg?w=2046 2046w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/microsoftteams-image-33.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/microsoftteams-image-33.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/microsoftteams-image-33.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Engineer uses equipment at a work station in the Microelectronics Lab.</figcaption></figure></div>
FDR Laboratory
Once engineers have completed the initial inspection and documentation of the recorders, they bring the device to the FDR lab to process the raw recording into a format that can be used to help understand the circumstances of an accident.
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" width="650" height="1023" data-attachment-id="6273" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/10/06/inside-the-ntsbs-vehicle-recorder-lab/recorders-copy/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/recorders-copy.jpg" data-orig-size="2354,3707" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"4","credit":"","camera":"ILCE-7RM2","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1666882083","copyright":"","focal_length":"12","iso":"640","shutter_speed":"0.00625","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="recorders-copy" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/recorders-copy.jpg?w=191" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/recorders-copy.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/recorders-copy.jpg?w=650" alt="" class="wp-image-6273" style="width:304px;height:auto" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/recorders-copy.jpg?w=650 650w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/recorders-copy.jpg?w=1300 1300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/recorders-copy.jpg?w=95 95w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/recorders-copy.jpg?w=191 191w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/recorders-copy.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A shelf unit housing nearly every known type of flight data recorder. These surrogate recorders are known as “Golden Chassis”.</figcaption></figure></div>
Golden Chassis
A pristine example of nearly every FDR model ever used in modern aircraft can be found in the lab. These “surrogates” are used as a resource and reference when extracting data from heavily damaged recorders. These reference models are referred to in the accident investigation community as “Golden Chassis.” Engineers transfer the physical memory device from the damaged recorder to the golden chassis to facilitate data downloads.

Data Extraction Rack
The data extraction rack powers undamaged or repaired flight recorders and serves as a method to interface with the manufacturer’s software to download data. Each FDR will contain at least 25 hours of parametric data and each CVR will contain 2 hours of cockpit audio for investigators to review and use to help determine what might have happened during a crash.
FDR Recovery
Once an FDR is downloaded, engineers process the raw and extracted data—such as altitude, airspeed, and heading—to engineering data. Engineers then validate and
plot the data, showing a visual representation of the parameters recorded. This can be time consuming as newer aircraft frequently record hundreds, if not over a thousand, parameters. Technical specialists that are <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/process/Pages/partysystem.aspx">parties to the investigation</a> (designated organizations or companies that are invited to assist the NTSB investigation) may assist NTSB recorder lab engineers at this stage.
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="858" data-attachment-id="6275" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/10/06/inside-the-ntsbs-vehicle-recorder-lab/recorder-chasis/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/recorder-chasis.jpg" data-orig-size="4018,3369" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"3.2","credit":"","camera":"ILCE-7RM2","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1666882002","copyright":"","focal_length":"22","iso":"1600","shutter_speed":"0.00625","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="recorder-chasis" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/recorder-chasis.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/recorder-chasis.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/recorder-chasis.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6275" style="width:531px;height:auto" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/recorder-chasis.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/recorder-chasis.jpg?w=2048 2048w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/recorder-chasis.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/recorder-chasis.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/recorder-chasis.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Engineer inserts surrogate flight data recorder into the Data Extraction Rack.</figcaption></figure></div>
CVR Recovery
The lab has listening rooms to allow investigators and select party members to review the cockpit audio recordings. The recorder specialist and any party members on the CVR audio group review the entire recording and transcribe the pertinent portions of the recording (or the entire recording). By federal law, the original recording is never released by the NTSB and party members participating in the group sign non-disclosure agreements. The CVR audio group produces a transcript of summary of the recording and other investigators will typically work from the transcript or summary.
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="684" data-attachment-id="6278" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/10/06/inside-the-ntsbs-vehicle-recorder-lab/listening-room-overview-copy/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/listening-room-overview-copy.jpg" data-orig-size="4505,3012" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"3.2","credit":"","camera":"ILCE-7RM2","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1666885674","copyright":"","focal_length":"15","iso":"2500","shutter_speed":"0.0125","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="listening-room-overview-copy" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/listening-room-overview-copy.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/listening-room-overview-copy.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/listening-room-overview-copy.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6278" style="width:536px;height:auto" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/listening-room-overview-copy.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/listening-room-overview-copy.jpg?w=2046 2046w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/listening-room-overview-copy.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/listening-room-overview-copy.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/listening-room-overview-copy.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A recorder specialist reviews recorder audio and transcribes pertinent content in the CVR Listening Room.</figcaption></figure></div>
In Conclusion
Extracting information from a new or damaged electronic recording device is often an arduous process, requiring superior technical and analytical skills. NTSB Recorder Lab engineers recognize the importance and gravity of their work and strive to provide the most accurate information for investigations. When we know what caused an accident, we can issue recommendations to those who can affect the change needed to make sure a similar accident doesn’t occur again. Retrieving the important recorded information from vehicles involved in a crash allows us to pinpoint issues and to make sure we’re addressing the right safety concerns, to make the best recommendations to improve transportation safety for everyone.
For more information, visit our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/organization/RE/Pages/office_re.aspx">Office of Research and Engineering</a> page.
A previously released podcast episode featuring staff from the Vehicle Recorders lab is available <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/06/16/episode-55-ntsb-vehicle-recorders-division/">here</a>.
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<title>Rail Tank Car Safety Ten Years after Lac‑Mégantic</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/09/06/rail-tank-car-safety-ten-years-after-lac%e2%80%91megantic/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/09/06/rail-tank-car-safety-ten-years-after-lac%e2%80%91megantic/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 06 Sep 2023 17:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Hazardous Materials]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Rail Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Transportation History]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=6246</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Paul Stancil, NTSB Senior Hazardous Materials Accident Investigator I wonder what Don Ross, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) investigator-in-charge, might have said to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the train derailment that occurred in Lac‑Mégantic, Quebec: a tragedy that claimed 47 lives, forced about 2,000 people to evacuate, and destroyed 40 buildings … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/09/06/rail-tank-car-safety-ten-years-after-lac%e2%80%91megantic/" class="more-link">Continue reading Rail Tank Car Safety Ten Years after Lac‑Mégantic →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Paul Stancil, NTSB Senior Hazardous Materials Accident Investigator
I wonder what Don Ross, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) investigator-in-charge, might have said to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the train derailment that occurred in Lac‑Mégantic, Quebec: a tragedy that claimed 47 lives, forced about 2,000 people to evacuate, and destroyed 40 buildings and 53 vehicles. It was my somber privilege to lead a team of NTSB investigators to that devastating accident scene to assist the TSB. 
Sadly, Don passed in 2019. But I am certain that he would have expressed gratitude for the dedication and personal sacrifices of his team members who, despite the massive scale of the task before them, organized quickly to get the job done. And I know he’d talk about how the appreciation and trust offered by families of the victims kept them going.
I wish I were visiting the accident scene with my friend Don to reflect on the enormous impact of this event. I’d tell him that he and his team didn’t just set the standard for how investigations of this magnitude should be done; the lessons they uncovered are still saving lives across Canada and the United States.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img data-attachment-id="6248" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/09/06/rail-tank-car-safety-ten-years-after-lac%e2%80%91megantic/lacmegantic-image-1/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/lacmegantic-image-1.jpg" data-orig-size="1313,876" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="LacMegantic image 1" data-image-description="Lac-Mégantic town center, July 7, 2013. Courtesy: Transportation Safety Board of Canada.
" data-image-caption="Lac-Mégantic town center, July 7, 2013. Courtesy: Transportation Safety Board of Canada.
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/lacmegantic-image-1.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/lacmegantic-image-1.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/lacmegantic-image-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-6248" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lac-Mégantic town center, July 7, 2013. Courtesy: Transportation Safety Board of Canada.</figcaption></figure>
What Happened
The events that led to this derailment began on July 5, 2013, at 10:50 p.m. local time, when Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway (MMA) freight train MMA-002 enroute from Montréal, Quebec, to Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, via Brownville Junction, Maine, came to rest at a crew change point near Nantes, Quebec. The track had a descending grade toward the town of Lac-Mégantic. The train was carrying volatile Bakken petroleum crude oil, a flammable liquid, that originated from New Town, North Dakota, destined for an oil refinery in Saint John, New Brunswick. The train was composed of five head-end locomotives, a special‑purpose caboose equipped to remotely control the locomotives, one loaded boxcar used as a buffer car, and 72 DOT-111 general service tank cars.
The train was operated by a single locomotive engineer, who left the lead locomotive idling after setting hand brakes on the locomotive consist and buffer car (seven cars in total). The locomotive engineer reported to the MMA rail traffic controller located in Bangor, Maine, that he had experienced mechanical difficulty with the lead locomotive throughout the trip and excessive smoke was coming from the engine. The engineer and rail traffic controller agreed the condition would likely settle on its own and the performance issues could be dealt with the next morning. The locomotive engineer then departed the area, leaving the idling lead locomotive and train unattended on the mainline track.
About 11:40 p.m., a local resident reported a fire on the idling locomotive. The fire department responded, and the MMA dispatched an employee to assist the fire department personnel. About midnight, the responders activated the emergency fuel cut-off switch to shut down the locomotive and extinguished the fire. The fire department and MMA personnel then departed the location, leaving the train unattended.
With no locomotive running, the air in the train’s brake system slowly began to deplete, resulting in a reduction in the retarding force holding the train in place. Shortly before 1:00 a.m. on July 6, 2013, the unattended train started to move, and it gathered speed, rolling uncontrolled for 7.2 miles down the descending grade into Lac‑Mégantic. The train reached a speed of about 65 mph as it entered the center of Lac‑Mégantic, where 63 loaded crude oil tank cars derailed on a curve and caught fire.
To this day, the Lac-Mégantic derailment remains the worst dangerous goods railroading disaster in Canadian history. At least 60 of the 63 derailed DOT-111 tank cars released about 1.6 million gallons of crude oil. Some of the spilled oil ignited immediately and engulfed the derailed tank cars, resulting in cascading fires and explosions. More than 26,000 gallons of the released crude oil entered Mégantic Lake and the Chaudière River. The fire wasn’t extinguished until around noon on July 7, 2013.
Rail Car Safety at the Forefront
I was preparing for an NTSB investigative hearing on another derailment with hazardous material release when I first learned about Lac‑Mégantic. Before we knew the details, I found myself hoping that the Lac-Mégantic train was not composed of many DOT-111 tank cars.
Based on our own experience with train derailments going back to the 1990s, my NTSB colleagues and I knew that this type of tank car performed poorly in an accident. Between 2007 and 2012, alone, there were several derailments with major flammable liquids releases and fires involving DOT-111 tank cars.
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/RAR0802.pdf">New Brighton, Pennsylvania</a>: 23 derailed DOT-111 cars lost over 485,000 gallons of denatured ethanol on October 20, 2006.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Accidentreports/Reports/RAR1201.pdf">Cherry Valley, Illinois</a>: 19 DOT-111 tank cars carrying ethanol derailed on June 19, 2009, killing one person and injuring seven others who were stopped in automobiles at a grade crossing. We concluded that enhanced tank head and shell puncture-resistance systems such as head shields, tank jackets, and increased shell thicknesses could have significantly reduced the severity of the accident.</li>
<li>Arcadia, Ohio: 33 derailed DOT-111 tank cars released about 786,000 gallons of ethanol on February 6, 2011.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/RAB1302.pdf">Tiskilwa, Illinois</a>: 10 DOT-111 tank cars derailed, resulting in fire, energetic rupture of several tank cars, and the release of 162,000 gallons of ethanol on October 7, 2011.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/RAB1408.pdf">Columbus, Ohio</a>: Three derailed DOT-111 tank cars released about 53,000 gallons of ethanol on July 11, 2012; one of the derailed tank cars experienced energetic rupture.</li>
<li>Plevna, Montana: Five of 18 derailed DOT-111 tank cars carrying ethanol caught fire on August 5, 2012, resulting in explosions.</li>
</ul>
Sadly, the degree of urgency for immediate regulatory action following these accidents was not commensurate with the potential for harm.
Recognizing the growing problem, however, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) Tank Car Committee had begun an effort in July 2009 to improve the accident survivability of DOT-111 tank cars transporting petroleum crude oil, ethanol, and ethanol/gasoline mixtures. Thus, in the absence of any new federal regulatory requirements, builders began producing new “CPC-1232” tank cars that used thicker steel for greater tank head and shell strength.
Several days after the Lac-Mégantic derailment, our worst fears at the NTSB were confirmed: all 63 of the derailed tank cars were DOT‑111s.
An Incredible Partnership
Given our history of safety recommendations citing safety deficiencies in DOT-111 tank cars and our newly acquired ability to laser scan tank cars, the TSB soon reached out to the NTSB to assist in its <a href="https://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/rail/2013/r13d0054/r13d0054-r-es.html">investigation</a>. That is how I came to lead a team of five NTSB investigators to Lac-Mégantic, where we helped examine the derailed tank cars. A sixth NTSB investigator deployed to the oil shipment’s point of origin in North Dakota.
As a result of our collaborative examination of the derailed tank cars, we found that the train was solely composed of “legacy” DOT‑111s that incorporated basic 1950s technology for general service. The TSB determined that 94% of the derailed cars were breached in some way. Further, more than half of the shell-breaching damages were equal in size to the car’s diameter, which resulted in massive instant loss of product.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img data-attachment-id="6250" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/09/06/rail-tank-car-safety-ten-years-after-lac%e2%80%91megantic/lacmegantic-image-2/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/lacmegantic-image-2.jpg" data-orig-size="1314,985" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="LacMegantic image 2" data-image-description="NTSB investigators adjust laser scanning equipment next to a damaged tank car in Lac-Mégantic, July 25, 2013.
" data-image-caption="NTSB investigators adjust laser scanning equipment next to a damaged tank car in Lac-Mégantic, July 25, 2013.
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/lacmegantic-image-2.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/lacmegantic-image-2.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/lacmegantic-image-2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-6250" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">NTSB investigators adjust laser scanning equipment next to a damaged tank car in Lac-Mégantic, July 25, 2013.</figcaption></figure>
During this investigation, we also discovered that railroads were not required to conduct analyses to ensure safe transport routes for flammable liquids, a requirement that did apply to other high-hazard materials.
Because the MMA had not ensured response resources would be available to remove a potential crude oil discharge of this size, Canadian authorities were left to complete the cleanup. We found a loophole in US federal regulations that established a comprehensive oil spill response planning threshold for a single tank size that was greater than any currently in use. In other words, had this derailment occurred in the United States, the rail carrier’s lack of oil-spill planning would have required the federal government to initiate removal actions using the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund to pay for the costs.
Finally, the shipper in North Dakota had incorrectly classified the crude oil as a Packing Group III material, meaning it presented the lowest degree of danger in transportation. However, TSB’s testing found that the crude oil should have been assigned to the more hazardous Packing Group II. Not only could misclassification affect the type of tank car used to ship the hazardous material; it also could have affected other safety provisions, such as outage requirements, operational controls, and safety and security planning for the train. The misclassification also could have hampered emergency responders’ ability to correctly understand the hazards associated with a shipment.
Impact on Tank Car Design
In January 2014, the TSB and the NTSB, in unprecedented action, jointly issued safety recommendations to remedy deficiencies that impacted the safety of rail operations both in Canada and the United States. Our recommendations were coordinated in recognition of the cross-border nature of hazardous materials rail shipments. This approach proved to be a call to action for improving the safety of operating freight trains that later came to be known as high-hazard flammable trains. Our combined voice was also beneficial for eliminating confusion about what had to be done.
Within 2 months of the Lac-Mégantic accident, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2013/09/06/2013-21621/hazardous-materials-rail-petitions-and-recommendations-to-improve-the-safety-of-railroad-tank-car">addressed</a> four of our safety recommendations dealing with improving tank car standards and improving the availability of hazardous materials information to emergency responders.<a href="#_ftn1" id="_ftnref1">[1]</a> Other freight rail safety improvements soon followed.
<ul>
<li>January 2014: Transport Canada proposes a new standard for DOT-111 tank cars that included thicker steel, top fittings protection, and head shields.</li>
<li>April 2014: Transport Canada orders the least crash-resistant DOT-111 tank cars removed from service; the NTSB holds a Rail Safety Forum on the Transportation of Crude Oil and Ethanol in response to the 16 significant derailments in the United States and Canada which, combined, were responsible for 48 deaths and 281 derailed DOT-111 tank cars that released 2.8 million gallons of crude oil and 2 million gallons of ethanol.</li>
<li>August 2014: Citing Lac-Mégantic as justification, PHMSA considers a new specification DOT-117 tank car, which, among other things, would be required to have a thicker shell than the CPC-1232 tank car, full head shields, and tank jackets with thermal protection system.<a href="#_ftn2" id="_ftnref2">[2]</a></li>
<li>Early 2015: A spate of fiery derailments fuels public outcry over so-called “bomb trains.”</li>
<li>April 2015: the NTSB recommends that all new and existing tank cars used to transport flammable liquids be equipped with thermal protection systems and appropriately sized pressure relief devices. We also recommended an aggressive milestone schedule for replacement or retrofitting legacy DOT-111 and CPC-1232 tank cars and a publicly available reporting system for its progress.</li>
<li>May 2015: PHMSA <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/document/PHMSA-2012-0082-3460">imposes</a> restrictions on high-hazard flammable trains, ensures proper classification of unrefined petroleum products, and codifies new tank car design standards for DOT-117 tank cars. Transport Canada harmonizes Canadian regulations to reflect the new tank car design standards.</li>
<li>December 2015: President Obama signs the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act of 2015 (FAST Act) into law, which instructs the Secretary of Transportation to make specific regulatory amendments to tank car design standards and establishes a phase-out schedule.</li>
<li>August 2016: PHMSA <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/08/15/2016-19406/hazardous-materials-fast-act-requirements-for-flammable-liquids-and-rail-tank-cars#:~:text=Specifically%2C%20the%20HM%2D251%20final,such%20as%20speed%20restrictions%2C%20braking">codifies</a> the FAST Act mandates by requiring newly manufactured DOT-117 and retrofitted tank cars meeting DOT specification 117R to be equipped with a thermal protection blanket and top fittings protection.</li>
</ul>
The Work Ahead
According to the latest AAR figures, more than 92,900 tank cars in the North American fleet meet DOT-117 specifications, while about 33,600 total DOT-111 and CPC-1232 tank cars remain to be retrofitted or phased out of flammable liquids service.<a href="#_ftn3" id="_ftnref3">[3]</a>
As we have watched the flammable liquids fleet transition away from DOT-111 tank cars in recent years, there have been fewer derailments of high-hazard flammable trains. Although declining accident numbers could certainly be due to a significant decrease in petroleum crude oil shipments since 2014, a steady volume of ethanol continues to fill between 300,000 and 400,000 carloads per year.
However, thanks in large part to increased puncture resistance, service equipment protection, and thermal protection systems, there has not been a single death or serious injury, nor a single instance of energetic fireball release or boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion (BLEVE) involving a derailed specification DOT-117 tank car transporting flammable liquids. The Lac-Mégantic investigation has remained the cornerstone for these safety improvements.
Nevertheless, there continue to be incidents and near-misses; more work is needed to improve rail tank car safety. For example, recent derailments have revealed vulnerabilities in the thermal performance of gasket materials, hinged and bolted manways, and service equipment. This includes the following four derailments with hazmat release that the NTSB is currently investigating:
<ul>
<li>The January 8, 2022, derailment of a high-hazard flammable train in <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/HMD22LR001.aspx">Oklaunion, Texas</a>, in which 28 derailed DOT-117J tank cars released almost 602,000 gallons of ethanol, largely due thermal damage of manway gaskets and other service equipment.</li>
<li>The February 3, 2023, train derailment with hazardous material release and fires that occurred in <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/RRD23MR005.aspx">East Palestine, Ohio</a>, in which a mixed freight train derailed 11 tank cars carrying hazardous materials, including three DOT-111 tank cars that were punctured and released flammable and combustible materials that ignited. The resulting thermal damage to other tank cars carrying vinyl chloride prompted a controversial vent-and-burn action that released toxic combustion products into the surrounding community.</li>
<li>The March 30, 2023, derailment of a mixed freight train in <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/RRD23LR009.aspx">Raymond, Minnesota</a>, including 10 DOT-117J tank cars carrying ethanol, some of which was released from two punctured tank cars and ignited and caused thermal damage to manway gaskets in other tank cars.  </li>
<li>The June 24, 2023, freight train derailment in <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/HMD23LR002.aspx">Reed Point, Montana</a>, in which nine DOT-111 tank cars carrying hazardous materials derailed from a bridge and came to rest in the Yellowstone River, where they released molten sulfur and asphalt petroleum liquid into the river.</li>
</ul>
Thinking back on those lost in the Lac-Mégantic tragedy, I can’t help but remember something Don once told me: “I think it is fair to say that no one can be fully prepared for this.” That may be true, yet Don and the TSB team more than rose to meet the occasion. And we are all safer for it.
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
<a href="#_ftnref1" id="_ftn1">[1]</a> Safety Recommendations <a href="https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/R-12-005">R-12-5</a>, <a href="https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/R-12-006">R-12-6</a>, <a href="https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/R-12-007">R-12-7</a>, and <a href="https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/R-07-004">R-07-4</a> (reiterated).  
<a href="#_ftnref2" id="_ftn2">[2]</a> 79 Federal Register 45016 (August 1, 2014)   
<a href="#_ftnref3" id="_ftn3">[3]</a> North American Flammable Liquid Tank Car Fleet: Status Report, 4th Quarter 2022, (Association of American Railroads, April 2023).
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<title>Rightsizing our Agency with the Right Resources at the Right Time</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/08/31/rightsizing-our-agency-with-the-right-resources-at-the-right-time/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 31 Aug 2023 21:40:42 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Aviation Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Commercial Space]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Marine Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pipeline]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Rail Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Transit]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=6226</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Dana Schulze, NTSB Managing Director The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant events in railroad, transit, highway, marine, pipeline, and commercial space. We determine the probable causes of the accidents and events we investigate and issue safety recommendations aimed at preventing future … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/08/31/rightsizing-our-agency-with-the-right-resources-at-the-right-time/" class="more-link">Continue reading Rightsizing our Agency with the Right Resources at the Right Time →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Dana Schulze, NTSB Managing Director
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/organization/AS/Pages/office_as.aspx">aviation </a>accident in the United States and significant events in <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/organization/RPHM/Pages/office_rph.aspx">railroad</a>, <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/organization/RPHM/Pages/office_rph.aspx">transit</a>, <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/organization/HS/Pages/office_hs.aspx">highway</a>, <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/organization/MS/Pages/office_ms.aspx">marine</a>, <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/organization/RPHM/Pages/office_rph.aspx">pipeline</a>, and <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/organization/AS/Pages/Commericial-Space-.aspx">commercial space</a>. We determine the probable causes of the accidents and events we investigate and issue safety recommendations aimed at preventing future occurrences.
The agency’s investigative and technical staff are recognized for their forensic safety expertise, and with support from the agency’s professional staff, the NTSB is the premier safety investigation organization in the world. In total, the NTSB has conducted more than 153,000 aviation-related investigations and thousands of highway, transit, marine, rail, pipeline, and commercial space investigations, resulting in more than 15,300 safety recommendations. As a result, the NTSB has had a significant and far-reaching impact improving transportation safety for all, with 80% of our recommendations being addressed.
We’ve been getting the job done, even though our budget and workforce has remained relatively flat for the past 20 years. That’s until the 15th Chair of the NTSB, Jennifer Homendy, was sworn in on Aug. 15, 2021.
From her first day, Chair Homendy immediately began implementing her vision of putting mission first, building our agency’s staffing and infrastructure to equip us to better meet the transportation safety challenges we face, including today’s accidents and significant events and those coming in the very near future from emerging technologies like autonomous vehicles and commercial space.
Growing our Workforce 
Her first step: fund the agency to grow our workforce. Chair Homendy understood that the agency could not effectively operate with the same number of people that we had in 1997, given the growing complexities of the transportation systems we investigate. Working with leadership across the agency, the Chair secured needed funding increases in fiscal years (FYs) 2022 and 2023, prioritizing recruitment of a diverse and talented workforce, starting with hiring the agency’s first chief human capital officer and supporting a hiring surge.
Under Homendy’s leadership, our workforce has rebounded from an all-time low of 397 employees in August 2019 to its current 419 dedicated professionals. The NTSB workforce is expected to grow to 435 employees by the end of September.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img data-attachment-id="6231" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/08/31/rightsizing-our-agency-with-the-right-resources-at-the-right-time/swear-in-ceremony-held-at-headquarters-august-28-2023/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/or8a3671.jpg" data-orig-size="2000,1333" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"4","credit":"","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark III","caption":"Swear-in ceremony held at headquarters August 28, 2023","created_timestamp":"1693214567","copyright":"","focal_length":"31","iso":"1600","shutter_speed":"0.008","title":"Swear-in ceremony held at headquarters August 28, 2023","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Swear-in ceremony held at headquarters August 28, 2023" data-image-description="Chair Homendy and Office of Aviation Air Traffic Control Team
" data-image-caption="Chair Homendy and Office of Aviation Air Traffic Control Team
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/or8a3671.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/or8a3671.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/or8a3671.jpg" alt="Chair Homendy and Office of Aviation Air Traffic Control Team" class="wp-image-6231" style="width:800px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Chair Homendy and Office of Aviation Air Traffic Control Team</figcaption></figure>
Chair Homendy routinely swears in new staff as they are welcomed into the agency by our senior leaders. Just this week, the Chair gave the oath of office to a returning NTSB employee joining our Office of Research and Engineering and new members of the Air Traffic Control Team within the Office of Aviation Safety. That division is now fully staffed for the first time in 7 years.
We also have Chair Homendy to thank for successfully asking the Office of Personnel Management to grant us direct-hire authority, which has sped up the hiring process and enabled us to identify and hire the right talent, for the right job, faster.
Getting Up to Speed Quickly
With so many new hires, agency leaders are focused on ensuring all staff have the skills to succeed. Staff now have access to a Career Development Roadmap with a curated list of educational resources in emerging technology, leadership, project management, data analytics, and many other areas critical to our mission success. We’ve developed and launched a multimodal drone program, including new drones and training for drone operators.
We even launched a new mentoring program in 2023 to connect our seasoned veterans with our newest members to help transfer their knowledge, skills, and expertise. We kicked the program off with a speed mentoring event featuring female leaders across the agency during Women’s History Month.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img data-attachment-id="6233" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/08/31/rightsizing-our-agency-with-the-right-resources-at-the-right-time/womens-history-month-mentoring-event/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/womens-history-month-mentoring-event.jpg" data-orig-size="733,524" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="NTSB womens-history-month-mentoring-event" data-image-description="NTSB Women’s History Month Mentoring Event
" data-image-caption="Women’s History Month Mentoring Event
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/womens-history-month-mentoring-event.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/womens-history-month-mentoring-event.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/womens-history-month-mentoring-event.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-6233" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Women’s History Month Mentoring Event</figcaption></figure></div>
We’re also investing in our infrastructure, prioritizing funding to acquire long-overdue enhanced IT tools and digital capabilities to improve the customer experience of both staff and those seeking information from the NTSB. This will be supported by the $16.2 million Technology Modernization Fund loan recently awarded to our agency, thanks to an agencywide team led by the Office of Chief Information Officer (CIO) in coordination with the Office of Managing Director, the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, and the Office of Human Capital Management and Training.
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" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/summer-social-1-3.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/summer-social-1-3.jpg?w=474" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/summer-social-1-3.jpg?strip=info&w=600 600w,https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/summer-social-1-3.jpg?strip=info&w=900 900w,https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/summer-social-1-3.jpg?strip=info&w=1200 1200w,https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/summer-social-1-3.jpg?strip=info&w=1500 1500w,https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/summer-social-1-3.jpg?strip=info&w=1800 1800w,https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/summer-social-1-3.jpg?strip=info&w=2000 2000w" alt="Chair Homendy, NTSB leadership, and employees at ice cream social" data-height="2918" data-id="6240" data-link="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?attachment_id=6240" data-url="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/summer-social-1-3.jpg?w=1024" data-width="4377" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/summer-social-1-3.jpg" /></figure></div><div class="tiled-gallery__col" style="flex-basis:50.00617%"><figure class="tiled-gallery__item"><img data-attachment-id="6241" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/08/31/rightsizing-our-agency-with-the-right-resources-at-the-right-time/ice-cream-social-event-at-ntsb-headquarters-4/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/summer-social-2-2.jpg" data-orig-size="4030,2686" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"Ice cream social event at NTSB headquarters","created_timestamp":"1693502848","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"Ice cream social event at NTSB headquarters","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Ice cream social event at NTSB headquarters" data-image-description="Chair Homendy, NTSB leadership, and employees at ice cream social
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If you’ve met Jennifer Homendy, you know she’s a people person. She’s always out there building relationships in big and small ways, internally and with external stakeholders. Our recent ice cream social, co-hosted by the agency’s staff-led Diversity and Inclusion Council (“the DIAC”) and my office, is one example of the Chair’s efforts. The social was a great opportunity to break down our organizational silos, help our new staff feel welcome, and assure everyone that we’re all focused on the same core mission, no matter what your role, as part of Team NTSB.
Driving Change with Data
Ensuring our agency leaders have the data they need to make critical decisions, improve our operations, and swiftly answer data calls from Congress and the public has been a top priority for Chair Homendy. 
As a result, the NTSB now has a formal Data Program and Data Strategy Plan. We’ve also hired a chief data officer, who will join our agency in early FY 2024. Already, with the help of our chief data scientist and CIO, our data infrastructure has grown to allow staff use dashboards and data visualization tools to help analyze the agency’s work, identify trouble spots and bottlenecks, and make changes to improve efficiency.
The proof of success from our data-driven change and larger workforce is in the numbers. Over the past 2 years, thanks to staff’s incredible work, we’ve reduced our backlog of 442 incomplete investigations over 2 years old to almost zero, and the average time to complete an investigation has decreased across every mode of transportation we investigate. Now, that’s measurable progress!
Rightsizing our Budget 
Growth and operational improvements come at a cost—a fact not lost on Chair Homendy. For the past 2 years, the Chair has been on Capitol Hill knocking on doors and speaking to everyone who will listen about why our agency’s budget needs to be rightsized. 
She has also spent the past 2 years proving to Congress that this agency is responsive and nimble, and that we’re improving our operational efficiency. All her efforts to grow our staff, reduce our investigation backlog, and better serve and represent our customers are paying off. 
For FY 2024, the House Appropriations Committee approved a $145-million budget for our agency. If granted, it would be the first significant NTSB funding increase since the mid-1990s. The new funding has long been needed to continue to grow the agency’s size and capabilities so we can more effectively accomplish our critical safety mission. 
We look forward to entering the new fiscal year energized, better staffed, and prepared to meet new challenges, with a new group of NTSB employees ready to join in our critical mission to make transportation safer for all. 
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<media:title type="html">Chair Homendy and Office of Aviation Air Traffic Control Team</media:title>
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<title>Back to School – Safely!</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/08/24/back-to-school-safely/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 24 Aug 2023 16:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Bicyclists]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Child Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Drowsy Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pedestrians]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[School Buses]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Series: Back to School Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Teen Driving]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=6220</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Leah Walton, NTSB Safety Advocate The 2023-2024 school year is upon us, and parents all over the country are preparing to send their students back to school. In the rush to gather back-to-school supplies, it’s easy to lose sight of what “back to school” means at the basic, literal level. Your student is going … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/08/24/back-to-school-safely/" class="more-link">Continue reading Back to School – Safely! →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Leah Walton, NTSB Safety Advocate
The 2023-2024 school year is upon us, and parents all over the country are preparing to send their students back to school.
In the rush to gather back-to-school supplies, it’s easy to lose sight of what “back to school” means at the basic, literal level. Your student is going to school again, and coming home again, every day. How can they do that most safely?
The answer for most families is the big yellow bus.
The hours before and after school are the <a href="https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813477">most dangerous times for students on the roads</a>, but students traveling in school buses are the best-protected passengers on the roads during these times.
Yet not every student has access to the bus, so let’s review best practices for getting to and from school, however your student gets there.
On the School Bus
<a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/school-bus-safety">Less than one percent of all traffic fatalities involve students</a> in school transportation vehicles. In other words, students are more likely to get to school safely if they take the school bus instead of traveling by car. If your student can ride the school bus, make this your first choice. 
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="6009" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/08/18/back-to-school-safety-keeping-children-safe-in-and-around-the-school-bus/schoolbus/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/schoolbus.jpg" data-orig-size="5472,3648" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"4","credit":"","camera":"Canon EOS 6D","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1471518993","copyright":"","focal_length":"35","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.004","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="schoolbus" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/schoolbus.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/schoolbus.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/schoolbus.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6009" style="width:476px;height:317px" width="476" height="317" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/schoolbus.jpg?w=476 476w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/schoolbus.jpg?w=952 952w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/schoolbus.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/schoolbus.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/schoolbus.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 476px) 100vw, 476px" /></figure></div>
School bus travel is a resounding success, and it is getting better all the time, thanks in part to the attention the NTSB brings to remaining vulnerabilities in school bus travel. For further information about school bus safety, and the NTSB safety recommendations related to school bus design, watch our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksw67zFnuAE">School Bus Safety video</a>. If your student’s school bus is equipped with seatbelts, make sure to remind your students to buckle theirs.
But rest assured that your student’s school bus ride keeps them safe on the way to and from school:
According to <a href="https://www.schoolbusfleet.com/research">School Bus Fleet</a>, in the 2021-22 school year, an estimated 489,748 yellow school buses provided transportation service daily in the United States. About 20.5 million elementary and secondary school students ride school buses to and from school each day. <a href="https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/road-users/school-bus/"> School buses are the safest way to travel</a> to school, and even when they do crash, occupants of school buses are safer than other road users. Seventy percent of deaths in school bus-related crashes are occupants of vehicles other than the school bus, and 16% are pedestrians. Out of all recorded school bus-involved deaths, only 5% of those who died were school bus passengers inside the bus.
But our students must get onto and off the bus, and during these phases they are much more vulnerable. As parents and as citizens we must all work together to ensure the safety of students on their way to and from school.  Drivers and parents, be careful and keep your eyes on the road for our most vulnerable road users. If you approach a school bus with red flashing lights on and stop-arm out, STOP! And remain stopped until stop signal and flashing lights are off and the bus is in motion again.
According to the American School Bus Council, passing vehicles cause <a href="https://schoolbusfacts.com/Safety">nearly two thirds of school bus loading and unloading fatalities</a>. In the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services’ <a href="https://www.nasdpts.org/resources/Docs/2023IllegalPassingSurvey-PressRelease.pdf">2023 Stop Arm survey</a>, 94,581 school bus drivers reported that 62,482 vehicles passed their buses illegally on a single day. Throughout a 180-day school year, these sample results point to more than 43.5 million violations among America’s driving public—don’t be that driver!
As Pedestrians
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), <a href="https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813105">among the 206 school-age fatalities from 2012 to 2021</a>, more school-age pedestrians were killed from 6 to 6:59 a.m. and 3 to 3:59 p.m. than any other hours of the day. Planning a safe route with your student is essential to their safe walk to and from school.
Map out the safest route for your student before school is back in session and practice it a few times. This will help them become familiar with the route, including any crosswalks or intersections they may need to negotiate, and allows you the opportunity to demonstrate safe walking behaviors.
<ul>
<li>Choose bright colored clothing or outerwear for your student, ideally with retroreflective material.</li>
<li>Consider creating a neighborhood group to walk together with at least one other student or older sibling.</li>
</ul>
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4170" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2018/08/16/back-to-school-safety-pedestrian-and-bicycle-safety-tips/pedbikebloggraphic/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/pedbikebloggraphic.jpg" data-orig-size="1080,1080" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="PedBikeBlogGraphic" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/pedbikebloggraphic.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/pedbikebloggraphic.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/pedbikebloggraphic.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-4170" style="width:423px;height:423px" width="423" height="423" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/pedbikebloggraphic.jpg?w=423 423w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/pedbikebloggraphic.jpg?w=846 846w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/pedbikebloggraphic.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/pedbikebloggraphic.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/pedbikebloggraphic.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 423px) 100vw, 423px" /></figure></div>
As Bicyclists
If you have a student riding a bicycle to school, make sure you map out the route with them in advance, and practice as well! Make sure to remind your student of the rules of the road and to be as safe as possible.
Be sure your student wears a helmet and reflective gear! No matter how short or long the ride, wearing a helmet is important. <a href="https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/Pages/safety-on-the-way-to-school.aspx#:~:text=Use%20your%20head%E2%80%94and%20protect,Safety%20Commission%20and%20fit%20correctly.">It can cut the risk of head injuries</a> by about 85% and facial injuries by about 65% among bike riders.
As Car Riders and Drivers
If you must drive your student to and from school, make sure all vehicle occupants are buckled up for every trip. A seat belt is the best defense in the event of a crash.
If your teen is driving to and from school, make sure they keep their safety and those around them in mind. As a parent or caregiver:
<ul>
<li>Ensure their vehicle is in good operating condition – routinely have the vehicle serviced to ensure the brakes are working properly, there is adequate tire air pressure, and windshield wipers are in working order for maximum visibility.</li>
<li>Be aware of how much sleep your teen is getting – teens need between 8-10 hours of sleep each night. Drowsy driving can be as dangerous as impaired driving.</li>
<li>Limit the number of passengers in the vehicle to reduce distractions. In some states, it’s part of the Graduated Driver License law!</li>
<li>Set the expectation that your teen driver put their phone away while driving. Hands-free cell phone use is not risk-free!</li>
<li>Remind your teen of the importance of always following safe speeds, and never driving while under the influence of impairing prescription or illicit drugs.</li>
</ul>
We at the NTSB wish all students a safe and enriching 2023-2024 school year!
For more information on school bus safety, visit the <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/safety-topics/Pages/schoolbuses.aspx">NTSB School Bus Safety webpage</a>.

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<title>Missouri Bans Texting While Driving, Only Montana Remains</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/07/19/missouri-bans-texting-while-driving-only-montana-remains/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/07/19/missouri-bans-texting-while-driving-only-montana-remains/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 19 Jul 2023 20:38:29 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safe System Approach]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Bruce Landsberg]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=6212</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Vice Chair Bruce Landsberg On July 7 Gov. Mike Parson signed the Siddens Bening Hands Free Law, prohibiting the use of portable electronic devices while driving, making Missouri the 49th state with some form of texting ban. The District of Columbia also bans texting and driving. As the nation battles the rising number of … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/07/19/missouri-bans-texting-while-driving-only-montana-remains/" class="more-link">Continue reading Missouri Bans Texting While Driving, Only Montana Remains →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/board/Pages/Bruce-Landsberg.aspx">Vice Chair Bruce Landsberg</a>
On July 7 Gov. Mike Parson signed the <a href="https://abc17news.com/news/missouri/2023/07/07/parson-signs-law-prohibiting-hand-held-cellphone-use-while-driving/">Siddens Bening Hands Free Law</a>, prohibiting the use of portable electronic devices while driving, making Missouri the 49th state with some form of texting ban. The District of Columbia also bans texting and driving.
As the nation battles the rising number of roadway fatalities, distracted driving continues to be among the road safety issues that most concern the NTSB and the road safety community. Distracted driving is widespread, killing thousands and injuring hundreds of thousands in the United States every year in preventable crashes. Put into context, all driving fatalities now equate to the loss of three airliners a week. In 2011, the NTSB recommended that <a href="https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/H-11-039">all states and the District of Columbia ban driver use of portable electronic devices</a> except in emergencies.
The recommendation came in response to a multivehicle crash in Gray Summit, Missouri. That involved two school buses, a truck-tractor, and a pickup truck with a teen driver. The probable cause was distraction due to text messaging by the teen driver.
Although it’s satisfying to see Missouri finally banning texting while driving, no state has fully satisfied our recommendation; rather, they are meeting this recommendation a step at a time. No state has gone far enough yet to fully ban drivers from using portable electronic devices except in support of the driving task, such as navigation. The science is very clear—humans do not multitask well, and we all pay the price in lost lives, huge number of life-altering injuries and massive insurance costs!
49 states and the District of Columbia have texting bans. Now, Montana is the only state to permit texting and driving on its roads.
The battle against distracted driving will progress a step at a time, and the NTSB congratulates Missourians for taking this one. Technology got us into this deadly situation and can end this immediately, along with legislation, proper enforcement and education.
Getting here took the collaborative efforts and hard work of many dedicated advocates, such as AAA Missouri, Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety, MODOT, StopDistraction.org, the National Distracted Driving Coalition, and survivor advocates. Our thanks to the Missouri road safety community for calling on us to testify in support of your efforts and accepting us into a collaborative partnership as you worked to see this law become a reality.
The work to eliminate distracted driving must—and will—continue, and the NTSB will stand with advocates for anti-distraction laws across the nation.
Resources
Learn how you can help <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-05.aspx">eliminate distracted driving</a>.
Watch the 2019 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5aVmmm4Qt9GwQxi5dPjoxE50xpXPX6dl">Missouri Roundtable on Distracted Driving: Act to End Deadly Distractions</a>
<a href="https://usnddc.org/">National Distracted Driving Coalition</a>
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<title>EPISODE 55: NTSB VEHICLE RECORDERS DIVISION</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/06/16/episode-55-ntsb-vehicle-recorders-division/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jun 2023 12:43:25 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Behind-the-Scene]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=6203</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, we talk with staff from our Vehicle Recorders Division, in the Office of Research and Engineering, about the work they do to support transportation safety investigations, and how they contribute to the mission of the NTSB. For more information about NTSB job opportunities, visit our webpage. To learn more about … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/06/16/episode-55-ntsb-vehicle-recorders-division/" class="more-link">Continue reading EPISODE 55: NTSB VEHICLE RECORDERS DIVISION →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, we talk with staff from our Vehicle Recorders Division, in the Office of Research and Engineering, about the work they do to support transportation safety investigations, and how they contribute to the mission of the NTSB. 
<figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/episode-55ben-edits.mp3"></audio></figure>
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For more information about NTSB job opportunities, visit our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/employment/Pages/Careers.aspx">webpage</a>.
To learn more about NTSB’s Office of Research and Engineering, visit the office’s <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/organization/RE/Pages/office_re.aspx">webpage</a>.
Subscribe to the podcast on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-scene-ntsb/id1286590741?mt=2">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9zYWZldHljb21wYXNzLndvcmRwcmVzcy5jb20vY2F0ZWdvcnkvYmVoaW5kLXRoZS1zY2VuZS9mZWVkLw">Google Play</a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/behindthescenentsb/behindthescene-ntsb">Stitcher</a>, or your favorite podcast platform.
And find more ways to listen here: <a href="https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/">https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/.</a>
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<title>Breaking Barriers for Women in Aviation—Now is the Time</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/02/22/breaking-barriers-for-women-in-aviation-now-is-the-time/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/02/22/breaking-barriers-for-women-in-aviation-now-is-the-time/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2023 00:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Aviation Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Jennifer Homendy]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=6186</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Chair Jennifer Homendy NOW is the time to break barriers for women in aviation. I shared this call to action with lawmakers earlier this month when I testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) — a body I’m proud to have served for nearly 15 years in my … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/02/22/breaking-barriers-for-women-in-aviation-now-is-the-time/" class="more-link">Continue reading Breaking Barriers for Women in Aviation—Now is the Time →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/board/Pages/Jennifer-Homendy.aspx">Chair Jennifer Homendy</a>
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NOW is the time to break barriers for women in aviation. 
I shared this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmCuQk8JM0w">call to action</a> with lawmakers earlier this month when I testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) — a body I’m proud to have served for nearly 15 years in my pre-NTSB days.
It was the T&I Committee’s first hearing as it prepares to work on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill. In the words of Chairman Sam Graves, the bill is an unmissable opportunity to enhance “America’s gold standard in aviation safety.”  
Make no mistake: the lack of diversity in U.S. aviation is a safety issue, which is why I’m so glad Congressman Rudy Yakym asked me about it.
The State of Women in Aviation
I’m only the fourth woman to serve as NTSB Chair since the agency was established in 1967 — 55 years ago.
Unfortunately, my story isn’t unique; women are underrepresented across transportation in every mode and nearly every job category, especially in roles that tend to pay more, such as upper management and highly technical positions.
Aviation is no exception, where the data are startling: women hold less than 8% of FAA-issued pilot certificates.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="438" data-attachment-id="6192" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/02/22/breaking-barriers-for-women-in-aviation-now-is-the-time/graphic-1/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-1.png" data-orig-size="3894,1666" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Graphic 1" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-1.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-1.png?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-1.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6192" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-1.png?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-1.png?w=2048 2048w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-1.png?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-1.png?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-1.png?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Things are improving, but not fast enough. In fact, the share of commercial pilot certificates held by women is increasing at a rate of approximately 1% a DECADE. That’s unacceptably slow progress.
There’s also an unacceptable lack of ethnic and racial diversity among U.S. pilots, 94% of whom are white…and less than 0.5% of whom are Black women.
Other roles in aviation show a similar trend when it comes to gender diversity. Women represent 19.7% of dispatchers, 16.8% of air traffic controllers, 3% of aviation CEOs, and less than 3% of maintenance technicians. I could go on.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="621" data-attachment-id="6194" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/02/22/breaking-barriers-for-women-in-aviation-now-is-the-time/graphic-2/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-2.png" data-orig-size="3018,1833" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Graphic 2" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-2.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-2.png?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-2.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6194" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-2.png?w=1022 1022w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-2.png?w=2045 2045w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-2.png?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-2.png?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-2.png?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
The System-Level Change We Need
What’s keeping women out of the control towers, off the tarmac, and everywhere in between — and what can we do about it?
The Women in Aviation Advisory Board (WIAAB) set out to answer these questions. Convened by Congress, the board’s charge was to develop recommendations and strategies to support female students and aviators to pursue a career in aviation.
The board concluded its work last year with a groundbreaking <a href="https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/rulemaking/committees/documents/media/WIAAB_Recommendations_Report_March_2022.pdf">report</a>, whose findings are best understood with an example.
Let’s use a hypothetical young woman who dreams of flying when she grows up. 
I’ll call her “Lexi.”
Barriers to Entry
Lexi will face significant barriers to entering aviation at all stages of her life — and they present sooner than you might think.
As one survey revealed, more than half (54%) of women in aviation cited childhood exposure to the field as a positive influence on their decision to pursue an aviation career.
Conversely, 70% of women outside the industry say they never considered aviation. The most common reason they cited? A lack of familiarity with aviation-related opportunities.
In other words, exposing young kids to aviation is a powerful step we can take toward our diversity goals.
That means Lexi is more likely to become a pilot if someone exposes her to it before she’s 10 years old.  
As Lexi grows up, society will send her powerful messages about who “belongs” in aviation. The WIAAB report points out, “During the secondary school years (ages 11–18), girls continue to be subjected to gender-limiting stereotypes and face bias and harassment for behaving outside of societal norms.”
Without intervention, repeated exposure to such negative messages can end Lexi’s aviation career before it even begins.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="950" height="1023" data-attachment-id="6195" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/02/22/breaking-barriers-for-women-in-aviation-now-is-the-time/graphic-3/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-3.png" data-orig-size="2272,2448" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Graphic 3" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-3.png?w=278" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-3.png?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-3.png?w=950" alt="" class="wp-image-6195" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-3.png?w=950 950w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-3.png?w=1900 1900w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-3.png?w=139 139w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-3.png?w=278 278w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-3.png?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 950px) 100vw, 950px" /></figure>
Barriers to Retention 
Getting more women to enter aviation is only half the battle; we need to ensure they stay once they get there. Let’s assume Lexi is one of them.
Lexi is now a young adult. She’s completed her studies, graduated at the top of her class, and earned her pilot’s certificate. She’s thrilled to accept an offer to work as a commercial pilot.
At her new job, Lexi quickly makes a group of friends: 9 other women in aviation who defied the odds to be there. They “made it.”
The heartbreaking truth is that 6 of those 10 women will consider leaving aviation before long. Chances are, it’ll include Lexi.
What could possibly force Lexi and five of her colleagues from a job they’ve each dreamed about since childhood…one they worked incredibly hard to get?
In short: implicit bias discrimination, lack of career opportunities, and lack of flexibility and work-life balance. That’s what the WIAAB report shows.
The report also reveals chilling statistics on the prevalence of sexual harassment. Among women in aviation:
<ul>
<li>71% report experiencing sexual harassment at work or in an aviation setting.</li>
<li>68% of flight attendants experienced sexual harassment during their flying career.</li>
<li>51% who reported or complained about sexual harassment experienced retaliation.</li>
<li>62% say sexual harassment remains a significant problem in the aviation industry.</li>
<li>81% say they’ve witnessed sexual harassment in the workplace.</li>
</ul>
It’s not right and it’s not safe — for anyone.
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="547" height="1024" data-attachment-id="6197" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/02/22/breaking-barriers-for-women-in-aviation-now-is-the-time/graphic-4/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-4.png" data-orig-size="1120,2098" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Graphic 4" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-4.png?w=160" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-4.png?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-4.png?w=547" alt="" class="wp-image-6197" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-4.png?w=547 547w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-4.png?w=1094 1094w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-4.png?w=80 80w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-4.png?w=160 160w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-4.png?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 547px) 100vw, 547px" /></figure></div>
The Safety Implications
Keep these statics in mind. Now, consider this line from NASA’s Safety Culture Model, which was developed following the 1986 Challenger disaster: “No one should ever be afraid to speak up; it could save a life.”
How could a woman like Lexi feel safe speaking up if she’s being harassed at work? And retaliated against for reporting it?
It’s clear that our aviation safety culture is falling short on NASA’s measure.
The Royal Aeronautical Society makes the case succinctly: “Without an inclusive environment, there can be no guarantee of safety.”
Fortunately, the opposite is also true: an inclusive culture can make everyone safer.
That’s why the WIABB recommends interventions like creating an industry-wide reporting system on gender bias. Imagine for just a moment what that could do to attract women to careers in aviation and ensure they stay. It’d be game-changing.
Now imagine ALL 55 of the WIAAB recommendations are implemented — it would transform aviation.
THAT’s how we create a more inclusive aviation culture, one that attracts and retains people from all walks of life…one that makes our skies safer for everyone.
We also need to give credit where it’s due. Many in the aviation industry are taking proactive steps that are also having a tremendous positive effect. For example, several commercial airlines have launched pilot training academies to diversify their applicant pool, efforts that I applaud!
The next step, as I see it, would be for the entire industry and labor to combine efforts. Such an action could supercharge progress toward our diversity goals. It would also allow industry and labor to defray the costs associated with investing in tomorrow’s aviation workforce…an investment from which we all benefit.
A Personal Take
I want a different future for women in aviation. Women like Lexi…whose aviation career, I’ll now admit, isn’t hypothetical.
Lexi is my daughter.
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="6199" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/02/22/breaking-barriers-for-women-in-aviation-now-is-the-time/graphic-5-lexi/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-5-lexi.png" data-orig-size="187,224" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Graphic 5 – Lexi" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="Lexi speaking at the 2022 Women in Aviation International Conference
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-5-lexi.png?w=187" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-5-lexi.png?w=187" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-5-lexi.png" alt="" class="wp-image-6199" width="285" height="340" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-5-lexi.png 187w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/graphic-5-lexi.png?w=125&h=150 125w" sizes="(max-width: 285px) 100vw, 285px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lexi speaking at the 2022 Women in Aviation International Conference</figcaption></figure></div>
Though she’s now 15 years old, Lexi has known for years that she wants to be an aerospace engineer when she grows up. She even spoke about her passion for flying at last year’s Women in Aviation International Conference. I’m incredibly proud of her.
I have no doubt that my daughter will make her aviation dreams come true. And yet, I worry about the culture she’ll encounter once she gets there, and not just because I’m her mom — but because a more inclusive aviation culture will make everyone safer. I also think about the other little girls who never know that aviation is a viable dream in the first place.
Luckily, the Women in Aviation Advisory Board has provided us with a “flight plan for the future,” which gets at the root causes of our diversity problem.
Let’s get to work. Our “gold standard” of aviation safety depends on it.
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<title>Episode 54: Women in Aviation</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/02/21/episode-54-women-in-aviation/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Feb 2023 17:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Behind-the-Scene]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB we talk with Senior Air Traffic Control Investigator Betty Koschig and Senior Aviation Accident Analyst Allison Diaz in the Office of Aviation Safety, about their work to improve aviation safety and the NTSB’s participation in the upcoming Women in Aviation International conference. Hear more about opportunities to work at … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/02/21/episode-54-women-in-aviation/" class="more-link">Continue reading Episode 54: Women in Aviation →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB we talk with Senior Air Traffic Control Investigator Betty Koschig and Senior Aviation Accident Analyst Allison Diaz in the Office of Aviation Safety, about their work to improve aviation safety and the NTSB’s participation in the upcoming Women in Aviation International conference. Hear more about opportunities to work at the NTSB and our efforts to advance aviation safety and support women in aviation.
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For more information about NTSB job opportunities, visit our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/employment/Pages/Careers.aspx">webpage</a>.
To learn more about NTSB’s Office of Aviation Safety, visit the office’s <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/organization/AS/Pages/office_as.aspx">webpage</a>.
Subscribe to the podcast on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-scene-ntsb/id1286590741?mt=2">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9zYWZldHljb21wYXNzLndvcmRwcmVzcy5jb20vY2F0ZWdvcnkvYmVoaW5kLXRoZS1zY2VuZS9mZWVkLw">Google Play</a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/behindthescenentsb/behindthescene-ntsb">Stitcher</a>, or your favorite podcast platform.
And find more ways to listen here: <a href="https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/">https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/</a>
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<title>Commemorating Air Crash Victims and Honoring Families, Every Day</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/02/20/commemorating-air-crash-victims-and-honoring-families-every-day/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2023 14:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Family Assistance]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Inside NTSB]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Transportation Disaster Assistance]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Transportation History]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=6175</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Elias Kontanis, Chief, Transportation Disaster Assistance Division Last year, for the first time, the international aviation community observed February 20th as the International Day Commemorating Air Crash Victims and Families. This year, on the second annual observance, we join in reflecting on the lives lost in aviation accidents as well as on the vigilance … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/02/20/commemorating-air-crash-victims-and-honoring-families-every-day/" class="more-link">Continue reading Commemorating Air Crash Victims and Honoring Families, Every Day →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Elias Kontanis, Chief, Transportation Disaster Assistance Division
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" data-attachment-id="5725" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/02/18/international-day-commemorating-air-crash-victims-and-families/2022-intlday-aircrashvictimsfamilies-2/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/2022-intlday-aircrashvictimsfamilies-1.jpg" data-orig-size="2168,1136" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="2022-IntlDay-AirCrashVictimsFamilies" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/2022-intlday-aircrashvictimsfamilies-1.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/2022-intlday-aircrashvictimsfamilies-1.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/2022-intlday-aircrashvictimsfamilies-1.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5725" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/2022-intlday-aircrashvictimsfamilies-1.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/2022-intlday-aircrashvictimsfamilies-1.jpg?w=2046 2046w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/2022-intlday-aircrashvictimsfamilies-1.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/2022-intlday-aircrashvictimsfamilies-1.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/2022-intlday-aircrashvictimsfamilies-1.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Last year, for the first time, the international aviation community observed February 20th as the <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/02/18/international-day-commemorating-air-crash-victims-and-families/">International Day Commemorating Air Crash Victims and Families.</a> This year, on the second annual observance, we join in reflecting on the lives lost in aviation accidents as well as on the vigilance needed to ensure safety remains the priority in aviation.
As important as it is to commemorate, it is imperative that we also commit—commit to ensuring our programs effectively address the concerns of accident survivors and families and provide the information and support needed after tragedy happens.
The NTSB conducts its investigations with the goal of preventing future accidents. We do this work so that no other families must experience the painful loss or injury of loved ones due to transportation accidents. Our objective is, first and foremost, accident prevention. We maintain a steadfast commitment to this because we believe that the only acceptable number of deaths and serious injuries in all modes of transportation is zero.
With our commitment to transportation safety, we also have a commitment to support families by offering information about the NTSB’s investigative process, addressing their questions about the specific accident investigation involving their loved ones, and offering information about other services that may be available. The NTSB’s family assistance team does this every day, not only for aviation accidents but for all transportation accidents involving fatalities investigated by the NTSB. In 2022, our seven-member team provided support for 868 investigations, interacting with 3,480 accident survivors and family members.
The NTSB’s commitment to supporting transportation accident survivors and their family members is long-standing, spanning over 25 years. In that time, we have established some basic yet enduring principles:
<ul>
<li>An independent and transparent safety investigation, with a focus on enhancing safety and not assigning blame or liability, is essential to the success of family assistance. Transparency and honesty fosters confidence.</li>
<li>Rapport and credibility must be established with family members by communicating realistic expectations about the investigation and other aspects of the response. This includes clearly and appropriately communicating limits to the information and services available.</li>
<li>A well-designed family assistance plan should be flexible and scalable. Rigid constructs break when they encounter an unanticipated force, but when the plan is flexible, it will bend and spring back to its original form when a stressor is applied.</li>
<li>The entity responsible for coordinating the response should use a unified command concept of operations, enabling organizations to work together without giving up authority, responsibility, or accountability.</li>
<li>A comprehensive response requires collaboration from multiple government agencies and nongovernmental organizations. Participating entities should focus on the fundamental concerns of families within the boundaries of their mandate and capabilities.</li>
</ul>
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has spearheaded several initiatives to promote these principles among contracting states (that is, countries) by developing a 3-day course designed to provide governments, aircraft and airport operators, and other stakeholders the foundational knowledge to develop family assistance plans. Most recently, the European Civil Aviation Conference and the ICAO European and North Atlantic Regional Office have also jointly organized a workshop on assistance to aircraft accident victims and their families, which is scheduled for February 20, 2023, in Milan, Italy. This workshop will bring together representatives from several countries, family associations, and other stakeholders to share best practices.
Family assistance needs to be an organizational priority, ingrained in the culture and mindset of an entity engaging in this work. More than regulations, policies, standard operating procedures, or checklists, family assistance is about listening to and learning from those affected by disaster. Ultimately, family assistance is about caring for our fellow human beings and treating them with dignity and compassion, the same way we would expect to be treated when faced with an unexpected injury or loss of a loved one.
We stand with our international colleagues in honor of this solemn day, commemorating the lives lost and the families who faced such unimaginable tragedy, and we will not forget our commitments to them in the work we do.
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<title>40 Years Later, The Marine Electric Sinking Remembered</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/02/13/40-years-later-the-marine-electric-sinking-remembered/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Feb 2023 21:22:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Marine Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Transportation History]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=6170</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By James Scheffer, Strategic Advisor, NTSB Office of Marine Safety It’s been 40 years since the large bulk carrier SS Marine Electric tragically sank on February 12, 1983, off the Virginia coast. Nearly all aboard—31 of 34 souls—were lost. But I remember the events of that tragic day as if they happened yesterday. On that … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/02/13/40-years-later-the-marine-electric-sinking-remembered/" class="more-link">Continue reading 40 Years Later, The Marine Electric Sinking Remembered →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By James Scheffer, Strategic Advisor, NTSB Office of Marine Safety
It’s been 40 years since the large bulk carrier SS Marine Electric tragically sank on February 12, 1983, off the Virginia coast. Nearly all aboard—31 of 34 souls—were lost. But I remember the events of that tragic day as if they happened yesterday.
On that day, I was the 34-year-old captain of the 661-foot, 34,700-DWT lube oil tanker Tropic Sun, the first vessel to respond to the Marine Electric’s early morning distress call.
On February 11, a nor’easter formed off Cape Hatteras and the Virginia coast. On land, the storm was responsible for a blizzard that set snowfall records in several eastern seaboard cities and blanketed Washington, D.C., in up to 30 inches of snow. At sea, it generated 50–60 knot winds and 30–40-foot seas.
On the evening of February 11, while on the bridge, I heard the Ocean City Coast Guard Station side of a VHF radio telephone call to the Marine Electric. The Coast Guard was acknowledging that the Marine Electric had pumps going and was telling the crew to keep the Coast Guard informed if they needed help.
Meanwhile, the Tropic Sun was rolling, the bow slamming into the swells and seas shipping across the main deck—not unusual conditions for a loaded tanker during a nor’easter. Again and again, water covered the deck; again and again, the deck emerged after each wave. We took that for granted. It was normal in a storm.
I tried—but failed—to get some sleep. The Tropic Sun was three hours from Cape Henlopen, Delaware, and another from our discharge terminal at Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania.
At 0315, the radio telegraph auto alarm went off on the bridge. The SOS was from the Marine Electric, which was taking on water and readying its lifeboats for abandoning ship. The crew needed help as soon as possible.
The Marine Electric was more than 35 miles from us. I changed course and informed the local Coast Guard station that we were responding to the SOS. On our way south to render aid, we saw an unwelcome sight, one that still makes me shake my head: vessels that must have heard the Marine Electric’s SOS sailing in the opposite direction.
When we got within a dozen miles of the Marine Electric’s last position, our hearts sank. There was no sign of the bulk carrier on radar. Before daybreak the sea was full of blinking strobe lights, which we recognized as the lights on lifejackets.
I maneuvered the ship in heavy seas to a full stop alongside more than 20 possible survivors floating in the water around 0540. At the time, the water temperature was 39F with an air temp of 34F. They were unresponsive to our calls in the dark/early morning and eerily peaceful, all dressed in winter gear and lifejackets. By all appearances, the Marine Electric‘s open lifeboats had failed to keep them out of the water and alive.
My own vessel carried the same style of open lifeboat.
The Coast Guard requested that I launch our lifeboats to retrieve the potential survivors, but I refused because of the strong winds and heavy sea conditions. The chief mate and I would not put our crew in harm’s way in the same type of open lifeboats that had so abjectly failed the crew of the Marine Electric. At the request of the Coast Guard, I agreed to stay in the area following a search pattern for any missing crewmembers. The Coast Guard thanked us for our efforts, and we resumed our voyage at dusk on February 12.
Later, while discharging cargo at Marcus Hook, some of the Tropic Sun’s crewmembers discussed buying their own survival suits, but then thought of another solution, which I gladly forwarded to management: a request for survival suits for all onboard. Within two trips (28 days), the vessel was outfitted with survival suits, the first ship to be so outfitted in our eight-ship ocean fleet. These suits, also known as immersion suits, are used without a life jacket when abandoning ship in cold conditions.
On July 18, while the investigation of the sinking was in progress, the NTSB recommended that the Coast Guard require immersion suits be provided for crewmembers, scientific personnel, and industrial workers on vessels that operate in waters below 60°F. The NTSB also made a companion recommendation to Marine Transport Lines, which operated the Marine Electric, as well as to industry groups to recommend their members also provide the suits. The suits became mandatory the following year.
The NTSB determined that the probable cause of the capsizing and sinking of the US bulk carrier Marine Electric was the flooding of several forward compartments as the result of an undetermined structural failure. The lack of thermal protection [survival suits] in the water was one of the factors contributing to the loss of life in the tragedy.
As a result of the Marine Electric’s sinking, the Coast Guard’s inspections improved, and many World War II-era (and older) vessels were scrapped. The Marine Electric tragedy also resulted in the creation of the Coast Guard’s rescue swimmer program.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="6172" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2023/02/13/40-years-later-the-marine-electric-sinking-remembered/marine_electric/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/marine_electric.jpg" data-orig-size="800,557" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Marine_Electric" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/marine_electric.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/marine_electric.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/marine_electric.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-6172" width="800" height="557" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/marine_electric.jpg 800w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/marine_electric.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/marine_electric.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/marine_electric.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Marine Electric as seen underway before its capsizing and sinking on Feb. 12, 1983 (Photo: U.S. Coast Guard)</figcaption></figure>
I sailed for over 24 years with the Sun Marine Department, mostly on coastwise voyages on the east and west coast, with the occasional foreign voyage. I sailed as a captain for over 16 years without any casualties or pollution events. The night the Marine Electric was lost served as a constant reminder to me to respect the power of the sea.
Over the past 26-plus years, I have investigated dozens of accidents and supervised more than 200 accident investigations as Chief of Investigations and Chief of Product Development in the Office of Marine Safety at the NTSB. And since then, we have seen the emergence of technologies and innovations that, combined with survival suits, could have helped prevent such tragedies, such as <a href="https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/M-17-045">personal locator beacons</a>.
However, I will never forget the night the Marine Electric sank, and neither will the other members of the Tropic Sun’s crew. While events in our lives have sent each of us forward on our separate courses, whenever we meet, our conversations converge on that evening 40 years ago.
This anniversary has passed, but the memory of those 31 mariners will not.
Those of us aboard the Tropic Sun fared far better that night; however, our similarities to the crew that was lost drove home two points about losses at sea. First, if we are telling the story, we are the fortunate ones. And second, nothing is more important than taking fortune out of the equation by making life at sea safer.
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<title>Personal Locator Beacons Improve the Chance of Rescue at Sea</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/12/27/personal-locator-beacons-improve-the-chance-of-rescue-at-sea/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 27 Dec 2022 19:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Marine Safety]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=6159</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Morgan Turrell, Director of the Office of Marine Safety New Year’s Eve is a time of celebration and remembrance. Three years ago, on December 31, 2019, as the new year was being rung in across the lower 48 states, a tragedy was playing out in icy Alaskan waters. The fishing vessel Scandies Rose, with … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/12/27/personal-locator-beacons-improve-the-chance-of-rescue-at-sea/" class="more-link">Continue reading Personal Locator Beacons Improve the Chance of Rescue at Sea →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Morgan Turrell, Director of the Office of Marine Safety
New Year’s Eve is a time of celebration and remembrance. Three years ago, on December 31, 2019, as the new year was being rung in across the lower 48 states, a tragedy was playing out in icy Alaskan waters. The fishing vessel <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA20FM009.aspx">Scandies Rose</a>, with seven crew members aboard, encountered severe icing conditions and high winds and waves as it transited from Kodiak to fishing grounds in the Bering Sea. The crabber tried to make it to Sutwik Island to shelter from the storm; however, because of the weight of the topside ice that had accumulated on the vessel and the force of the winds and waves, the Scandies Rose capsized and sank before reaching safety.
Two crewmembers managed to climb out of the capsized ship and swim to a life raft, where they were tossed about for 4 hours in 50‑mph freezing winds and 30-foot seas. Search-and-rescue (SAR) operations, hampered by the poor weather conditions and unsure of the survivors’ location, struggled to find them. Eventually, a Coast Guard helicopter rescued the two crewmembers, but the remaining five were never found.
Our investigation into this accident found that the Scandies Rose’s emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) failed to provide a position after crewmembers were forced to abandon the vessel. The crew was left without a means of communicating with SAR personnel, who, going off the EPIRB information, were searching in the wrong area. As a result of this situation, we reiterated a 2017 recommendation (<a href="https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/M-17-045">M‑17-45</a>) to require mariners to have personal locator beacons (PLBs). This recommendation asks the Coast Guard to require that all personnel employed on vessels in coastal, Great Lakes, and ocean service be provided with a PLB. Unfortunately, this recommendation is still open.
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="306" height="301" data-attachment-id="6163" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/12/27/personal-locator-beacons-improve-the-chance-of-rescue-at-sea/plb-blog/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/12/plb-blog.jpg" data-orig-size="306,301" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="PLB Blog" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/12/plb-blog.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/12/plb-blog.jpg?w=306" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/12/plb-blog.jpg?w=306" alt="Rescue helicopter search area for Scandies Rose based off position passed in error. (Courtesy: Coast Guard)" class="wp-image-6163" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/12/plb-blog.jpg 306w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/12/plb-blog.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/12/plb-blog.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 306px) 100vw, 306px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rescue helicopter search area for Scandies Rose based off position passed in error. (Courtesy: Coast Guard)</figcaption></figure></div>
A PLB is a personal electronic device that transmits a survivor’s location on or in the water to the Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking system during an emergency. It’s designed to be carried in a person’s life vest (or elsewhere on their body) and manually activated when the wearer is in distress. PLBs continuously update a survivor’s location. 
The Scandies Rose is one of several notable marine casualties the NTSB has investigated in the last 5 years involving mariners lost at sea in which PLBs could have made a difference. These casualties highlight the critical safety need for PLBs to aid in SAR operations at sea. We’ve been recommending that all mariners use PLBs since our investigation of the October 2015 sinking of the cargo ship <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA16MM001.aspx">El Faro</a>, which sank in the Atlantic Ocean about 40 nautical miles northeast of Acklins and Crooked Island, Bahamas, after sailing directly into the path of Hurricane Joaquin. The entire crew of 33 aboard perished.
Three days after the El Faro’s sinking, searchers spotted the remains of one El Faro crewmember in an immersion suit. It’s unclear when the crewmember perished or if any other crewmembers were able to abandon ship; however, had that crewmember, or any others who were able to evacuate, been equipped with a PLB, searchers would have had the essential information to focus rescue efforts. We concluded then that equipping all people onboard a vessel with a PLB would enhance their chances of survival, and, in 2017, we issued safety recommendation M-17-45.
Since the sinking of the El Faro and the Scandies Rose, we have investigated two other marine tragedies that continue to highlight the need for PLBs.
<ul>
<li>On November 23, 2020, the Coast Guard received a distress signal about 27 miles from Provincetown, Massachusetts, from the EPIRB registered to the <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA21FM007.aspx">Emmy Rose</a>, an 82-foot-long commercial fishing vessel with four crewmembers aboard. The Coast Guard recovered the EPIRB, but none of the crewmembers were located and are presumed dead. The investigation showed that if any crewmembers had been able to evacuate the vessel, they would have been able to survive up to 22.5 hours in the water with an immersion suit. It’s unlikely that the crew had PLBs; however, had they been able to activate a PLB after abandoning the vessel, SAR crews may have been able to find them.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>On April 13, 2021, the liftboat <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA21MM024.aspx">SEACOR Power</a> capsized off the coast of Port Fourchon, Louisiana, in a severe thunderstorm. Six crewmembers were rescued by the Coast Guard and Good Samaritan vessels, and the bodies of six other fatally injured crewmembers were recovered. Seven crewmembers were never found and are presumed dead. None of the survivors rescued had PLBs or similar satellite emergency notification devices (SENDs), which use commercial satellite systems, nor did they know of anyone else on board who did.</li>
</ul>
Other marine investigations we’ve conducted have shown how PLBs and SENDs, when voluntarily incorporated into marine operations, likely saved lives. For example, our investigation of the November 10, 2021, fire aboard the fishing vessel <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA22FM003.aspx">Blue Dragon</a> found that SAR controllers were able to correlate location data from multiple emergency beacons. Similarly, our investigation of the July 23, 2016, sinking of the commercial fishing vessel <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/MAB1804.pdf">Ambition</a> found that use of the vessel’s SEND prompted an immediate response from the commercial response center when the Coast Guard did not receive the captain’s mayday call.
PLBs are now widely available, relatively inexpensive, and remarkably accurate. Models typically cost $300–$400, and most offer GPS location functionality that can provide SAR operations with a continuously updated location of each person to within 300 feet. PLBs can be equipped with an integrated automatic identification system (AIS) “Man Overboard” alert that, in addition to satellite GPS location, transmits AIS signals for local assistance from nearby vessels.
The NTSB has been advocating for PLBs for many years now. The Coast Guard should require them, but the marine industry doesn’t have to—and shouldn’t—wait for a Coast Guard requirement to make PLBs a common piece of safety equipment on commercial vessels.
This New Year, as we reflect on the third anniversary of the tragic Scandies Rose sinking, we ask mariners and marine operations to make it their new year’s resolution to invest in their crews’ safety by providing PLBs. Without a doubt, a PLB can avoid turning an unfortunate accident or incident into a tragedy on the seas.
—————————————–
For more information on our marine casualty investigations, visit our Office of Marine Safety <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/Reports.aspx?mode=Marine">investigative reports webpage</a>. Also, check out these resources on PLB use from the <a href="https://beaconregistration.noaa.gov/RGDB/faq">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a> (NOAA) and the <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/personal-locator-beacons-plbs">Federal Communications Commission.</a> Note that for any PLB, mariners should read the manufacturer’s instructions for specific guidance on use and register the device with NOAA prior to use.
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<media:title type="html">Rescue helicopter search area for Scandies Rose based off position passed in error. (Courtesy: Coast Guard)</media:title>
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<title>Episode 53: Decatur, TN Crash Investigation</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/12/15/episode-53-decatur-tn-crash-investigation/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Dec 2022 17:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Behind-the-Scene]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=6151</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In a new episode of our Behind the Scene @NTSB podcast, we talk with Meg Sweeney, Project Manager and Shawn Currie, Motor Carrier Factors Investigator, both in the Office of Highway Safety, about the October 27, 2020, collision between a service truck and school bus in Decatur, Tennessee. The NTSB final report for the investigation we discussed is … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/12/15/episode-53-decatur-tn-crash-investigation/" class="more-link">Continue reading Episode 53: Decatur, TN Crash Investigation →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
In a new episode of our Behind the Scene @NTSB podcast, we talk with Meg Sweeney, Project Manager and Shawn Currie, Motor Carrier Factors Investigator, both in the Office of Highway Safety, about the October 27, 2020, collision between a service truck and school bus in Decatur, Tennessee. 
<figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls src="https://media.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/12/episode-53-1.mp3"></audio></figure>
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="6155" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/6155/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/12/episode-53-1-mp3-image.png" data-orig-size="1502,1501" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/12/episode-53-1-mp3-image.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/12/episode-53-1-mp3-image.png?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/12/episode-53-1-mp3-image.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6155" width="311" height="310" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/12/episode-53-1-mp3-image.png?w=311 311w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/12/episode-53-1-mp3-image.png?w=620 620w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/12/episode-53-1-mp3-image.png?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/12/episode-53-1-mp3-image.png?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 311px) 100vw, 311px" /></figure></div>
The NTSB final <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/HWY21FH001.aspx">report</a> for the investigation we discussed is available on our website.
To learn more about NTSB school bus-related crash investigations visit our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/safety-topics/Pages/schoolbuses.aspx">School Bus Safety webpage</a>. 
To learn more about the Safe System Approach, recordings of each installment of the NTSB Safe System Approach Roundtable series are available on our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0XgHY82R0o&list=PL5aVmmm4Qt9G6GU917DH97pv6wboCBzZo">YouTube channel</a>.
For information about the NTSB Most Wanted List, visit our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/default.aspx">website</a>.
Subscribe to the podcast on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-scene-ntsb/id1286590741?mt=2">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9zYWZldHljb21wYXNzLndvcmRwcmVzcy5jb20vY2F0ZWdvcnkvYmVoaW5kLXRoZS1zY2VuZS9mZWVkLw">Google Play</a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/behindthescenentsb/behindthescene-ntsb">Stitcher</a>, or your favorite podcast platform.
And find more ways to listen here: <a href="https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/">https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/</a>
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<title>Prioritizing Safety This Holiday Travel Season</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/11/21/prioritizing-safety-this-holiday-travel-season/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 21 Nov 2022 22:15:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[automated vehicles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[autonomous vehicles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Aviation Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Bicyclists]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Child Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[connected vehicles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Drowsy Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Fatigue]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Holiday Travel]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impairment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Infrastructure]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Marine Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Motorcoach]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Motorcycles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pedestrians]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Rail Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safe System Approach]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Speeding]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Teen Driving]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=6147</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Stephanie Shaw, Acting Chief, NTSB Safety Advocacy Division This week, families and friends will gather to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. According to estimates from AAA, nearly 55 million people will travel away from home this year, with about 49 million of them taking to the roads. As we mark the beginning of the holiday … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/11/21/prioritizing-safety-this-holiday-travel-season/" class="more-link">Continue reading Prioritizing Safety This Holiday Travel Season →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Stephanie Shaw, Acting Chief, NTSB Safety Advocacy Division
This week, families and friends will gather to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. According to estimates from <a href="https://newsroom.aaa.com/2022/11/thanksgiving-travel-ticks-up-just-shy-of-pre-pandemic-levels/">AAA</a>, nearly 55 million people will travel away from home this year, with about 49 million of them taking to the roads.
As we mark the beginning of the holiday travel season, we want to ensure that everyone arrives safely at their destinations. Unfortunately, travel on our roads can be the riskiest mode of travel during the holiday season.
NTSB investigations continue to highlight actions needed by regulators, legislators, and industry to ensure the safest transportation system for the traveling public. Our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/advocacy/mwl/Pages/default.aspx">Most Wanted List</a> (MWL) identifies specific transportation safety improvements needed across all modes. It includes five road safety improvements that address pervasive problems like speeding, alcohol and other drug impairment, and distraction. The MWL also calls for collision-avoidance and connected vehicle technologies and implementation of a Safe System Approach to better protect all road users.
At the NTSB, we believe that safety is a shared responsibility, so for the traveling public, we’ve highlighted some ways you can keep yourself and others safe, regardless of the travel mode you choose.
By Car
Impairment by alcohol and other drugs, unsafe speeds, fatigue, and distraction continue to play major roles in crashes. Here’s what you can do:
<ul>
<li>Designate a sober driver, or call a taxi, or ridesharing service if your holiday celebrations involve alcohol or other impairing drugs.</li>
<li>Follow safe speeds. In bad weather, safe speeds are often below the designated speed limit. Speeding increases the chance of being involved in a crash and intensifies the severity of crash injuries.</li>
<li>Make sure you’re well rested! A fatigued driver is just as dangerous as one impaired by alcohol or other drugs.</li>
<li>Avoid distractions. Don’t take or make calls or text while driving, even using a hands-free device. Set your navigation system before you start driving. If you’re traveling with others, ask them to navigate.</li>
<li>Make sure to use the <a href="https://www.safekids.org/car-seat?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2Pi4nqO2-wIVidzICh2m5guvEAAYASAAEgKFiPD_BwE">correct safety restraint for child passengers</a>, and be sure it’s installed correctly.</li>
<li>Ensure you and all your passengers are buckled up! In a crash, seat belts (and proper child restraints) are your best protection against death and serious injuries.</li>
</ul>
By Bus
The NTSB has made recommendations to improve motorcoach operations and vehicle crashworthiness, but travelers should know what to do in an emergency.
<ul>
<li>Pay attention to safety briefings and know where the nearest emergency exit is. If it’s a window or roof hatch, make sure you know how to use it.</li>
<li>Ask your driver to give you a safety briefing if you’re unsure of where the exits are or how to use them.</li>
<li>Use your seat belt when they’re available!</li>
</ul>
By Plane or Boat
These tips can help you and your loved ones in an emergency on planes or vessels.
<ul>
<li>Pay close attention to the safety briefing! Airline and marine accidents have become very rare, but you and your family can be safer by being prepared.</li>
<li>Know where to find the nearest emergency exit and flotation device whether you’re on an airplane or a boat.</li>
<li>Confirm that you and your traveling companions—even <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spYWuO20fCM">children under age 2</a>—have your own seats and are buckled up when flying.</li>
<li>Don’t forget your child’s car seat. The label will usually tell you if your child car seat is certified for airplane use; the owner’s manual always has this information.</li>
<li>Call the airline and ask what the rules are for using a child’s car seat on your flight, if you don’t already know.</li>
<li>Follow crewmember instructions and remain calm in an emergency.</li>
</ul>
By Train
The NTSB has made recommendations to improve passenger rail operations and vehicle crashworthiness, but travelers should also follow these safety tips.
<ul>
<li>Stow carry-ons in the locations provided (overhead and racks). Don’t block aisles.</li>
<li>Review your trains safety information which may be provided as a safety card in your seat pocket or displayed in your railcar.</li>
<li>Follow crewmember instructions and remain calm in an emergency.</li>
</ul>
No matter how you travel, make a commitment to put safety first.
We wish everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving.
]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Honor Traffic Victims with Action</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/11/18/honor-traffic-victims-with-action/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/11/18/honor-traffic-victims-with-action/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 18 Nov 2022 20:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[automated vehicles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Bicyclists]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Child Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[connected vehicles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Drowsy Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Fatigue]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impairment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Infrastructure]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Medical Fitness]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Motorcoach]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Motorcycles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pedestrians]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safe System Approach]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[School Buses]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Speeding]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Teen Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[V2X]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Jennifer Homendy]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=6140</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Chair Jennifer Homendy 50 million deaths. Hundreds of millions of injuries. That’s the worldwide cost of traffic violence, in human terms. It’s difficult to comprehend fully, which is why the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is so meaningful. This annual observance provides a time to reflect on the real people behind … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/11/18/honor-traffic-victims-with-action/" class="more-link">Continue reading Honor Traffic Victims with Action →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/board/Pages/Jennifer-Homendy.aspx">Chair Jennifer Homendy</a>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" data-attachment-id="6144" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/11/18/honor-traffic-victims-with-action/wdor-2022-header/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/wdor-2022-header.png" data-orig-size="1600,900" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="wdor-2022-header" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/wdor-2022-header.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/wdor-2022-header.png?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/wdor-2022-header.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6144" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/wdor-2022-header.png?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/wdor-2022-header.png?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/wdor-2022-header.png?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/wdor-2022-header.png?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/wdor-2022-header.png 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
50 million deaths. Hundreds of millions of injuries.
That’s the worldwide cost of traffic violence, in human terms. It’s difficult to comprehend fully, which is why the <a href="https://worlddayofremembrance.org/#top">World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims</a> is so meaningful.
This annual observance provides a time to reflect on the real people behind the statistics: mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, colleagues, best friends, and neighbors.
It’s a time to support those who’ve lost a loved one to the public health crisis on our roads.
And it’s a time to act, starting with NTSB recommendations.
Lessons from Tragedy
Since <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/11/19/world-day-of-remembrance-for-road-traffic-victims-2/">last year’s</a> World Day of Remembrance, the NTSB has made 26 new recommendations to improve road safety. All remain open.
Where did these recommendations come from? They are the result of rigorous NTSB investigations into devastating crashes, outlined below. Each one is a lesson from tragedy, which is why we don’t rest until a recommendation is implemented.
At the NTSB, we believe the most meaningful thing we can do for victims of traffic violence is to advocate for our safety recommendations.
In other words: we choose to honor the victims with action.
Here are just some of the victims we’re remembering today — along with the recommended safety improvements to best honor their memory. 
Today we remember two people who were killed and seven who were injured in a <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/HAR2102.pdf">Belton, SC, crash</a> between an SUV and a bus carrying disabled passengers. The actions we demand on their behalf include the following:
<ul>
<li>Ban nonemergency use of portable electronic devices, like cellphones, for all drivers.  </li>
<li>Recruit cellphone manufacturers in the fight against <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-05.aspx">distracted driving</a>; they should automatically disable distracting functions when a vehicle is in motion.</li>
<li>Provide annual safety training for people employed to transport wheelchair users.  </li>
<li>Develop a side-impact protection standard for new, medium-size buses, regardless of weight — and require compliance.</li>
</ul>
We should honor the victims of the <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/NR20220208b.aspx">Pennsylvania Turnpike crash</a> that injured 50 people and killed five others — including a nine-year-old child — by taking the following actions:
<ul>
<li>Develop performance standards for advanced speed-limiting technology, <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-04.aspx">connected-vehicle technology</a>, and collision-avoidance systems — and require their use on new vehicles, as appropriate.</li>
<li>Require newly manufactured heavy vehicles to have onboard video event recorders.</li>
<li>Deploy connected-vehicle technology nationwide.</li>
<li>Take a <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-01.aspx">comprehensive approach to eliminate speeding</a>. Among other measures, this means thinking long and hard about the 85th percentile approach and using speed safety cameras, which includes working to remove restrictions against them. </li>
</ul>
Here’s what we must do to honor the three people who were killed and the 18 who were injured when a <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/NR20220419.aspx">bus overturned</a> in Pala Mesa, California:
<ul>
<li>Require all new buses to meet a roof strength standard.</li>
<li>Sponsor research into safe tire tread depths for commercial vehicles.</li>
<li>Require seat belt use.</li>
</ul>
The best way to remember the victims of the Decatur, Tennessee, <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/NR20221103.aspx">school bus crash</a> that injured 14 people and killed two people, including a 7-year-old child, is to take the following steps:
<ul>
<li>Make lap-shoulder belts mandatory in new school buses.</li>
<li>Require lane-departure prevention systems on heavy vehicles.</li>
</ul>
And what about the nine people who died in a <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/HWY21FH003.aspx">head-on crash</a> in Avenal, California, on New Year’s Day — seven of whom were children? We must implement the following NTSB recommendations in their memory:
<ul>
<li>Require alcohol-detection systems in all new vehicles to <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-03.aspx">prevent alcohol-impaired driving</a>.</li>
<li>Encourage vehicle manufacturers to combat alcohol-impaired driving by accelerating progress on advanced impaired driving prevention technology and finding new ways to use existing technology, like driver monitoring systems.</li>
<li>Incentivize vehicle manufacturers and consumers to adopt intelligent speed adaptation (ISA) systems. One way to achieve this is to include ISA in the <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/Documents/NTSB%20comments%20on%20NHTSA%20New%20Car%20Assessment%20Program%20NPRM.pdf">New Car Assessment Program</a>. Notably, ISA became mandatory in July 2022 for all new models of vehicles introduced in the European Union.</li>
<li>Develop a common standard of practice for drug toxicology testing by state officials.</li>
</ul>
Remember. Support. Act.
Even as we advocate for our safety recommendations, more crashes are occurring daily — which means more <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/Investigations.aspx">investigations</a>. The work continues.
And yet, we cannot let the magnitude of the road safety crisis deter us.
We must keep fighting for zero, which is only possible through a <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-02.aspx">Safe System Approach</a>. 
We must fight for road users around the world who deserve to be safe.
We must fight for those whose lives are forever changed by traffic violence.
We must fight for those who are no longer here to fight for themselves.
For all these people and more, the NTSB will keep fighting. And so will I.
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<title>Episode 52: Drowsy Driving Prevention Week</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/11/10/episode-52-drowsy-driving-prevention-week/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/11/10/episode-52-drowsy-driving-prevention-week/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 10 Nov 2022 21:20:44 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Behind-the-Scene]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=6126</guid>
<description><![CDATA[This week is Drowsy Driving Prevention Week. In a new episode of our Behind-the-Scene @NTSB podcast, we talk with Safety Recommendations Division Chief Jeff Marcus, Human Performance Investigator Dennis Collins, and National Resource Specialist Jana Price, Ph.D., about fatigue and NTSB fatigue-related crash investigations. They also discuss NTSB safety recommendations aimed at mitigating fatigue risk … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/11/10/episode-52-drowsy-driving-prevention-week/" class="more-link">Continue reading Episode 52: Drowsy Driving Prevention Week →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
This week is Drowsy Driving Prevention Week. In a new episode of our Behind-the-Scene @NTSB podcast, we talk with Safety Recommendations Division Chief Jeff Marcus, Human Performance Investigator Dennis Collins, and National Resource Specialist Jana Price, Ph.D., about fatigue and NTSB fatigue-related crash investigations. They also discuss NTSB safety recommendations aimed at mitigating fatigue risk across transportation modes and the actions still needed to address the pervasive problem of drowsy driving.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="6128" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/11/10/episode-52-drowsy-driving-prevention-week/bts-episode-52/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/bts-episode-52.png" data-orig-size="1502,1501" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="bts-episode-52" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/bts-episode-52.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/bts-episode-52.png?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/bts-episode-52.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6128" width="363" height="363" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/bts-episode-52.png?w=363 363w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/bts-episode-52.png?w=726 726w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/bts-episode-52.png?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/bts-episode-52.png?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 363px) 100vw, 363px" /></figure></div>
Subscribe to the podcast on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-scene-ntsb/id1286590741?mt=2">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9zYWZldHljb21wYXNzLndvcmRwcmVzcy5jb20vY2F0ZWdvcnkvYmVoaW5kLXRoZS1zY2VuZS9mZWVkLw">Google Play</a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/behindthescenentsb/behindthescene-ntsb">Stitcher</a>, or your favorite podcast platform.
And find more ways to listen here: <a href="https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/">https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/</a>
]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Teen Driver Safety Week: Keeping The Next Generation Safe on the Roads</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/10/17/teen-driver-safety-week-keeping-the-next-generation-safe-on-the-roads/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/10/17/teen-driver-safety-week-keeping-the-next-generation-safe-on-the-roads/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 17 Oct 2022 15:24:29 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Drowsy Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Fatigue]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pedestrians]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safe System Approach]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Speeding]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Teen Driving]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=6057</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Bryan Delaney, NTSB Safety Advocate This week is Teen Driver Safety Week, a time dedicated to raising awareness and seeking solutions to prevent teen driving-related deaths and injuries on the road. The NTSB has long advocated for preventive measures that would address the common factors—distractions, fatigue, impairment, speeding, and lack of seat belt use—contributing … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/10/17/teen-driver-safety-week-keeping-the-next-generation-safe-on-the-roads/" class="more-link">Continue reading Teen Driver Safety Week: Keeping The Next Generation Safe on the Roads →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Bryan Delaney, NTSB Safety Advocate
This week is Teen Driver Safety Week, a time dedicated to raising awareness and seeking solutions to prevent teen driving-related deaths and injuries on the road.
The NTSB has long advocated for preventive measures that would address the common factors—distractions, fatigue, impairment, speeding, and lack of seat belt use—contributing to teen driving-related crashes, deaths, and injuries. The NTSB has recommended that states enact robust graduated driver license (GDL) programs that include cell phone, passenger, and nighttime driving restrictions. We’ve also called for collision avoidance and other vehicle safety technologies to be standard on all vehicles. Finally, we encourage adoption of a Safe System Approach to protect all road users from death and serious injury.
On Wednesday, October 19, the NTSB will host a Teen Driver Safety Week webinar focused on effective safety advocacy strategies. The event will bring together youth leaders and traffic safety advocates to discuss four valuable strategies for teen driver safety advocacy, including:
<ol type="1" start="1">
<li>Peer-to-Peer Education</li>
<li>Empowering Parents and Community Members</li>
<li>Connecting Through Digital Media and Technology</li>
<li>Grassroots Advocacy</li>
</ol>
<div class="wp-block-image">
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While we highlight Teen Driver Safety Week in October, we are committed to advocating all year long for needed safety improvements to keep young people safe on the roads.
<a href="https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07ejejdyf4e60dbc8c&oseq=&c=&ch=">You can find more information about the webinar and register to attend on our event page</a>.
For more information on this <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/safety-topics/Pages/teen-driver-safety.aspx">topic</a>, as well as other critical issues impacting safety, see our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/advocacy/mwl/Pages/default.aspx">Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements</a>.
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<title>Help Us Reach Zero: Adopt All-offender Ignition Interlock Laws</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/09/07/help-us-reach-zero-adopt-all-offender-ignition-interlock-laws/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 07 Sep 2022 17:46:15 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impairment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=6045</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Leah Walton, NTSB Safety Advocate In the Spring of this year, I attended the Association of Ignition Interlock Program Administrators (AIIPA) Annual Conference, a gathering of about 130 people all committed to eliminating impaired driving. Attendees included state ignition interlock program administrators, ignition interlock manufacturers, researchers, law enforcement, toxicologists, and representatives from the treatment … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/09/07/help-us-reach-zero-adopt-all-offender-ignition-interlock-laws/" class="more-link">Continue reading Help Us Reach Zero: Adopt All-offender Ignition Interlock Laws →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Leah Walton, NTSB Safety Advocate
In the Spring of this year, I attended the <a href="https://aiipaonline.org/">Association of Ignition Interlock Program Administrators (AIIPA)</a> Annual Conference, a gathering of about 130 people all committed to eliminating impaired driving. Attendees included state ignition interlock program administrators, ignition interlock manufacturers, researchers, law enforcement, toxicologists, and representatives from the treatment and criminal justice communities.
It was no surprise that a hot topic of the conference was the <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/early-estimate-2021-traffic-fatalities#:~:text=The%20National%20Highway%20Traffic%20Safety,the%2038%2C824%20fatalities%20in%202020.">early estimates of traffic fatalities for 2021</a> released the same week by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The numbers showed a trend in the wrong direction, with an estimated 42,915 people killed in motor vehicle crashes, a 10.5 percent increase from 2020. This number is the highest number of fatalities since 2005. Specifically, fatalities in police-reported, alcohol-involvement crashes were up 5 percent compared to 2020.
A breath ignition interlock device (IID), estimates a driver’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC). It is installed in a vehicle and the driver must provide a breath sample that does not exceed a certain BAC threshold (for instance, .00 BAC or .02 BAC) before the vehicle will start or continue to operate. Installing these devices can be a penalty for drivers convicted of driving while intoxicated (DWI) or driving under the influence (DUI). They allow impaired-driving offenders to continue to operate their vehicles on an ignition interlock restricted license, rather than having their license suspended altogether.
Ignition interlocks have been a piece of the NTSB’s comprehensive solution to eliminate impaired driving since 2000, when we recommended that all 50 states and DC establish a comprehensive program designed to reduce the incidence of alcohol-related crashes and fatalities caused by hard-core drinking drivers, including elements such as those suggested in the <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/H00_26.pdf">NTSB’s Model Program</a>, such as requiring ignition interlocks for high-BAC first offenders and repeat offenders. The issue is still urgent enough that “<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-03.aspx">Prevent Alcohol- and Other Drug-Impaired Driving</a>” is on our 2021–2022 Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements.
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In our 2012 <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Documents/SIR1201.pdf">Wrong Way Driving</a> report, we found that installing alcohol ignition interlocks on the vehicles of all DWI offenders (first-time and subsequent-time offenders) would reduce crashes caused by alcohol-impaired drivers. Thus, we issued a safety recommendation to 33 states, Puerto Rico, and DC to enact laws to require the use of alcohol IIDs for all individuals convicted of DWI offenses (at the time of publishing the report, 17 states already had a law requiring mandatory IID installation for DWI first offenders).
In May 2012, the NTSB held a forum, <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Documents/SR1301.pdf">Reaching Zero: Actions to Eliminate Substance-Impaired Driving</a>, to identify the most effective, scientifically based actions needed to reach zero crashes associated with substance-impaired driving. In the resulting final report, adopted in May 2013, we discussed all-offender ignition interlock laws as part of a comprehensive strategy to prevent alcohol-impaired driving. Currently, 34 states have all-offender ignition interlock laws.
It’s difficult to quantify how many drivers currently have, an IID in their vehicle. However, in 2022, <a href="https://madd.org/press-release/madd-grades-each-state-on-ignition-interlock-laws-pushes-for-lifesaving-improvements/">Mothers Against Drunk driving (MADD)</a> reported that in 14 years (2006–2020), ignition interlocks had stopped 3.78 million drivers with a BAC of 0.08<a href="#_ftn1" id="_ftnref1">[1]</a> g/dL or higher from starting their vehicles. Requiring ignition interlocks for all offenders is a swift and certain penalty for alcohol-impaired driving. IIDs can be installed on arrested DUI offenders’ vehicles immediately, to ensure they are not driving alcohol-impaired while they await trial. These devices are effective, both at preventing alcohol-impaired driving as well as reducing DUI recidivism. A <a href="https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/file/specific-deterrent-evaluation-2016-pdf/">2016 California DMV study</a> of the state’s ignition interlock pilot program showed ignition interlocks were associated with a 73 percent lower odds of recidivism compared to license suspension alone for first-time offenders during the first 182 days after conviction.
For more than a decade, the number of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities had become stagnant, with 10,000 people killed every year. Now, those numbers are rising again, with 11,654 impaired driving fatalities in 2020. And, like the fatality numbers, the conversation around impaired driving has stagnated, too. Many people are hopeful that new advanced driver assistance systems, collision-avoidance systems, in-vehicle alcohol detection technologies and automated vehicle technologies will end impaired driving once and for all. We are hopeful, too. But as we know, it takes at least 20 years for new technology to fully penetrate a fleet of vehicles. We cannot—and should not—accept the fully preventable loss of 10,000 lives each year while we wait. We must implement the countermeasures that we have available now that we know work, like IIDs.
While at the AIIPA conference, I had the opportunity to address the attendees. I shared that I started my highway safety career with MADD in 2001, and at that time, I could not imagine that in 20 years I would still be here advocating for countermeasures to eliminate impaired driving. I thought that by 2022, surely people would learn to make smart choices and designate a sober driver. Unfortunately, we have made very little progress. That can change if all states adopt all-offender ignition interlock laws. We could finally make meaningful progress toward eliminating this dangerous behavior that ends in so many completely preventable tragedies.
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<a href="#_ftnref1" id="_ftn1">[1]</a> NTSB recommends that all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia lower their legal BAC limit to .05 percent g/dL or lower. In 2018, Utah became the first state with a BAC limit of .05 percent.
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<title>Episode 51: Conception Investigation</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/09/02/episode-51-conception-investigation/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 02 Sep 2022 16:46:31 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Behind-the-Scene]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Marine Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=6037</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In a new episode of our Behind-the-Scene @NTSB podcast, we talk with Morgan Turrell, Director, Office of Marine Safety about the lessons learned from the 2019 Conception disaster. To learn more about the NTSB Conception investigation, and to access the full investigative report and docket, visit our investigation webpage. For more information about the NTSB Most … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/09/02/episode-51-conception-investigation/" class="more-link">Continue reading Episode 51: Conception Investigation →</a>]]></description>
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In a new episode of our Behind-the-Scene @NTSB podcast, we talk with Morgan Turrell, Director, Office of Marine Safety about the lessons learned from the 2019 Conception disaster.
<figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls src="https://media.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/09/episode-51.mp3"></audio></figure>
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To learn more about the NTSB Conception investigation, and to access the full investigative report and docket, visit our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA19MM047.aspx">investigation webpage</a>.
For more information about the NTSB Most Wanted List “Improve Passenger and Fishing Vessel Safety” item visit our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-ms-01.aspx">website</a>.
The previously released podcast episode featuring Morgan Turrell is available on our <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/05/25/episode-39-marine-safety/">website</a>. 
Subscribe to the podcast on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-scene-ntsb/id1286590741?mt=2">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9zYWZldHljb21wYXNzLndvcmRwcmVzcy5jb20vY2F0ZWdvcnkvYmVoaW5kLXRoZS1zY2VuZS9mZWVkLw">Google Play</a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/behindthescenentsb/behindthescene-ntsb">Stitcher</a>, or your favorite podcast platform.
And find more ways to listen here: <a href="https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/">https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/</a>
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<title>Time for Action: Passenger Vessel Safety Can’t Wait</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/09/01/time-for-action-passenger-vessel-safety-cant-wait/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/09/01/time-for-action-passenger-vessel-safety-cant-wait/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Sep 2022 16:00:20 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Family Assistance]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Marine Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Transportation History]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Jennifer Homendy]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=6022</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Chair Jennifer Homendy Three years ago, I launched with the NTSB Go Team to Santa Barbara, California, to investigate the deadliest U.S. marine accident in decades. On September 2, 2019, the Conception dive boat caught fire in the early morning hours, burned to the waterline, and sank less than 100 feet from shore. Tragically, … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/09/01/time-for-action-passenger-vessel-safety-cant-wait/" class="more-link">Continue reading Time for Action: Passenger Vessel Safety Can’t Wait →</a>]]></description>
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By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/board/Pages/Jennifer-Homendy.aspx">Chair Jennifer Homendy</a>
Three years ago, I launched with the NTSB Go Team to Santa Barbara, California, to investigate the deadliest U.S. marine accident in decades.
On September 2, 2019, the <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA19MM047.aspx">Conception dive boat</a> caught fire in the early morning hours, burned to the waterline, and sank less than 100 feet from shore. Tragically, the 34 people asleep below deck in the bunkroom — 33 passengers and one crewmember — were trapped. None of them survived. 
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img data-attachment-id="6033" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/09/01/time-for-action-passenger-vessel-safety-cant-wait/web-lcw-conception-090320-8-585x444/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/09/web-lcw-conception-090320-8-585x444-1.jpg" data-orig-size="585,444" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.4","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 11 Pro","caption":"Conception Memorial Plaque at the end of Santa Barbara breakwater unvailed Sept. 2, 2020\rThe city of Santa Barbara Waterfront Department will hold a virtual commemoration and plaque dedication on the one year anniversary of the Conception boat tragedy. The virtual event will be held online, though city officials expect some family members to attend the dedication in person. Grayce will be on hand to conduct interviews with anyone who may show up. Please also plan on shooting video of the dedication as well.\rRAFAEL MALDONADO\/NEWS-PRESS","created_timestamp":"1599060286","copyright":"","focal_length":"1.54","iso":"25","shutter_speed":"0.0081967213114754","title":"","orientation":"1","latitude":"34.404830555556","longitude":"-119.68820277778"}" data-image-title="web-lcw-Conception-090320-8-585×444" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/09/web-lcw-conception-090320-8-585x444-1.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/09/web-lcw-conception-090320-8-585x444-1.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/09/web-lcw-conception-090320-8-585x444-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-6033" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A plaque to honor the 34 victims of the Conception dive boat tragedy on September 2, 2019, sits in Santa Barbara Harbor. Photo by Rafael Maldonado, News-Press</figcaption></figure></div>
The Conception tragedy was my first marine investigation as an NTSB Board member. As I have <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/Testimony/Pages/homendy-20220321.aspx">previously shared</a>, I am forever changed by the time we spent on scene—especially my time speaking with the victims’ families.
Unfortunately, they are not alone. Including the Conception, the NTSB has investigated seven passenger vessel accidents since 1999 that have claimed a total of 86 lives.
Eighty-six lives lost unnecessarily. Eighty-six people who’ve left behind bereaved families and friends.
Enough is enough.
It’s time for meaningful action to improve passenger vessel safety — and it starts with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG).
Our Marine Safety Partner
The USCG is NTSB’s closest marine safety partner. Our relationship is an outstanding example of government collaboration focused on saving lives and improving safety.
It is no exaggeration to say that we could not carry out our marine safety mandate without the USCG. Every accident we investigate is supported in a variety of ways by the dedicated men and women of the USCG, and my sincere thanks goes out to every one of them.
Many NTSB marine safety recommendations are directed to the USCG because, as the industry’s regulator, they are best positioned to improve safety.
Improving passenger and fishing vessel safety is on the NTSB’s <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-ms-01.aspx">Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements</a> (MWL).
Lessons from Tragedy
There are currently 21 open NTSB recommendations to the USCG focused on improving passenger vessel safety. “Open” status means the recipient of our safety recommendation has not, in the Board’s estimation, sufficiently addressed the safety risk.
That’s 21 unacted-upon opportunities to prevent further passenger vessel tragedies, like the Conception. 
Every day that an NTSB recommendation lingers as “open” is unacceptable. But, sometimes, we must measure inaction on our recommendations not in days, weeks, months, or even years.  That’s the case with several NTSB recommendations to the USCG.
Here are some of the safety gaps the USCG needs to address — all of which are on the MWL.
Fire Safety
The <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA19MM047.aspx">Conception</a> is a heartbreaking example of the need for rigorous fire safety standards for small passenger vessels.  
We determined the probable cause of the accident was the failure of the operator, Truth Aquatics, to provide effective oversight of its vessel and crewmember operations. The lack of both oversight and adherence to certain safety requirements allowed the fire to grow undetected.
We also found that the lack of a USCG regulatory requirement for smoke detection in all accommodation spaces and inadequate emergency escape arrangements from the vessel’s bunkroom contributed to the undetected growth of the fire and the high loss of life.
As a result of our investigation, we issued 7 new safety recommendations to the USCG and reiterated a <a href="https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/M-12-003">prior recommendation</a> calling on the USCG to require safety management systems (SMS) on U.S.‑flag passenger vessels.
The Conception disaster was so compelling that Congress felt our safety recommendations needed to be codified into law. Legislators mandated the USCG implement our recommendations in the Elijah E. Cummings Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act.
The USCG took an <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/12/27/2021-27549/fire-safety-of-small-passenger-vessels">important step</a> to carry out this congressional mandate by issuing an interim rule, most of which took effect in March of this year. We look forward to the final rule implementing our recommendations.
Until then, our recommendations from the Conception investigation remain open. 
Safety Management Systems
The second safety issue involves SMS: a comprehensive, documented system to enhance safety. They’re so effective that the NTSB has recommended SMSs in all modes of transportation.
For nearly two decades, we’ve called for SMS on passenger vessels. This call to action is on the MWL, which is our single most important tool to increase awareness of important needed safety improvements.
The first time we issued a marine SMS recommendation was due to the October 15, 2003, ferry <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/MAR0501.pdf">accident</a> involving the Andrew J. Barberi. The vessel struck a maintenance pier at the Staten Island Ferry terminal, killing 11 passengers and injuring 70 others. We issued a recommendation to the USCG to “seek legislative authority to require all U.S.-flag ferry operators to implement SMS.”
Congress granted the necessary authority in 2010 — but the Coast Guard still didn’t act.
We then investigated a <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/MAR1201.pdf">second accident</a> involving the Andrew J. Barberi. This time, the ferry struck the St. George terminal on May 8, 2010, resulting in three serious injuries and 47 minor injuries.
Between the 2003 and 2010 accidents, the New York City Department of Transportation Ferry Division had implemented an SMS. Based on differences between crew actions in the two accidents, we concluded that the SMS benefitted passenger safety.
But the USCG still didn’t act on our SMS recommendation.
Several more accidents followed — in all of these, we determined an SMS would have either prevented the accident or reduced the number of deaths and injuries:
<ul>
<li>In 2013, the <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/MAR1401.pdf">Seastreak Wall Street</a> hit a pier in Manhattan, seriously injuring four passengers; 75 passengers and one deckhand sustained minor injuries.</li>
<li>In 2018, a fire aboard the small passenger vessel <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/MAR1802.pdf">Island Lady</a> killed one passenger and injured 14 others.</li>
<li>In 2019, the Conception tragedy claimed 34 lives.</li>
</ul>
The USCG initiated <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/01/15/2021-01058/safety-management-systems-for-domestic-passenger-vessels#:~:text=Background-,Overview%20of%20Safety%20Management%20Systems%20(SMSs),to%20that%20company%20or%20vessel.">steps</a> in January 2021 to implement our SMS recommendation by publishing an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM). In the ANPRM, the Coast Guard discussed that the NTSB “has identified issues associated with failed safety management and oversight as the probable cause or a contributing factor in some of the most serious casualties involving U.S. passenger vessels.”
That was over 18 months ago. We’ve been calling for such a requirement for almost 20 years. We will persist for as long as it takes.
I look forward to working with Admiral Linda Fagan in her new role as Commandant and call on the USCG to prioritize the rulemaking in the weeks and months ahead.
The Work Ahead
When it comes to safety, time is of the essence. That’s why we fight so hard for NTSB recommendations: to improve passenger vessel safety and save lives.
On the third anniversary of the Conception disaster, I’m calling on the USCG to act on the 21 open NTSB passenger vessel recommendations.
Doing so can’t undo past tragedy — but it can prevent similar suffering for other families.
I can think of no better way to honor the memory of the 34 Conception victims, whose loved ones we hold in our hearts today.
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<title>Episode 50: NTSB Executive Officer Erik Strickland</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/08/26/episode-50-ntsb-executive-officer-erik-strickland/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/08/26/episode-50-ntsb-executive-officer-erik-strickland/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 26 Aug 2022 20:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Behind-the-Scene]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=6013</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, we celebrate the 50th episode with NTSB Executive Officer Erik Strickland and Safety Advocacy Division Chief Nicholas Worrell to talk about the genesis for the podcast, reflect on the interviews with Board Members and staff since the podcast was launched in 2017, and look to the future as we … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/08/26/episode-50-ntsb-executive-officer-erik-strickland/" class="more-link">Continue reading Episode 50: NTSB Executive Officer Erik Strickland →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, we celebrate the 50th episode with NTSB Executive Officer Erik Strickland and Safety Advocacy Division Chief Nicholas Worrell to talk about the genesis for the podcast, reflect on the interviews with Board Members and staff since the podcast was launched in 2017, and look to the future as we continue to talk with the people and share the work of the NTSB.
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Subscribe to the podcast on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-scene-ntsb/id1286590741?mt=2">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9zYWZldHljb21wYXNzLndvcmRwcmVzcy5jb20vY2F0ZWdvcnkvYmVoaW5kLXRoZS1zY2VuZS9mZWVkLw">Google Play</a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/behindthescenentsb/behindthescene-ntsb">Stitcher</a>, or your favorite podcast platform.
And find more ways to listen here: <a href="https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/">https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/</a>
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<title>Back-to-School Safety: Keeping Children Safe In and Around the School Bus</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/08/18/back-to-school-safety-keeping-children-safe-in-and-around-the-school-bus/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Aug 2022 14:48:37 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[automated vehicles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Child Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[connected vehicles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pedestrians]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safe System Approach]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[School Buses]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=6002</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Stephanie Shaw, NTSB Safety Advocate Like many parents, I send my daughter to school on a school bus because I know that it’s the safest way for her to get to and from school. In fact, students are 70 times more likely to get to school safely when taking the school bus than when traveling by … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/08/18/back-to-school-safety-keeping-children-safe-in-and-around-the-school-bus/" class="more-link">Continue reading Back-to-School Safety: Keeping Children Safe In and Around the School Bus →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Stephanie Shaw, NTSB Safety Advocate
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Like many parents, I send my daughter to school on a school bus because I know that it’s the safest way for her to get to and from school. In fact, students are <a href="http://schoolbusfacts.com/benefits/">70 times more likely to get to school</a> safely when taking the school bus than when traveling by car, even if the bus doesn’t have seat belts.
Although my daughter is safe on her school bus, I know that she could be safer. Like many school buses across the country, my daughter’s bus is not equipped with seat belts; however, lap/shoulder belts, especially when properly worn, <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Documents/SIR1802.pdf">provide the highest level of protection for children in the event of a crash</a>.
At the NTSB, we believe that every child needs that added protection, and <a href="https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/H-18-010">we recommended</a> that states require that all new school buses be equipped with lap/shoulder belts for all passenger seating positions.
Check out our 2016 school bus safety video featuring the NTSB’s Dr. Kris Poland, who explains compartmentalization, talks about a few of our crash investigations, and discusses the added safety benefit of lap/shoulder belts in school buses.<a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ksw67zFnuAE?start=8&feature=oembed"></a>
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<iframe title='VideoPress Video Player' aria-label='VideoPress Video Player' width='474' height='267' src='https://video.wordpress.com/embed/7kv1auOa?cover=1&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=1&hd=0' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen data-resize-to-parent="true" allow='clipboard-write' ></iframe><script src='https://v0.wordpress.com/js/next/videopress-iframe.js?m=1674852142'></script>
</div><figcaption>NTSB School Bus Safety video</figcaption></figure>
Lap/shoulder belts are not the only safety feature that we recommend for improving school bus safety. Unfortunately, our investigations have shown that children need to be better protected outside the school bus, too. Every state has a law making it illegal to pass a school bus that’s stopped to load or unload passengers with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended. Far too many drivers simply choose to ignore the law for their own convenience and put children at risk.
Annually, the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services conducts a survey on illegal school bus passings. <a href="https://nasdpts.org/resources/Documents/2019%20NASDPTS%20Illegal%20Passing%20Results%20Press%20Release-7-24-19.pdf">Data from the most recent survey</a> showed that in a single day, 95,319 drivers passed school buses illegally during the 2018–2019 school year. In 2018, we saw the deadly consequences of such a choice when a pickup truck driver failed to stop for a stopped school bus that had its red warning lights and stop arm activated. The pickup truck struck children crossing the road to board the stopped bus. Our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/HWY19MH003.aspx">complete highway investigation report</a>, including our recommendations for stop-arm cameras, is available on the investigations page of our website.
To better protect children in and around school buses, we have also recommended that new school buses be equipped with:
<ul><li><a href="https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/H-18-008">collision avoidance systems</a> and <a href="https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/H-18-019">automatic emergency braking on newly manufactured school buses</a> as standard equipment, and</li><li><a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/HAR2002.pdf">connected vehicle technology for all highway vehicles</a>, and</li><li><a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/HAR2002.pdf">pedestrian safety systems, including pedestrian collision avoidance systems</a>.</li></ul>
To learn more about our school bus crash investigations and safety recommendations, <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/safety-topics/Pages/schoolbuses.aspx">visit our school bus safety web page</a>.
Before setting out for the bus stop, parents should <a href="http://schoolbusfacts.com/project/resources-for-parents/">refresh their knowledge</a> of safe school bus practices, and then talk about safety with their children. Children should be reminded to sit facing forward in their seat when the vehicle is in motion, to buckle up if the bus is equipped with seat belts, and to be aware of traffic on the roads when it’s time to step on or off the bus. Drivers must be alert, slow down, obey the school bus laws in their state, and watch for children walking in the street near bus stops and where there are no sidewalks. And, if anyone has concerns about a bus driver’s behavior, they should report it to the school principal or bus company.
Over the next few weeks, nearly 50 million children will head back to school; more than 20 million of them will ride on a school bus. Although there’s much to be done to make school bus transportation even safer, it’s still the safest way for children to get to and from school.
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<title>Episode 49: EAA Air Venture Oshkosh 2022</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/07/21/episode-49-eaa-air-venture-oshkosh-2022/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/07/21/episode-49-eaa-air-venture-oshkosh-2022/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 Jul 2022 20:12:12 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Aviation Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Behind-the-Scene]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Aviation]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5993</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB we talk with Tim LeBaron, Director; Kristi Dunks, Acting Deputy Director for Regional Operations; and Aaron Sauer, Senior Air Safety Investigator, in the Office of Aviation Safety, about their work to improve general aviation safety and the NTSB’s participation in the upcoming EAA AirVenture Oshkosh event. Hear more about … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/07/21/episode-49-eaa-air-venture-oshkosh-2022/" class="more-link">Continue reading Episode 49: EAA Air Venture Oshkosh 2022 →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB we talk with Tim LeBaron, Director; Kristi Dunks, Acting Deputy Director for Regional Operations; and Aaron Sauer, Senior Air Safety Investigator, in the Office of Aviation Safety, about their work to improve general aviation safety and the NTSB’s participation in the upcoming EAA AirVenture Oshkosh event. Hear more about our “Fly Like a Pro” presentation theme for this year, the safety messages being shared with the GA community, including our updated Safety Alert on fly-ins and other safety resources, and where you can find <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/board/Pages/Michael-Graham.aspx">Member Mike Graham</a> and NTSB staff throughout the event.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="5998" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/5998/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/episode-49-mp3-image.jpg" data-orig-size="1500,1500" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/episode-49-mp3-image.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/episode-49-mp3-image.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/episode-49-mp3-image.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5998" width="274" height="274" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/episode-49-mp3-image.jpg?w=274 274w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/episode-49-mp3-image.jpg?w=548 548w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/episode-49-mp3-image.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/episode-49-mp3-image.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 274px) 100vw, 274px" /></figure></div>
For more information about NTSB at the EAA Air Venture Oshkosh event, visit our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/Pages/2022Oshkosh.aspx">webpage</a>.
To learn more about NTSB aviation investigations, and to access investigative reports, visit our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/Investigations.aspx">investigations webpage</a>. 
NTSB Safety Alerts are also available on our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/advocacy/safety-alerts/Pages/safetyalerts.aspx">website</a>. 
Subscribe to the podcast on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-scene-ntsb/id1286590741?mt=2">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/behindthescenentsb/behindthescene-ntsb">Stitcher</a> or your favorite podcast platform.
And find more ways to listen here: <a href="https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/">https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/</a>
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<title>Ready to Answer the Call</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/07/21/ready-to-answer-the-call/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 Jul 2022 16:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Aviation Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Commercial Space]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Recorders]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Transportation History]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5985</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Lorenda Ward, Chief, NTSB Air Carrier and Space Investigations Division When I read the Chair’s blog, “A Call to Action from Kennedy,” I asked myself, “Are we ready?” Not for commercial space exploration, but for the next commercial space accident investigation. One of my responsibilities as the chief of the NTSB’s Air Carrier and … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/07/21/ready-to-answer-the-call/" class="more-link">Continue reading Ready to Answer the Call →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Lorenda Ward, Chief, NTSB Air Carrier and Space Investigations Division
When I read the Chair’s blog, “<a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/05/26/a-call-to-action-from-kennedy/">A Call to Action from Kennedy</a>,” I asked myself, “Are we ready?” Not for commercial space exploration, but for the next commercial space accident investigation.
One of my responsibilities as the chief of the NTSB’s <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/organization/AS/Pages/office_as.aspx">Air Carrier and Space Investigations Division</a> is to ensure that our senior aviation investigators are prepared to respond to a commercial space accident. As the Chair outlined in her blog post, with the growth of commercial space launches and reentries, it is not a matter of “if,” but a matter of when.
What if we get the call today?
The NTSB has done a lot over the last several decades to prepare, including establishing the <a href="https://sma.nasa.gov/news/articles/newsitem/2021/11/22/quad-agency-working-group-builds-beneficial-relationships-between-federal-organizations">Quad-Agency Working Group</a> with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), NASA, and the US Space Force, to build those important relationships between the agencies before a bad day happens. We meet regularly to discuss lessons learned and best practices from past investigations to ensure we are ready for the next investigation.
We also have a lot of training opportunities for our investigators that are above and beyond just attending industry conferences. Several years ago, I helped create a spacecraft design and systems engineering training course, as well as a commercial space externship program for our investigators to learn about the different space vehicles. We also take part in mishap tabletop exercises where we discuss the NTSB party process with both government and industry organizations. By far though, our best training opportunities have been the “on-the-job training” investigations that we’ve taken part in over the years. These investigations have provided us a great understanding of multiple launch vehicles and systems.
Responding to the Call
I remember leading the last fatal commercial space accident involving Scaled Composite SpaceShipTwo (SS2). I was actually at the site of another commercial space mishap, examining the recovered ordnance, when the SS2 accident occurred. Because of the possibility that cellphone signals could detonate unexploded munitions, our whole team had left our phones on the bus while we were at the storage location.
An FAA investigator who had stayed back came running into the bunker, saying we need to go now. I didn’t ask any questions and it wasn’t until I got back on the bus that I saw my boss had been repeatedly calling me for half an hour.
When I finally talked with my boss, he told me I would be the investigator-in-charge (IIC) of the go-team to investigate the first fatal commercial space launch accident. All the federal investigators (NTSB and FAA) had to work our way back from Wallops Island, Virginia, to DC. I had to keep pulling over to be patched into conference calls, so the commute took a lot longer than usual. At NTSB, we do not take calls while driving as <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-05.aspx">distracted driving</a> is a serious issue on our roadways. We have an agency-wide policy that prohibits staff from using a cell phone while driving. I remember at one point telling management I would never make it back to DC if I had to keep pulling over.
For the next 9 months, my focus was determining what happened to SpaceShipTwo. The accident occurred on October 31, 2014, when SS2 broke up during its fourth rocket-powered test flight and impacted terrain over a 5-mile area near Koehn Dry Lake, California. One test pilot (the co-pilot) was fatally injured, and the other test pilot was seriously injured. SS2, a reusable suborbital rocket, had released from WhiteKnightTwo, the carrier vehicle, about 13 seconds before the breakup. SS2 was destroyed, no one on the ground was injured by the falling debris, and WhiteKnightTwo made an uneventful landing.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="5987" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/07/21/ready-to-answer-the-call/spaceshiptwo-whiteknighttwo/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/spaceshiptwo-whiteknighttwo.jpg" data-orig-size="218,122" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="SpaceShipTwo WhiteKnightTwo" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="SpaceShipTwo released from WhiteKnightTwo (Source: Virgin Galactic WK2)
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/spaceshiptwo-whiteknighttwo.jpg?w=218" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/spaceshiptwo-whiteknighttwo.jpg?w=218" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/spaceshiptwo-whiteknighttwo.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5987" width="346" height="194" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/spaceshiptwo-whiteknighttwo.jpg 218w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/spaceshiptwo-whiteknighttwo.jpg?w=150&h=84 150w" sizes="(max-width: 346px) 100vw, 346px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">SpaceShipTwo released from WhiteKnightTwo (Source: Virgin Galactic WK2)</figcaption></figure></div>
Scaled Composites (“Scaled”) was operating SS2 under an experimental permit issued by the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) according to the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 437. The investigation identified several safety issues, to include the lack of human factors guidance for commercial space operators, missed opportunities during the FAA/AST’s evaluations of Scaled Composite’s hazard analyses, FAA/AST granting waivers from regulatory requirements, and an incomplete commercial space flight database for mishap lessons learned. The full report, safety recommendations and docket material, are available on the <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA15MA019.aspx">NTSB investigation page</a>.
What Went Wrong?
The probable cause of the breakup was Scaled Composite’s failure to consider and protect against the possibility that a single human error could result in a catastrophic hazard to the SS2 vehicle. This failure set the stage for the copilot’s premature unlocking of the feather system which led to uncommanded feather extension and the subsequent overload and in-flight breakup of the vehicle. The accident vehicle had onboard video recording (cockpit image recorder) capability and the recording was obtained from a telemetry ground station located in Scaled’s control room at Mojave Airport, Mojave, California. This video was a key part of the investigation, showing cockpit displays and what actions the crew members took.
The Party System
All of our investigations use a <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/process/Pages/partysystem.aspx">party system</a>, meaning that the operator and the regulator will be part of our investigation, at a minimum. For the SpaceShipTwo investigation, we invited Scaled, Virgin Galactic, Butler Parachute Systems, and the FAA to be parties. Scaled built and tested SS2 and had delivered WhiteKnightTwo to Virgin Galactic before the accident. Scaled had planned on transitioning SS2 to Virgin Galactic toward the end of 2014.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img data-attachment-id="5989" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/07/21/ready-to-answer-the-call/whiteknighttwo/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/whiteknighttwo.jpg" data-orig-size="468,283" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="WhiteKnightTwo" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="WhiteKnightTwo hangar visit during on scene phase of investigation (Source: NTSB)
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/whiteknighttwo.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/whiteknighttwo.jpg?w=468" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/whiteknighttwo.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5989" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">WhiteKnightTwo hangar visit during on scene phase of investigation, Nov. 2, 2014, Mojave, CA (Source: NTSB) </figcaption></figure></div>
At the end of the investigation, a couple of the party members mentioned that when we first arrived on scene, wearing our blue jackets with giant yellow letters, they had no idea what to expect or what they were in for. They thought they were being invaded. For this reason, and others, we like to meet with commercial space operators before an accident, so we can explain the NTSB investigation process before we show up on their doorstep for an accident investigation. That initial reaction turned to one of trust as the investigation progressed. They said they were glad we led the investigation and had learned a lot from us. We, in turn, also learned a lot from all the parties.
Some party members also mentioned that they felt like full participants in the investigation, and that their voices were heard. To that point, the investigation would not have been completed in 9 months if we did not have the professionalism, openness, responsiveness, and willingness of the parties to trust our process.
To return to the question that I asked myself on reading the Chair’s blog: “Are we ready?”
Yes, we are ready. Nobody is more ready. This is what we do: Investigate. Communicate. Advocate.
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<title>Salute to the US Coast Guard’s Persistence in Improving Recreational Boating Safety</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/07/15/salute-to-the-us-coast-guards-persistence-in-improving-recreational-boating-safety/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 15 Jul 2022 17:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Marine Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Recreational Boating]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5973</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Jeff Marcus, Chief, NTSB Safety Recommendations Division In many states, when using motorized recreational vessels, or engaging in activities like canoeing, kayaking, and standup paddleboarding, operators are not required to attend a boating safety course, obtain a license or certificate, be familiar with the navigation rules (commonly called the “Rules of the Road”), or … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/07/15/salute-to-the-us-coast-guards-persistence-in-improving-recreational-boating-safety/" class="more-link">Continue reading Salute to the US Coast Guard’s Persistence in Improving Recreational Boating Safety →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Jeff Marcus, Chief, NTSB Safety Recommendations Division
In many states, when using motorized recreational vessels, or engaging in activities like canoeing, kayaking, and standup paddleboarding, operators are not required to attend a boating safety course, obtain a license or certificate, be familiar with the navigation rules (commonly called the “Rules of the Road”), or even demonstrate proficiency in watercraft operation.
In 2016, the NTSB sought to better understand the scope of the issue and determine the safety impact on the nation’s waterways following:
<ul><li>our investigation of a collision between eight kayakers and a New York Waterways ferry,</li><li>feedback we received from marine industry representatives, and</li><li>concerns about the increase in encounters between commercial and recreational vessels.</li></ul>
We took what we learned and began to develop a safety recommendation report.
In 2017, we published <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/MSR1701.pdf">Shared Waterways: Safety of Recreational and Commercial Vessels in the Marine Transportation System</a>, providing our findings as well as recommendations to improve shared waterway safety. We found there is an increased safety risk, especially where confined waterways limit the ability of vessels to maneuver. This is exacerbated not only by the diversity of waterway users but also by differences in their experience, marine knowledge, and boat-handling skills. Moreover, state requirements varied considerably.
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="357" height="297" data-attachment-id="5975" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/07/15/salute-to-the-us-coast-guards-persistence-in-improving-recreational-boating-safety/chicago-river-photo-courtesy-of-steve-dahlman/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/chicago-river.-photo-courtesy-of-steve-dahlman.png" data-orig-size="357,297" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Chicago River. (Photo courtesy of Steve Dahlman)" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/chicago-river.-photo-courtesy-of-steve-dahlman.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/chicago-river.-photo-courtesy-of-steve-dahlman.png?w=357" data-id="5975" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/chicago-river.-photo-courtesy-of-steve-dahlman.png?w=357" alt="" class="wp-image-5975" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/chicago-river.-photo-courtesy-of-steve-dahlman.png 357w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/chicago-river.-photo-courtesy-of-steve-dahlman.png?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/chicago-river.-photo-courtesy-of-steve-dahlman.png?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 357px) 100vw, 357px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Chicago River. (Photo courtesy of Steve Dahlman)</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="369" height="208" data-attachment-id="5976" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/07/15/salute-to-the-us-coast-guards-persistence-in-improving-recreational-boating-safety/cruise-ship-departing-san-diego/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/cruise-ship-departing-san-diego..png" data-orig-size="369,208" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Cruise ship departing San Diego." data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/cruise-ship-departing-san-diego..png?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/cruise-ship-departing-san-diego..png?w=369" data-id="5976" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/cruise-ship-departing-san-diego..png?w=369" alt="" class="wp-image-5976" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/cruise-ship-departing-san-diego..png 369w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/cruise-ship-departing-san-diego..png?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/cruise-ship-departing-san-diego..png?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 369px) 100vw, 369px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Cruise ship departing San Diego. (Photo courtesy of Port of San Diego)</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="286" height="213" data-attachment-id="5977" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/07/15/salute-to-the-us-coast-guards-persistence-in-improving-recreational-boating-safety/kayaks-pass-commercial-barge/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/kayaks-pass-commercial-barge.png" data-orig-size="286,213" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Kayaks pass commercial barge" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/kayaks-pass-commercial-barge.png?w=286" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/kayaks-pass-commercial-barge.png?w=286" data-id="5977" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/kayaks-pass-commercial-barge.png?w=286" alt="" class="wp-image-5977" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/kayaks-pass-commercial-barge.png 286w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/kayaks-pass-commercial-barge.png?w=150 150w" sizes="(max-width: 286px) 100vw, 286px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Kayaks pass commercial barge on Chicago River. (Photo courtesy of Larry Dostal)</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="295" height="197" data-attachment-id="5979" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/07/15/salute-to-the-us-coast-guards-persistence-in-improving-recreational-boating-safety/uscg-onboard/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/uscg-onboard.png" data-orig-size="295,197" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="USCG Onboard" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/uscg-onboard.png?w=295" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/uscg-onboard.png?w=295" data-id="5979" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/uscg-onboard.png?w=295" alt="" class="wp-image-5979" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/uscg-onboard.png 295w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/uscg-onboard.png?w=150 150w" sizes="(max-width: 295px) 100vw, 295px" /></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="336" height="259" data-attachment-id="5978" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/07/15/salute-to-the-us-coast-guards-persistence-in-improving-recreational-boating-safety/photo-of-the-chicago-river-taken-from-a-commercial/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/photo-of-the-chicago-river-taken-from-a-commercial.png" data-orig-size="336,259" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Photo of the Chicago River, taken from a commercial" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/photo-of-the-chicago-river-taken-from-a-commercial.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/photo-of-the-chicago-river-taken-from-a-commercial.png?w=336" data-id="5978" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/photo-of-the-chicago-river-taken-from-a-commercial.png?w=336" alt="" class="wp-image-5978" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/photo-of-the-chicago-river-taken-from-a-commercial.png 336w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/photo-of-the-chicago-river-taken-from-a-commercial.png?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/photo-of-the-chicago-river-taken-from-a-commercial.png?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 336px) 100vw, 336px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo of the Chicago River, taken from a commercial tour boat, with recreational vessels close by. (Photo courtesy of Larry Dostal)</figcaption></figure>
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At the time of our report, the US Coast Guard estimated that in 2015 only 28 percent of motorized recreational vessel operators were required by state laws to complete a boating safety course or pass an examination of boating safety knowledge. Could you imagine if that were the case when it came to obtaining a private pilot’s license? Clearly, recreational vessel operators need a minimum level of boating safety knowledge to mitigate the various risks associated with the type of vessel being operated.
So, we issued Safety Recommendation <a href="https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/M-17-002">M-17-2</a>, which asked the Coast Guard to seek statutory authority to require recreational boat operators to complete a national boating safety course. When we issued this recommendation, we were aware that the Coast Guard had previously sought statutory authority to require recreational boat operators to complete a national standard minimum boating safety education course. As our Shared Waterways report pointed out, at that time, over 70 percent of motorized vessel operators and most nonmotorized vessel operators were still not required to demonstrate minimum boating safety knowledge.
Today, we commend the US Coast Guard for its determined and sustained role in promoting recreational boating safety. Although the Coast Guard has not been granted authority to implement a minimum national standard for boating safety as we’d hoped, it has developed an alternative approach that addresses the safety issue. Instead of saying there was nothing they could do because they didn’t have statutory authority, the Coast Guard developed a solution to address the safety problem. Consistent with congressional direction, the Coast Guard focused on supporting state-led initiatives to develop educational programs and requirements for recreational boaters. Working in partnership with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, the states, and various recreational boating stakeholders, the Coast Guard helped develop and update boating education standards. With the Coast Guard’s active support, recreational boating education has greatly improved nationwide. In its latest update to the NTSB, the Coast Guard reported that currently all but five states have mandatory boating safety education.
Safety is a journey, not a destination. Although there is always more to be done, the Coast Guard’s alternative action led to significant improvements in recreational boating safety across the nation and satisfied the intent of our recommendation.
We issue <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/safety-recommendations.aspx">safety recommendations</a> to other federal agencies and transportation stakeholders engaged in all modes: air, highway, rail, marine, and pipeline. Although we may recommend a particular action, there are often alternative solutions that are equally effective in addressing a safety problem that we identify through our investigations. Like sailing into the wind, sometimes a direct path isn’t possible; sometimes you must tack back and forth to make the mark. We encourage our safety recommendation recipients not to give up if our recommended action proves unattainable, and to pursue alternate actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation. Our goal is to improve transportation safety in any way possible.
We ask all our recommendation recipients to share updates with us on relevant actions they’ve taken to address our concerns. Hearing from them helps us evaluate progress and properly classify the status of recommendations.
Stay safe on the water. Let’s work together as we navigate our way to zero transportation deaths and serious injuries, and safer transportation for all.
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<title>Remembering the Victims of Maryland Route 210</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/06/28/remembering-the-victims-of-maryland-route-210/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 28 Jun 2022 15:51:56 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Holiday Travel]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Infrastructure]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Motorcycles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pedestrians]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safe System Approach]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Speeding]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[By Nicholas Worrell, Chief, NTSB Safety Advocacy Division On June 25, I had the opportunity to represent the NTSB at the Route 210 “Dignity of Life” Observance in Prince George’s Country, Maryland, where I have spent most of my adult life. Although the observance had tragic roots, it was good to see some attention paid … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/06/28/remembering-the-victims-of-maryland-route-210/" class="more-link">Continue reading Remembering the Victims of Maryland Route 210 →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Nicholas Worrell, Chief, NTSB Safety Advocacy Division
On June 25, I had the opportunity to represent the NTSB at the Route 210 “Dignity of Life” Observance in Prince George’s Country, Maryland, where I have spent most of my adult life. Although the observance had tragic roots, it was good to see some attention paid to the toll taken by crashes in this largely Black area.
After the jubilation of Juneteenth, it was a gut-wrenching reminder of one of our greatest remaining inequities as a nation. Statistics show that Blacks and other minority groups are disproportionately likely to die in crashes.
Total <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/early-estimate-2021-traffic-fatalities">crash deaths</a> skyrocketed to an estimate of almost 43,000 in 2021. If we are to reduce the surging totals, we must also be intentional about our efforts in these underprivileged, underserved, and vulnerable communities.
This solemn and dignified gathering was to remember the irreplaceable, individual human beings who have been lost, and continue to be lost, on Maryland Route 210. Eighty people have died in crashes there between 2007 and the present. One of them was the husband of my NTSB colleague Susan Pipkin. At the event, Susan’s daughter, Diamond, said, “He was just thrown from his motorcycle, and it shook our lives,” as she broke into tears. Like bicyclists and pedestrians, motorcycle riders are <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-02.aspx">vulnerable road users</a> and are overrepresented in fatality statistics nationwide.
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="913" height="582" data-attachment-id="5969" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/06/28/remembering-the-victims-of-maryland-route-210/md-event-1/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/md-event-1.jpg" data-orig-size="913,582" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="md-event-1" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/md-event-1.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/md-event-1.jpg?w=474" data-id="5969" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/md-event-1.jpg?w=913" alt="" class="wp-image-5969" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/md-event-1.jpg 913w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/md-event-1.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/md-event-1.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/md-event-1.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 913px) 100vw, 913px" /></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="682" data-attachment-id="5966" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/06/28/remembering-the-victims-of-maryland-route-210/md-event-2/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/md-event-2.jpg" data-orig-size="1024,682" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="md-event-2" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/md-event-2.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/md-event-2.jpg?w=474" data-id="5966" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/md-event-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5966" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/md-event-2.jpg 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/md-event-2.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/md-event-2.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/md-event-2.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Diamond Pipkin talks about her father’s crash at the Route 210 “Dignity of Life” Observance</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="682" data-attachment-id="5967" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/06/28/remembering-the-victims-of-maryland-route-210/md-event-3/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/md-event-3.jpg" data-orig-size="1024,682" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="md-event-3" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/md-event-3.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/md-event-3.jpg?w=474" data-id="5967" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/md-event-3.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5967" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/md-event-3.jpg 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/md-event-3.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/md-event-3.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/md-event-3.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Nicholas Worrell delivers remarks at the Route 210 “Dignity of Life” Observance</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="682" data-attachment-id="5968" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/06/28/remembering-the-victims-of-maryland-route-210/md-event-4/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/md-event-4.jpg" data-orig-size="1024,682" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="md-event-4" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/md-event-4.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/md-event-4.jpg?w=474" data-id="5968" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/md-event-4.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5968" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/md-event-4.jpg 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/md-event-4.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/md-event-4.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/md-event-4.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Nicholas Worrell and Susan Pipkin talk with community leaders at the Route 210 “Dignity of Life” Observance</figcaption></figure>
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Every loss on our roads is a tragedy. Every one of these losses is preventable. And, as I said to the families of the victims, every one of their loved ones was an individual, irreplaceable, had dignity and humanity, and deserved to live.
At the NTSB, we investigate crashes in all modes of transportation. We focus on answering one question, the same question that family members also ask after such a tragedy: Why? Unlike victims’ families and loved ones, though, we must be as objective as possible and look at the same question from an investigator’s point of view. We strive to turn our findings into action by issuing safety recommendations. However, we can only recommend changes—lawmakers, industry, and others must act on them.
I have worked enough with victim and survivor advocates to know that these tragedies are not one-time events. The loss persists and reemerges in so many ways: every time they look across the holiday table to the seat their loved one used to take, every time there is a birthday or a wedding anniversary that they used to celebrate, whenever they go to dial a number to share something with someone who is forever disconnected.
As we approach the Fourth of July holiday,<a href="https://www.nsc.org/newsroom/nsc-urges-safe-driving-this-independence-day-weeke"> a notoriously dangerous time on our nation’s roads</a>, there’s no better time to take stock of how we’re protecting road users in all communities. This means reflecting on all parts of the system, not just on the behaviors of drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and riders. We must <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/Pages/2021-safe-systems-rt.aspx">adopt a Safe System Approach</a> that builds in redundancy so that when one part of the system fails, road users don’t lose their lives. We owe all road users nothing less than our determination that one day, Maryland Route 210 will be another safe road in a safe system, one with zero road deaths and zero serious injuries. And we must ensure that we are making equitable safety investments.
We don’t lose 43,000 faceless statistics every year, we lose 43,000 loved ones. They are irreplaceable. They are precious. The lives of those left behind are shaken, forever changed.
The families I met on June 25 are members of a club none of them ever wanted to join. The best way to honor the life of Mr. Pipkin and the lives of countless others who perished on our roads is to close the door to the club forever.
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<title>Reaching Zero, from Helsinki to Hoboken</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/06/17/reaching-zero-from-helsinki-to-hoboken/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/06/17/reaching-zero-from-helsinki-to-hoboken/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jun 2022 20:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pedestrians]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safe System Approach]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Jennifer Homendy]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5952</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Chair Jennifer Homendy This is the last post in a three-part series examining the safety of vulnerable road users, as new federal data show a rise in traffic deaths among motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians last year. You can read the first two posts here and here. I just got back from Helsinki, Finland, where … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/06/17/reaching-zero-from-helsinki-to-hoboken/" class="more-link">Continue reading Reaching Zero, from Helsinki to Hoboken →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/board/Pages/Jennifer-Homendy.aspx">Chair Jennifer Homendy</a>
This is the last post in a three-part series examining the safety of vulnerable road users, as new federal data show a rise in traffic deaths among motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians last year. You can read the first two posts <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/05/31/motorcycle-safety-is-everyones-responsibility/">here</a> and <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/06/03/we-need-to-change-the-bike-safety-conversation/">here</a>.
I just got back from Helsinki, Finland, where I attended the International Transportation Safety Association’s annual meeting. 
I am amazed at the Finn’s approach to road safety, especially their focus on road design and infrastructure that separates and protects pedestrians and bicyclists from each other and road traffic, which has enabled them to achieve a safety feat in their capital city that people in the United States still consider impossible: zero pedestrian deaths.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="637" height="478" data-attachment-id="5958" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/06/17/reaching-zero-from-helsinki-to-hoboken/helsinki-pedestrian-crossing/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/helsinki-pedestrian-crossing.jpg" data-orig-size="637,478" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Helsinki Pedestrian Crossing" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/helsinki-pedestrian-crossing.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/helsinki-pedestrian-crossing.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/helsinki-pedestrian-crossing.jpg?w=637" alt="" class="wp-image-5958" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/helsinki-pedestrian-crossing.jpg 637w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/helsinki-pedestrian-crossing.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/helsinki-pedestrian-crossing.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 637px) 100vw, 637px" /><figcaption>Pedestrian crossing sign in Helsinki</figcaption></figure></div>
A Tale of Two Countries
The public health crisis on U.S. roads is devastating and getting worse. People at the greatest risk are vulnerable road users, which includes anyone lacking the protection of a vehicle in the event of a crash, such as bicyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians.
In fact, bicyclist deaths were up 5% over 2020 levels, while motorcyclist deaths increased 9% over the same period, according to 2021 <a href="https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813298">estimates</a> recently released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). But the most astonishing take-away is that pedestrian deaths soared 13% to 7,342 lives lost in 2021.
That means, every single day last year, more than 20 families had to plan a funeral because their loved one was killed while walking, running, or rolling on our roads.  
It doesn’t have to be this way. It’s not in Finland.
For a fair international comparison, we can look to the estimated 2019 <a href="https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/estimated-road-traffic-death-rate-(per-100-000-population)">roadway death rate</a> provided by the World Health Organization. Using this apples-to-apples measure, it’s easy to see how much more dangerous our roads are.
For every 100,000 people in each country, less than four died on Finland’s roads in 2019. That’s the same year Finland’s capital of Helsinki recorded zero pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities.
In the U.S.? Over a dozen people died on our roads for every 100,000 — more than triple Finland’s death rate.
Lessons from Helsinki to Hoboken
Many villages, towns, and cities around the world are having incredible success in saving the lives of vulnerable road users, including here in the United States. And they all have one thing in common.
Whether we’re talking about Helsinki or Hoboken, New Jersey (which has <a href="https://patch.com/new-jersey/hoboken/hoboken-earns-praise-secretary-buttigieg-road-safety">achieved zero</a> traffic deaths for four consecutive years!), these communities all embrace the Safe System approach.
Far from a new fad, the Safe System approach derives from the Vision Zero movement in the 1990’s in Sweden, when it was called Vision Zero. It’s a philosophy or way of thinking, not a single action or “quick fix.” The core belief is that even one roadway death or serious injury is too many. 
It’s so successful that <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-02.aspx">Protect Vulnerable Road Users Through a Safe System Approach</a> is on the NTSB’s Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements. 
Places that successfully eliminate traffic deaths through the Safe System approach understand that all parts of society share the responsibility for roadway safety:
<ul><li>This includes government workers in agencies at the local, state, and federal levels that design and build our roads — and set and enforce the speed limits.</li><li>It includes the people who make life-and-death decisions every day at companies that manufacture vehicles. Decisions like which safety technology comes standard and how to market new features ethically, among others.</li><li>It includes emergency responders who arrive on-scene following a crash, from the firefighter to the tow truck driver and everyone in between.</li><li>And it includes individual road users, who must make safe choices every time they walk, run, bike, drive, or roll.</li></ul>
The Safe System in Practice
What does a Safe System look like in practice? Here’s how <a href="https://www.vzhoboken.com/">Hoboken</a> and <a href="https://www.smartcitiesworld.net/news/news/zero-pedestrian-fatalities-in-helsinki-traffic-in-2019-5002">Helsinki</a> are bringing the concepts of safe streets, safe vehicles, safe speeds, safe road users, and post-crash care to life.
One of the biggest opportunities to move the needle on safety across the U.S. lies in safe vehicles. The NTSB has made many recommendations to NHTSA that, once implemented, will save lives by making new cars safer for people outside the vehicle. Here are a few of our recommendations:
<ul><li>Develop test criteria for vehicle designs that reduce injuries to pedestrians, which NTSB has recommended since 2017 — and has been a reality in Europe since 1997.</li><li>Test and require new cars to be equipped with technologies that prevent collisions with vulnerable road users, such as pedestrian automated emergency braking. This is something our European counterparts have been doing since 2016, and which we’ve recommended since 2018.</li><li>Incentivize vehicle manufacturers and consumers to adopt intelligent speed adaptation systems (ISA) by including ISA in the New Car Assessment Program. Even though NTSB recommended this back in 2017, Europe is again ahead of us: ISA systems in passenger vehicles will be mandatory in the European Union starting next month.</li></ul>
For even more NTSB recommendations aimed at saving the lives of vulnerable road users, check out the NTSB’s special investigation report on <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Documents/SIR1803.pdf">pedestrian safety</a> and my earlier post on <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/06/03/we-need-to-change-the-bike-safety-conversation/">bicyclist safety</a>.
Zero: A Bold — But Achievable — Goal
If you think Helsinki or Hoboken are outliers when it comes to eliminating roadway deaths, think again.
This <a href="https://www.dekra-vision-zero.com/">interactive map</a> shows places all over the world that have done it — many for several years in a row, including here in the U.S. (You can change the map language to English by clicking the flag in the top-right corner.)
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="564" height="368" data-attachment-id="5960" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/06/17/reaching-zero-from-helsinki-to-hoboken/map-of-traffic-deaths/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/map-of-traffic-deaths.jpg" data-orig-size="564,368" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Map of Traffic Deaths" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/map-of-traffic-deaths.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/map-of-traffic-deaths.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/map-of-traffic-deaths.jpg?w=564" alt="" class="wp-image-5960" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/map-of-traffic-deaths.jpg 564w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/map-of-traffic-deaths.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/map-of-traffic-deaths.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 564px) 100vw, 564px" /><figcaption>The DEKRA Vision Zero Map records all cities with over 50,000 inhabitants that have gone at least one calendar year without traffic deaths in built-up areas since 2009.</figcaption></figure></div>
To be sure, zero is a bold goal. But it’s not impossible. The current world leader is Siero, Spain, which has had zero roadway fatalities for over a decade.
That’s a safety record worth celebrating…and stopping at nothing to emulate. The NTSB will continue to push our safety partners at NHTSA, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and in state and local governments to implement our recommendations to move our country farther along the road to zero.
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<title>Taking Stock: The IRF Caribbean Regional Congress at 10</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/06/17/taking-stock-the-irf-caribbean-regional-congress-at-10/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/06/17/taking-stock-the-irf-caribbean-regional-congress-at-10/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jun 2022 13:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5943</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Nicholas Worrell, Chief, NTSB Safety Advocacy Division The year 2012 seems not so long ago in some ways, but in other ways, it seems like another age. That was the year of the first International Road Federation (IRF) Caribbean Regional Congress during the UN’s Decade of Action on Road Safety. The group focused that … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/06/17/taking-stock-the-irf-caribbean-regional-congress-at-10/" class="more-link">Continue reading Taking Stock: The IRF Caribbean Regional Congress at 10 →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Nicholas Worrell, Chief, NTSB Safety Advocacy Division
The year 2012 seems not so long ago in some ways, but in other ways, it seems like another age. That was the year of the first International Road Federation (IRF) Caribbean Regional Congress during the UN’s Decade of Action on Road Safety. The group focused that year on halving the yearly toll of 1.25 million road traffic deaths around the world.
Sadly, it has only gotten worse. The annual toll of road violence victims is now up to 1.35 million per year. In a word, we failed to change things, and real people paid the price worldwide. These losses are spread across every region of the world, including the sun-splashed apparent paradise of the Caribbean.
For the loved ones of 1.35 million people a year now, there’s someone they want to call out to or share a joke with, perhaps even someone whose phone number they began to dial before realizing again the eternal disconnect of their loss. For some loved ones, there are weddings or graduations forever relegated to a hypothetical, never-to-be-realized future. Perhaps young children still look for some of those lost before they remember again the intolerable fact of their absence. And of course, some of those lost are young children themselves.
None of these losses are necessary or unavoidable. None is acceptable.
I have participated in most of the ten Caribbean regional congresses, both as a representative of the NTSB and as a Bajan by birth (a native of Barbados.) The 10th IRF Caribbean Regional Congress addressed the twin challenges of road safety and climate-resilient infrastructure. As Deputy Prime Minister of Barbados & Minister of Transport, Works and Water Resources of Barbados Santia O. Bradshaw said in her opening address, “natural hazards can reverse years of development by continuous destruction of infrastructural, economic and social capital.”
A high-level meeting was called for, and last week’s Congress fit the bill.
The Ministerial Session
As IRF Senior Vice Chairman Dr. Bill Sowell said on June 8, “The extraordinary turnout today tells us that momentum for ambitious and coordinated action in the region is growing.” The ministerial session that I mediated that morning reinforced his statement.
During the ministerial session, I helped facilitate a dialogue among the ministers, media, and audience members about the intersecting concerns of development, climate change, and road safety—and these ministers brought their A game. Ninety minutes flew by as they described how responses to today’s challenges can result in lives saved tomorrow, if their nations, and ours, act.
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="512" height="341" data-attachment-id="5949" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/06/17/taking-stock-the-irf-caribbean-regional-congress-at-10/irf1/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/irf1.jpg" data-orig-size="512,341" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="IRF1" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/irf1.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/irf1.jpg?w=474" data-id="5949" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/irf1.jpg?w=512" alt="" class="wp-image-5949" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/irf1.jpg 512w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/irf1.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/irf1.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></figure>
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Road Safety Leadership – A Safe System Approach to Zero Road Deaths for the Caribbean
“Leadership,” as James C. Maxwell said, “is influence, nothing more, nothing less.” Later that day, I participated on the Safety Leadership panel. I shared with the delegates how the NTSB works to influence the transportation community to take the safe way forward, and I had plenty to share.
Other delegates often touched on the Safe System Approach to preventing traffic injuries and fatalities, and they appreciated that the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5aVmmm4Qt9G6GU917DH97pv6wboCBzZo">same approach was embraced by the NTSB</a>, which is lauded internationally as the gold standard of crash investigations and transportation safety studies.
During this leadership session, delegates committed to coming together in a coalition of Caribbean nations and territories to meet quarterly instead of annually.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="682" data-attachment-id="5945" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/06/17/taking-stock-the-irf-caribbean-regional-congress-at-10/img_0330/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/img_0330.jpg" data-orig-size="5472,3648" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"4","credit":"","camera":"Canon EOS 6D","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1648347282","copyright":"","focal_length":"42","iso":"400","shutter_speed":"0.025","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="IMG_0330" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/img_0330.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/img_0330.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/img_0330.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5945" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/img_0330.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/img_0330.jpg?w=2046 2046w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/img_0330.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/img_0330.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/img_0330.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
A Challenging Farewell
On Friday, June 10, I delivered capnote remarks to the final plenary session to help close out the regional Congress. I recounted what author Jim Rohn calls “the law of diminishing intent” – the principle that the longer you wait to take action, the less likely you are to take action.
I touched on the five pillars of the Safe System Approach, and the connectedness we all share to the lives that we will save. I touched on resilience in the face of the pandemic and of climate change, and I talked about the urgency I feel to take intentional, immediate action. But the audience hardly needed my encouragement!
By the end of the IRF’s 10th Caribbean Regional Congress, commitments had been made to take the following steps:
<ul><li>Ministers have agreed to form a coalition that will meet quarterly for continued discussions around road safety in the region.</li><li>Ministers promised to collaborate on financial endeavors for road safety projects in the region (one of the biggest concerns in the region).</li><li>The IRF committed to finding support for the region.</li><li>Delegates agreed to place a greater commitment on data sharing.</li><li>Leaders and delegates committed to intentional efforts around road safety by acting now and showing results next year.</li></ul>
After 10 years, this Congress—like the global road safety community, and the safety community here in the United States—is ready for some wins. It will take a sustained effort to achieve success, and a change of safety culture among all of us. But it can be done.
I thank my hosts at last week’s 10th IRF Caribbean Regional Congress for the opportunity to see this awareness taking hold throughout the Caribbean region.
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<title>Episode 48: James Anderson</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/06/09/episode-48-james-anderson/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/06/09/episode-48-james-anderson/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 09 Jun 2022 14:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Behind-the-Scene]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5934</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @ NTSB, we have a conversation with James Anderson, the Audio Visual Communication Specialist in the NTSB Office of Safety Recommendations and Communications and the Producer of the NTSB podcast. James shares how he got interested in audio and video production, his career path to the NTSB, and some notable projects he’s worked … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/06/09/episode-48-james-anderson/" class="more-link">Continue reading Episode 48: James Anderson →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @ NTSB, we have a conversation with James Anderson, the Audio Visual Communication Specialist in the NTSB Office of Safety Recommendations and Communications and the Producer of the NTSB podcast. James shares how he got interested in audio and video production, his career path to the NTSB, and some notable projects he’s worked on at the agency.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="5939" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/5939/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/episode-48-mp3-image.jpg" data-orig-size="1500,1500" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/episode-48-mp3-image.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/episode-48-mp3-image.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/episode-48-mp3-image.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5939" width="349" height="349" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/episode-48-mp3-image.jpg?w=349 349w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/episode-48-mp3-image.jpg?w=698 698w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/episode-48-mp3-image.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/episode-48-mp3-image.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 349px) 100vw, 349px" /></figure></div>
You can view the video James produced about the NTSB investigation of the Sinking of US cargo Vessel El Faro, on our <a href="https://youtu.be/66bvIgfHwYU">YouTube channel</a>.
To learn more about the work of the NTSB visit our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0XgHY82R0o&list=PL5aVmmm4Qt9G6GU917DH97pv6wboCBzZo">YouTube channel</a>.
Subscribe to the podcast on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-scene-ntsb/id1286590741?mt=2">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/behindthescenentsb/behindthescene-ntsb">Stitcher</a> or your favorite podcast platform.
And find more ways to listen here: <a href="https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/">https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/</a>
]]></content:encoded>
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<title>We Need to Change the Bike Safety Conversation</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/06/03/we-need-to-change-the-bike-safety-conversation/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/06/03/we-need-to-change-the-bike-safety-conversation/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 03 Jun 2022 13:05:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Bicyclists]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impairment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Infrastructure]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Motorcycles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pedestrians]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Speeding]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Jennifer Homendy]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5923</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Chair Jennifer Homendy This is the second in a three-part series examining the safety of vulnerable road users, as new federal data show a rise in traffic deaths among motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians last year. Read the first post. I love nearly everything about bicycles, from riding around Virginia to creating art for the … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/06/03/we-need-to-change-the-bike-safety-conversation/" class="more-link">Continue reading We Need to Change the Bike Safety Conversation →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/board/Pages/Jennifer-Homendy.aspx">Chair Jennifer Homendy</a>
This is the second in a three-part series examining the safety of vulnerable road users, as new federal data show a rise in traffic deaths among motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians last year. <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/05/31/motorcycle-safety-is-everyones-responsibility/">Read the first post</a>.
I love nearly everything about bicycles, from riding around Virginia to creating art for the NTSB office with old parts. I say “nearly” everything because U.S. roads are far too dangerous for bicyclists — and it’s getting worse.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="373" height="280" data-attachment-id="5929" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/06/03/we-need-to-change-the-bike-safety-conversation/image/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/image.png" data-orig-size="373,280" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="image" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/image.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/image.png?w=373" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/image.png?w=373" alt="" class="wp-image-5929" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/image.png 373w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/image.png?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/image.png?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 373px) 100vw, 373px" /><figcaption>Wall art by Chair Homendy from bicycle parts hangs at NTSB headquarters</figcaption></figure></div>
On <a href="https://www.un.org/en/observances/bicycle-day">World Bicycle Day</a>, I’m calling on every road user to help change the conversation.
Outdated Thinking is Deadly
Bicycles have been around for two centuries. But that’s no excuse for our safety approach to be stuck in the past, as it currently is.
We have to stop telling bicyclists not to get injured. We have to let go of the idea that educating bike riders will solve the problem. This type of thinking is too narrow to stem the public health crisis on our roads — and clinging to it is proving to be deadly.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="5931" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/06/03/we-need-to-change-the-bike-safety-conversation/chair-homendy-and-ivan-cheung/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/chair-homendy-and-ivan-cheung.jpg" data-orig-size="540,493" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Chair Homendy and Ivan Cheung" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/chair-homendy-and-ivan-cheung.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/chair-homendy-and-ivan-cheung.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/chair-homendy-and-ivan-cheung.jpg?w=540" alt="" class="wp-image-5931" width="398" height="363" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/chair-homendy-and-ivan-cheung.jpg?w=398 398w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/chair-homendy-and-ivan-cheung.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/chair-homendy-and-ivan-cheung.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/chair-homendy-and-ivan-cheung.jpg 540w" sizes="(max-width: 398px) 100vw, 398px" /><figcaption>Chair Homendy on a bike ride with NTSB team member Ivan Cheung</figcaption></figure></div>
Of course, we <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/05/19/road-users-deserve-better/">implore</a> all road users to make safe choices to protect themselves and others. But we’re missing the bigger picture when we only focus on individuals’ actions. It’s certainly not how we get to our goal of zero traffic deaths!
Instead, we should be talking about how the entire system is failing to protect bicyclists and other vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and motorcyclists. This means asking new questions such as the following:
<ul><li>Are vehicles equipped with technology to prevent crashes with bicyclists?</li><li>Are drivers traveling at speeds that would make it unlikely for a bicyclist to survive a crash?</li><li>Is the road itself designed to prevent crashes and protect bicyclists?</li><li>If a crash does occur, how effective was the emergency response in its goal of saving lives and treating injuries? </li></ul>
These questions help us “zoom out” and see that we can’t solve our road safety crisis by focusing solely on individual road users. We also have to consider safe vehicles, safe speeds, safe roads, and post-crash care. That’s why <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-02.aspx">Protect Vulnerable Road Users through a Safe System Approach</a> is on the NTSB’s Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements. 
In a truly <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/Pages/2021-safe-systems-rt.aspx">Safe System</a>, the safety burden is shared by all, from individual road users to traffic safety and highway engineers, regulators, vehicle manufacturers, and more. Absolutely everyone is responsible for preventing crashes.
Because even one death is one too many.
Tragically, the stakes have never been higher. According to <a href="https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813298">data</a> released last month by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 985 cyclists died on our roads last year — a 5% increase over 2020 levels. Combined with the 9% increase in motorcycle deaths and the 13% jump in pedestrian deaths, you can see how dire the situation is for vulnerable road users.
We have to do better. And that means considering all components of a Safe System. The best place to start is with the implementation of NTSB safety recommendations.
Here are just some of the ways we could make streets safe for all road users:
<ul><li>Invest in bike- and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, like separated bike lanes and safety treatments at intersections. The recent infrastructure law presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make such lifesaving investments.</li><li><a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-01.aspx">Reduce speeds</a>, especially in areas where there are a lot of vulnerable road users, like bicyclists. This can be accomplished through infrastructure improvements, like road diets; granting local jurisdictions the authority to set safe speeds for their own community and implement speed safety camera programs; and requiring auto manufacturers to install advanced speed-limiting technology on vehicles.</li><li>Require <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-04.aspx">in-vehicle technologies</a>, such as automatic emergency braking, that can help prevent crashes before they occur — and not just crashes with other cars and trucks, but with bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorcyclists as well.</li><li>Require large vehicles to be equipped with <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Documents/SS1301.pdf">visibility-enhancement systems</a> to better detect cyclists and pedestrians in their blind spots.</li><li>Prevent <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-03.aspx">impaired driving</a>, which leads to one in four traffic fatalities. NHTSA should require vehicles to come equipped with technology that will detect and prevent drunk driving. States should lower the per se blood alcohol content (BAC) to .05, an action only Utah has taken (with <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/utah-lower-impaired-driving-law-study#:~:text=alcohol%20level%20to%20.-,05%25.,fatality%20rate%20reduction%20in%202019.">proven success</a>!). States should also implement laws requiring all drivers convicted of alcohol-impaired driving to use an interlock device.</li><li>Require front, side, and rear underride guards on newly manufactured trucks to protect cyclists and pedestrians from going beneath large trucks.</li><li>Collect and analyze data, including hospital data, on the level of bicycling activity, crashes, and injuries. State and local leaders should use this data to design countermeasures and evaluate outcomes to measure effectiveness. How do you know if a project or program is successful if you aren’t tracking progress?</li></ul>
My Next Project — And the Nation’s 
My next bike project has already begun. I’m restoring an old Sears Spaceliner that I picked up at my local thrift shop. And I’m planning a few rides with the Washington Area Bicyclist Association.
I’m also using World Bicycle Day as an opportunity to assign you a project of your own: Join NTSB in changing the bike safety conversation. Ask new questions. Stop putting the entire safety burden on bicyclists. Embrace the Safe System approach.
The lives of vulnerable road users depend on it.
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<title>Motorcycle Safety Is Everyone’s Responsibility</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/05/31/motorcycle-safety-is-everyones-responsibility/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/05/31/motorcycle-safety-is-everyones-responsibility/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 01 Jun 2022 00:55:03 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impairment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Infrastructure]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Motorcycles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Speeding]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Jennifer Homendy]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5913</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Chair Jennifer Homendy This is the first in a three-part series examining the safety of vulnerable road users, as new federal data show a rise in traffic deaths among motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians last year. When it comes to learning, I’m one of those people who doesn’t just want to read about something — … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/05/31/motorcycle-safety-is-everyones-responsibility/" class="more-link">Continue reading Motorcycle Safety Is Everyone’s Responsibility →</a>]]></description>
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By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/board/Pages/Jennifer-Homendy.aspx">Chair Jennifer Homendy</a>
This is the first in a three-part series examining the safety of vulnerable road users, as new federal data show a rise in traffic deaths among motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians last year.
When it comes to learning, I’m one of those people who doesn’t just want to read about something — I want to experience it firsthand whenever possible.
That’s why I got my motorcycle endorsement.
In fact, enrolling in the training course was one of the first things I did when I became an NTSB Board Member back in 2018. I wanted to feel the thrill of operating a motorcycle, learn from my classmates about their love of riding, and gain a deeper understanding of the safety risks all riders face.
Most of all, I wanted to become a more effective safety advocate.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img data-attachment-id="5919" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/05/31/motorcycle-safety-is-everyones-responsibility/chair-homendy-motorcycle-training-course/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/chair-homendy-motorcycle-training-course.jpg" data-orig-size="1125,1024" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Chair Homendy Motorcycle Training Course" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="Photo of Chair Jennifer Homendy at a Wheels Up Motorcycle Training Course, in Frdericksburg, VA.
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/chair-homendy-motorcycle-training-course.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/chair-homendy-motorcycle-training-course.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/chair-homendy-motorcycle-training-course.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5919" /><figcaption>Photo of Chair Jennifer Homendy at a Wheels Up Motorcycle Training Course, in Fredericksburg, VA.</figcaption></figure></div>
A Tragic New Record
Motorcyclists — motorcycle riders and their passengers — have the highest risk of fatal injury among all motor vehicle users. A major reason is that motorcycles afford riders less protection in a crash.
This means, for every mile they traveled in 2020, the average motorcyclist’s risk of death in a traffic crash was <a href="https://ntsbgov-my.sharepoint.com/personal/kelly_hessler_ntsb_gov/Documents/Documents/Blogs%20&%20Bylines/er%20vehicle%20miles%20traveled%20in%202020,%20motorcy%02clist%20fatalities%20occurred%20nearly%2028%20times%20more">28 times greater</a> than that of a passenger car occupant.
The picture is only getting bleaker. New <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/early-estimate-2021-traffic-fatalities">data</a> from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that 6,101 motorcyclists died on our roads last year. Not only is this an all-time high — it’s a 9% increase from 2020, which held the previous record.
That means the last two years are the deadliest on record for motorcyclists in the United States.
What Needs to be Done
We know what needs to happen to save motorcyclists’ lives.
First and foremost, we need to <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-02.aspx">adopt the Safe System approach to protect  vulnerable road users</a>, such as motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians. It’s so important that it’s on our 2021-2022 <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/default.aspx">Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements</a>.
A <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/Pages/2021-safe-systems-rt.aspx">Safe System</a> addresses all aspects of traffic safety: road users, vehicles, speeds, roads, and post-crash care. We must make better safety investments, from road treatments, vehicle design, and collision-avoidance systems to strong traffic safety laws to mitigate risk and save lives for all road users.
But what does that mean in practice? The first step is to change the way we think and talk about safety. When it comes to motorcycle safety, it means we must stop spending so much time talking about what riders should do to mitigate their risk.
It’s not only unfair to put the full safety responsibility on motorcyclists, but it’s also ineffective. In a truly safe system, no individual road user’s action or inaction can cost them their life; there are redundancies built in so that if one part fails, a person is still protected.
The NTSB took a deep dive into motorcycle safety with our 2018 <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Documents/SR1801.pdf">research report</a>, which has specific recommendations to protect motorcyclists. And, because motorcyclists are at such risk in crashes with passenger vehicles, we should also heed NTSB recommendations in our reports on <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Pages/DCA15SS002.aspx">speeding</a> and <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Pages/DCA12SS006.aspx">substance-impaired driving</a>.
Combined, these three reports have 50 safety recommendations — that’s 50 opportunities for regulators, states, policymakers, manufacturers, and associations to save lives on our roads.
As we close out <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/white-house-recognizes-may-as-motorcycle-safety-awareness-month-301539097.html">Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month</a> and head into the deadly days of summer, now’s the perfect moment to implement NTSB safety recommendations.
The Time is Now
Getting my motorcycle endorsement helped me see the road from a rider’s perspective. It also deepened my resolve to ensure every motorcycle rider and passenger is safe on our roads.
But you don’t need to have firsthand experience to understand how dire the situation is. After all, we set a tragic new record for motorcyclist deaths last year. 
We can’t wait another day. The families of the 6,101 riders we lost last year deserve action.
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<title>A Call to Action from Kennedy</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/05/26/a-call-to-action-from-kennedy/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 26 May 2022 20:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Aviation Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Transportation History]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Jennifer Homendy]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5875</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Chair Jennifer Homendy This week, I visited NASA, Boeing, Blue Origin, and Space-X at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. KSC has been a leader in space exploration for over 50 years. The Apollo, Skylab, and Space Shuttle programs took off from there, as did the Hubble Space Telescope, the Mars Rover project, and … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/05/26/a-call-to-action-from-kennedy/" class="more-link">Continue reading A Call to Action from Kennedy →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/board/Pages/Jennifer-Homendy.aspx">Chair Jennifer Homendy</a>
This week, I visited NASA, Boeing, Blue Origin, and Space-X at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. KSC has been a leader in space exploration for over 50 years. The Apollo, Skylab, and Space Shuttle programs took off from there, as did the Hubble Space Telescope, the Mars Rover project, and New Horizons, the first spacecraft to visit Pluto.
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To visit Launch Complex 39A and stand where the Apollo and Space Shuttle astronauts once stood before they launched into space was humbling, and as I watched Space-X’s Transporter-5 launch and land from the balcony of Operation Support Building 2 and the return of Boeing’s Starliner Spacecraft virtually, I was reminded of how important it is that we learn from the past as we advance into our future.
Exactly sixty-one years earlier, to the day, on May 25, 1961, President Kennedy addressed a joint session of Congress and laid out a truly ambitious goal: landing a man on the Moon. Not just landing a man on the Moon but returning him safely to Earth. He called for national leadership and implored Congress and the country to take a firm and sustained commitment to a new course of action, “a clearly leading role in space achievement, which in many ways may hold the key to our future on earth.” And he demanded that the whole of government, working together as one, dedicate themselves to jumpstarting a future he knew was in the best interests of our country.
The vision that President Kennedy laid out 61 years ago continues to shape our nation and the world. Today, NASA is developing its deep space rocket, the most powerful rocket it has ever built, the Space Launch System (SLS), while commercial space companies transport cargo for the federal government and private businesses to space as well as to the International Space Station (ISS). These companies have also begun transporting passengers.
Commercial spaceflight is a rapidly evolving industry and shows tremendous promise. Over the last decade, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-licensed commercial launches and re-entries have grown tremendously, from 1 licensed launch and 0 licensed re-entries in 2011 to 54 licensed launches and 6 licensed re-entries in 2021. The federal government needs to be prepared for these exciting technological advances. For NTSB, that means ensuring we remain ready if an accident occurs. If the past has taught us anything, it’s not a matter of “if” an accident will occur, it’s a matter of when.
The NTSB has investigated accidents involving space vehicles for over 30 years. In 1986, we participated in the investigation in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster; in 1993, we investigated the Orbital Sciences Pegasus accident; we again participated when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated on reentry and 7 astronauts died, in 2003; and in 2004, we assisted NASA with the Genesis Sample-Return Capsule crash investigation. More recently, in 2014, we investigated the in-flight explosion of SpaceShip Two.
All this is to say, we aren’t new to commercial space. The fact is NTSB is world renowned for its reputation as the “gold standard” for thorough, fact-based, independent investigations of accidents in all modes of transportation, whether those accidents occur on our roads, railways, waterways, or in our skies. We have been at the forefront of safety and the advancement of new technologies and new ways of moving people and goods for decades. We’re used to new challenges, and we’re ready for them.
The key to our success is our independence. That independence is what sets us apart. We aren’t tasked with exploring space; that’s NASA’s mission. We aren’t tasked with promoting, licensing, or regulating the safety of the commercial space industry; that’s the job of the FAA. Our entire mission is focused on determining what happened when a tragedy occurs, why it happened, and issuing safety recommendations aimed at preventing it from happening again. In other words, our one and only goal is to save lives and prevent the reoccurrence of terrible tragedies.
These past few months, I’ve spent time with our safety partners at FAA and NASA in hopes of ensuring we’re all prepared should tragedy occur. I’ve done this because I believe that the disparate arms of the federal government must work together to ensure the safety and success of this burgeoning industry. The commercial space industry is American innovation at its finest. As a government, we don’t want to get in the way of awe-inspiring technological innovations we once thought unimaginable, but we want to provide guardrails and cooperation, guidance and protection of the public, and we all need to work together as one to make that happen.
<figure data-carousel-extra='{"blog_id":19981937,"permalink":"https:\/\/safetycompass.wordpress.com\/2022\/05\/26\/a-call-to-action-from-kennedy\/"}' class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-7 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img data-attachment-id="5883" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/05/26/a-call-to-action-from-kennedy/nasa-image-1/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/nasa-image-1.jpg" data-orig-size="3113,2559" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="NASA Image 1" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/nasa-image-1.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/nasa-image-1.jpg?w=474" data-id="5883" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/nasa-image-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5883" /><figcaption>Photo of NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy and NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center Deputy Director Kelvin Manning</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img data-attachment-id="5884" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/05/26/a-call-to-action-from-kennedy/nasa-image-2/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/nasa-image-2.png" data-orig-size="2425,2489" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="NASA Image 2" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/nasa-image-2.png?w=292" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/nasa-image-2.png?w=474" data-id="5884" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/nasa-image-2.png" alt="" class="wp-image-5884" /><figcaption>Photo of NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy and NASA Associate Administrator of the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, Kathy Lueders</figcaption></figure>
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Sixty-one years ago, President Kennedy called on us to work together for the best interests of our country. The need for all of us to work together resonates as much today. I call on our safety partners at NASA, at FAA, at the Departments of Commerce and Defense to work with us and the stakeholders who I visited this week, among others, to ensure that safety remains a top priority alongside commercial space innovation.
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<title>Collision-Avoidance Technologies Can Improve Safety for Teen Drivers</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/05/23/collision-avoidance-technologies-can-improve-safety-for-teen-drivers/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/05/23/collision-avoidance-technologies-can-improve-safety-for-teen-drivers/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 23 May 2022 19:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[automated vehicles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[autonomous vehicles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[connected vehicles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Global Youth Traffic Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael Graham]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5854</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Member Michael Graham Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for teens. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2019, approximately 2,400 teens in the United States aged 13–19 died and about 258,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes. This means that approximately 7 teens died, and hundreds more … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/05/23/collision-avoidance-technologies-can-improve-safety-for-teen-drivers/" class="more-link">Continue reading Collision-Avoidance Technologies Can Improve Safety for Teen Drivers →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/board/Pages/Michael-Graham.aspx">Member Michael Graham</a>
Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for teens. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2019, approximately 2,400 teens in the United States aged 13–19 died and about 258,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes. This means that approximately 7 teens died, and hundreds more were injured, every day due to preventable motor vehicle crashes.
These numbers are staggering and unacceptable.
From our investigations, we know that collision-avoidance technologies—increasingly seen in newer vehicles—can help reduce that number. And a recent <a href="https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/driving-technology-promises-large-safety-benefits-for-teens">Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) study</a> has also found that crash-avoidance features and teen-specific vehicle technologies have the potential to prevent or mitigate up to 75% of all fatal crashes involving teen drivers. Collision-avoidance technologies include features such as automatic emergency braking (AEB), collision warning, and lane departure prevention. These features can serve to warn a driver of an impending crash and stop or slow the vehicle to prevent or mitigate a collision.
To increase awareness about the life-saving capabilities of collision-avoidance technologies among parents, teens, and educators, on March 23, I convened a panel of teen driving safety experts and researchers to explore how collision-avoidance technologies can improve the safety of our teen drivers. Panelists included representatives from the IIHS, Alliance for Automotive Innovation, OFFICIAL Driving Schools, AAA National, and INRIX, as well as investigators from the NTSB.
During this webinar, we discussed the role of vehicle technology in reducing teen traffic crashes and fatalities. We dove deeper into the IIHS’s recent research on collision-avoidance technology and teen driver safety, explored perspectives from educators and the automotive industry, and addressed how vehicle technology, if made standard in all vehicles, can contribute to equitable and accessible safe transportation for all.
I encourage all of you to watch the full recording of our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYfbLDOBo18">webinar</a>—but especially if you’re a parent, educator, motor vehicle administrator, or highway department of transportation employee.
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One point we all agreed on during the webinar, is that these technologies have the potential to dramatically improve safety for teen drivers. However, they need to be broadly accepted and equitable, and the barriers to adoption—such as education, awareness, availability, and affordability—need to be addressed.
Here were some of the key takeaways, as summed up by our panelists:
<ul><li>We need to emphasize education and safe driving behavior. We also need to educate drivers on how these systems function and the role of the driver. It’s important to integrate these technologies into driver skills training to broaden awareness.</li><li>We must understand how teens are interacting with collision-avoidance systems. There’s an opportunity for engagement with academics and researchers to dig into the data and look at it from a local level.</li><li>More work should be done for equity and access.</li><li>Modern training vehicles at driving schools, preparing instructors to educate teens on these technologies, and better communication between driving schools and parents about the benefits of these technologies could instill the benefits of collision-avoidance technologies and encourage voluntary adoption.</li><li>State departments or agencies that provide training curriculum to driving schools should encourage technology use and incorporate it in the training curriculum.</li><li>States need to look at their existing <a href="https://www.iihs.org/topics/teenagers#graduated-licensing">graduated driver license law</a> (GDL) and strengthen them to ensure they have a comprehensive GDL program that provides a three-stage graduated process for newly licensed young drivers to gain experience while minimizing risk.</li><li>We are heading in the wrong direction with fatalities; we must do more at the federal level, with the new car assessment ratings and research to help us guide the technology forward. These collision-avoidance technologies should be standard in all vehicles.</li></ul>
As a result of our crash investigations, the NTSB has made numerous recommendations to implement and encourage the use of collision-avoidance technologies. The topic is highlighted on our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-04.aspx">2021–2022 Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements</a> (MWL), and teen driving safety has been a topic on previous MWLs. We encourage you to check out our webpages on these topics to learn more about our specific recommendations.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="819" data-attachment-id="5797" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/hs-04-titles-sm-2/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-04-titles-sm.jpg" data-orig-size="1500,1200" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="HS-04 Titles-sm" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-04-titles-sm.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-04-titles-sm.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-04-titles-sm.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5797" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-04-titles-sm.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-04-titles-sm.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-04-titles-sm.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-04-titles-sm.jpg?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-04-titles-sm.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
May is Global Youth Traffic Safety Month. If you haven’t already done so this month, take the time to learn more about these technologies—for the sake of your teen and the sake of road safety. The <a href="https://www.iihs.org/topics/advanced-driver-assistance">IIHS</a>, <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/driver-assistance-technologies">National Highway Traffic Safety Administration</a>, and the <a href="https://www.nsc.org/road/resources/my-car-does-what">National Safety Council</a> all offer information on these technologies. What better way to protect our next generation of drivers than to learn more now about these life-saving technologies? As we all work toward achieving zero traffic deaths and serious injuries on our roads, we must remember that it all begins with preparing our teens with the best possible technologies and strategies for preventing roadway crashes.
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<title>Where is the Outrage? Road Users Deserve Better</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/05/19/road-users-deserve-better/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/05/19/road-users-deserve-better/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 19 May 2022 15:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Bicyclists]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Child Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Drowsy Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Fatigue]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Global Road Safety Week]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Global Youth Traffic Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impairment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Infrastructure]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Motorcycles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pedestrians]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Speeding]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Teen Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[V2X]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Jennifer Homendy]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5846</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Chair Jennifer Homendy 42,915 16-year high 10.5-percent increase An early estimate, released this week by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), shows 42,915 people—117 people per day—died on the nation’s roads last year. I, for one, am outraged by these needless deaths. Those victims are mothers and fathers, children and grandparents, friends, and … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/05/19/road-users-deserve-better/" class="more-link">Continue reading Where is the Outrage? Road Users Deserve Better →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/board/Pages/Jennifer-Homendy.aspx">Chair Jennifer Homendy</a>
42,915
16-year high
10.5-percent increase
An early estimate, <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/early-estimate-2021-traffic-fatalities">released this week</a> by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), shows 42,915 people—117 people per day—died on the nation’s roads last year. I, for one, am outraged by these needless deaths. Those victims are mothers and fathers, children and grandparents, friends, and coworkers. They are also often the most vulnerable among us. Where is our collective outrage over these deaths? Zero fatalities is our goal!
Here are a few insights within the data:
<ul><li>Pedestrian fatalities up 13 percent</li><li>Motorcyclist fatalities up 9 percent</li><li>Bicyclist fatalities up 5 percent</li><li>Fatalities in speeding-related crashes up 5 percent</li><li>Fatalities in police-reported, alcohol-involvement crashes up 5 percent</li><li>Fatalities on urban roads up 16 percent</li><li>Fatalities in crashes involving at least one large truck up 13 percent</li></ul>
The NTSB knows what needs to be done. The NTSB has investigated countless crashes, issued thousands of safety recommendations, and identified the data-driven approaches to make our roads safer, to prevent deaths and injuries. The NTSB has highlighted safety improvements on our <a href="http://www.ntsb.gov/mwl">Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements</a> that can save lives on our roads.
We don’t need more guidance, we don’t need pilot programs, we need action. Action by regulators. Action by lawmakers and states. Action by manufacturers. Action by road designers and engineers. Action by all road users. We need to adopt the Safe System Approach and share the responsibility for safety.
Safe Speeds
Speed increases the likelihood of a crash and injury severity when a crash occurs. Speeding contributes to about one-third of all traffic-related crash fatalities. States must set safe speeds. Speeds that ensure that when a crash happens—because they will—whether you are inside or outside a vehicle, you will survive. States’ decades-old, one-size-fits-all approach for setting speed limits based on the speed of vehicles is senseless, focused on drivers rather than all road users, and is just leading to increasing speed limits across the U.S. And State Departments of Transportation reliance on education over proven countermeasures like implementation of speed safety cameras is ineffective.
Safe Vehicles
Since 1995, the NTSB has issued more than 25 safety recommendations to the US Department of Transportation modal agencies and vehicle manufacturers on the need to develop performance standards for collision avoidance technologies and to make them standard in all vehicles. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: nearly 30 years later, we’re still waiting.
Prominently bolded on NHTSA’s homepage is the phrase “Safe cars save lives.” However, the safest cars are still only for those who can afford them. NHTSA must act to implement NTSB safety recommendations and mandate that vehicle safety technology be standard equipment on all vehicles. Safety isn’t a luxury. NHTSA must also update the New Car Assessment Program, ASAP, to push auto manufacturers to implement, and drive consumer demand for, the safest technologies in vehicles.
Safe Roads
The nation’s roads were designed to efficiently move motor vehicles; they weren’t designed for the safe mobility of all road users. We have made no progress in recent years to prevent deaths among those who walk, bike, and roll on our nation’s roads. States must adopt the Safe System Approach and make infrastructure investments and improvements that prioritize the safety for vulnerable road users.
However, I’m increasingly concerned that many in the highway safety community don’t know how the Safe System Approach differs from the traditional, flawed approach of the 3E’s: education, enforcement, engineering. In other words, is this becoming just an “inside the beltway” term? We cannot let this moment pass us by. We need to ditch our overreliance on ineffective education and enforcement campaigns to address increasing death and look to much better, long-term solutions.
Safe Road Users
The NTSB cannot make safety recommendations to individual road users. Making safe choices is only something we can encourage and advocate for. We’ve seen individual choices contribute to the cause of countless highway crashes or severity of injuries. Distraction while driving or walking. Speeding. Impaired driving. Not buckling seat belts or wearing protective gear like helmets. All these choices have resulted in the devastating loss of life. We implore all road users to make safe choices to protect themselves and others. Many of the fatalities on our roadways would be prevented if safe choices were made every trip, every time.
Postcrash Care
The Safe System Approach accepts that crashes will happen, but that they should not be deadly. We must ensure that in the event of a crash, those involved have efficient access to the care and resources they need to live and recover. Our first responders—law enforcement, EMS, fire, and 911 personnel—need appropriate resources to serve our communities and respond to crashes. Law enforcement, EMS, and fire personnel need safe working environments free of the risk of secondary crashes.
A key principle of the Safe System Approach is shared responsibility. The entire system, our current approach to traffic safety, is failing all road users. We all—government, auto makers, policy makers, law enforcement, planners, engineers and, yes, road users—are failing. We must do better. I know that if we all come to the safety table and work together to implement the strategies that we know are successful, we can reach zero and save lives, both inside and outside vehicles.
We have the tools to reverse the trend. Now we need everyone to act. Lives depend on it!
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<title>‘Tis the Season…for Safe Digging</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/04/29/tis-the-seasonfor-safe-digging/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 29 Apr 2022 17:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Hazardous Materials]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pipeline]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Jennifer Homendy]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5836</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Chair Jennifer Homendy The warmer months are here, which means more time outside for many of us, whether for recreation or to tackle home-improvement projects. Personally, I’m looking forward to running in the mornings, biking in the evenings, and spending weekends digging around in my vegetable garden — but not before taking an important … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/04/29/tis-the-seasonfor-safe-digging/" class="more-link">Continue reading ‘Tis the Season…for Safe Digging →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/board/Pages/Jennifer-Homendy.aspx"> Chair Jennifer Homendy</a>
The warmer months are here, which means more time outside for many of us, whether for recreation or to tackle home-improvement projects.
Personally, I’m looking forward to running in the mornings, biking in the evenings, and spending weekends digging around in my vegetable garden — but not before taking an important safety action.
Call 811 Before You Dig
April is <a href="https://call811.com/">National Safe Digging Month</a>, the perfect time to remind you to call 811 a few days before you put a shovel in the ground for any reason. This includes:
<ul><li>Planting trees, bushes, flowers, or vegetables.</li><li>Installing a fence or a mailbox.</li><li>Building a deck.</li></ul>
Calling 811 will direct you to the appropriate resource in your state, where you can request to have the location of buried utilities marked with paint or flags before breaking ground. Check out <a href="http://www.call811.com">call811.com</a> to learn more — some states even have an online portal where you can submit an electronic request.
It doesn’t matter what the project is, how deep you plan to dig, or whether you’ve dug there before. Utility lines and wells can be located just inches below the surface or even change depths over time, which might not be as uncommon as it sounds.
Understanding that things shift under our feet is important, especially when you consider how much is going on beneath the surface: there are 2.8 million miles of regulated pipelines and 17,000 underground natural gas storage wells in the U.S., according to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).
Don’t Risk It  
The number-one cause of gas distribution pipeline accidents is excavation damage caused by third parties: anyone not employed by the gas company, such as homeowners or contractors.
In fact, more than a third of all PHMSA-reportable gas distribution pipeline accidents in 2019 had “excavation damage” listed as the incident cause (PHMSA 2021). Of these, 88% were attributed to a third-party.  
If you don’t call 811 before your next home-improvement project, you could disrupt the internet service to your whole neighborhood. Each year, damage to underground utilities costs the U.S. an estimated $30 billion.
Or you could put your entire community at risk. “<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-rph-01.aspx">Improve Pipeline Leak Detection and Mitigation</a>” is on the NTSB’s Most Wanted List because damaged pipelines can be extremely dangerous. 
Unfortunately, this is something I’ve seen up close.
Devastation in San Francisco, California
I was the Board member on scene for the NTSB investigation of a February 6, 2019, <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/PAR2102.pdf">pipeline accident</a> in San Francisco, California.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img data-attachment-id="5838" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/04/29/tis-the-seasonfor-safe-digging/san-fran-sept-2019/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/san-fran-sept-2019.png" data-orig-size="1000,749" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="February 6, 2019, pipeline accident in San Francisco, California." data-image-description="" data-image-caption="Northwest-facing view of fire during emergency response. (Photo courtesy of PG&amp;E.)
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/san-fran-sept-2019.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/san-fran-sept-2019.png?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/san-fran-sept-2019.png" alt="An outdoor fire burns in front of a mini excavator amid smoke as firefighters try to extinguish the flames." class="wp-image-5838" /><figcaption>Northwest-facing view of fire during emergency response. (Photo courtesy of PG&E.)</figcaption></figure>
What happened?
In digging to install underground fiber-optic cables, a contractor struck a pipeline, releasing over 1.9 million cubic feet of natural gas. The gas soon ignited.
The fire, which had flames more than two-stories high, reached a fully occupied restaurant with a rental unit above before spreading to the neighboring buildings.
Miraculously, there were no injuries. The accident did, however, cause over $10 million in damage. It also put many lives at risk, including those of the first responders.
How did this happen?
Our investigation determined that the probable cause of the fire was, in laymen’s terms, the contractor’s failure to follow safe digging practices.
While the contractor did call 811 to have utilities marked before beginning work, he used an excavator to mechanically dig too close to the marked utility lines. As a result, the excavator struck the pipeline, which released the gas that later ignited.
The safe thing to do — and the practice required under state law — would have been to use a lower-impact digging technique that close to the pipeline, such as hand digging.
Know What’s Below
While you might not be installing fiber-optic cables in your neighborhood, we can all take a lesson from San Francisco: Call 811 before you dig for any reason — and follow the guidance you’re given. It’s the only way to know what’s below. Never, ever take the risk.
Be careful this spring, wherever your home-improvement projects take you. And if you’re a gardener like me, here’s hoping these April showers pay off with beautiful May flowers…and some home-grown vegetables, too.
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<media:title type="html">An outdoor fire burns in front of a mini excavator amid smoke as firefighters try to extinguish the flames.</media:title>
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<title>Excessive Speed Continues to Take Too Many Lives</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/04/29/excessive-speed-continues-to-take-too-many-lives/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 29 Apr 2022 14:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Speeding]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Bruce Landsberg]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5829</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg  Our recent investigation of the fatal Jan. 5, 2020, multivehicle crash near Mt. Pleasant Township, Pennsylvania, determined that excessive speed played a critical factor. This is a recurring theme in too many highway crash investigations. Between 1967 and 2022, the NTSB has investigated over 50 major crashes in which speed … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/04/29/excessive-speed-continues-to-take-too-many-lives/" class="more-link">Continue reading Excessive Speed Continues to Take Too Many Lives →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/board/Pages/Bruce-Landsberg.aspx">Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg </a>
Our recent investigation of the fatal Jan. 5, 2020, multivehicle crash near Mt. Pleasant Township, Pennsylvania, determined that excessive speed played a critical factor. This is a recurring theme in too many highway crash investigations. Between 1967 and 2022, the NTSB has investigated over 50 major crashes in which speed was cited as a safety issue, a cause of the crash, or a contributing factor. And that represents just the tip of the iceberg, given the NTSB selectively investigates highway crashes. We have made numerous <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/query-builder/route/?t=published&n=6" target="_blank">safety recommendations</a> prioritizing safety technology, legislation, and education to prevent speed-related crashes and save lives.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="728" data-attachment-id="5842" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/04/29/excessive-speed-continues-to-take-too-many-lives/mt-pleasant-township-pa/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/mt.-pleasant-township-pa.png" data-orig-size="1954,1391" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Mt. Pleasant Township PA" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/mt.-pleasant-township-pa.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/mt.-pleasant-township-pa.png?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/mt.-pleasant-township-pa.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5842" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/mt.-pleasant-township-pa.png?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/mt.-pleasant-township-pa.png?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/mt.-pleasant-township-pa.png?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/mt.-pleasant-township-pa.png?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/mt.-pleasant-township-pa.png 1954w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>In this photo, the final rest positions of all vehicles involved in crash below the curve on westbound Pennsylvania Turnpike. (Photo courtesy of the Pennsylvania State Police. Graphic overlay by NTSB.)</figcaption></figure>
<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/HWY20MH002.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Mt. Pleasant Township investigation</a> and resulting recommendations point out the importance of technology, such as automated speed safety cameras, to limit highway crashes. Safety-focused legislation is also needed to develop performance standards for advanced speed-limiting technology in heavy vehicles. We need education initiatives to inform drivers about the circumstances of the Mt. Pleasant Township crash; the importance of following the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s guidance on engine retarders, “<a href="https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/carrier-safety/carrier-safety-resources/motorcoach-brake-systems-and-safety-technologies" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Motorcoach Brake Systems and Safety Technologies</a>”; and the need to incorporate the guidance into their members’ training and manuals.
The changes proposed to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are applicable to all states as they strive to improve safety on their roads and highways: 
<ul type="1"><li>Allow speed safety cameras to be used outside of active work zones. <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/H-22-007" target="_blank">(H-22-7)</a></li></ul>
Safety cameras are a reliable supplement to traditional enforcement. When properly implemented, they offer fair and equitable speeding enforcement. They should not, however, be used as a revenue source for non-safety-related projects, and drivers should be notified about when and where cameras are in use. Where photo enforcement has been used in construction and school zones, the numbers of crashes, injuries, and fatalities have all decreased markedly!
<ul><li>Implement the use of variable speed limit signs or other similar technology to adjust speeds in real-time based on weather and road conditions. <a href="https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/H-22-008" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">(H-22-8)</a></li></ul>
Dynamic speed limits will help drivers adapt to changing road conditions. What’s suitable for dry pavement and light traffic is too fast for heavy traffic and contaminated road surfaces. Well-documented stopping distance tests on wet and icy roads have proved that point consistently. Reduced visibility is deadly, and there have been several massive crashes recently where drivers were unable to see stopped or slowed vehicles ahead of them. One-size speed limits do not fit all conditions or vehicles!
<ul><li>Evaluate the applicability and use of the 85th percentile speed input variable in both of your tools, USLIMITS2 and the National Cooperative Highway Research Program 966, for setting appropriate speed limits to reduce serious and fatal injuries. <a href="https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/H-22-002" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">(H-22-2)</a> </li></ul>
The 85th percentile is defined as “the speed at or below which 85 percent of all vehicles are observed to travel under free-flowing conditions past a monitored point.” This may not be the safest and most effective way to engineer safety into our roadways. Crash history and the presence of vulnerable road users should also be considered when setting speed limits.
For decades, excessive speed has been a factor in about <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/speeding" target="_blank">one-third of all motor vehicle crashes</a>. The NTSB added <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-01.aspx" target="_blank">“Implement a Comprehensive Strategy to Eliminate Speeding-Related Crashes”</a> to the Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements in 2019. Speeding increases the likelihood and severity of crashes. The physics of reaction time, stopping distance, and impact forces are sadly proven every single day—dozens of times.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="819" data-attachment-id="5794" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/hs-01-titles-sm-2/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-01-titles-sm.jpg" data-orig-size="1500,1200" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="HS-01 Titles-sm" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5794" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-01-titles-sm.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
State and federal government officials, safety advocates, and drivers have critical roles in preventing speed-related crashes. The safety recommendations outlined in the Mt. Pleasant Township crash investigation and in our 2017 safety study, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Documents/SS1701.pdf" target="_blank">Reducing Speeding-Related Crashes Involving Passenger Vehicles</a> should be implemented in your state. Take action and slow down. Your life and the lives of your loved ones depend on it.
Check out the latest Behind-the-Scene @NTSB podcast episode for more information about the Mt. Pleasant Township, PA crash and investigation. Listen now: <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5820">https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5820</a>
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<title>Episode 47: Mt. Pleasant Township, PA Crash Investigation</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/04/28/episode-47-mt-pleasant-township-pa-crash-investigation/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/04/28/episode-47-mt-pleasant-township-pa-crash-investigation/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 29 Apr 2022 03:59:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Behind-the-Scene]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Speeding]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5820</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, Highway Factors Investigator, Dan Walsh discusses the 2020 multi-vehicle crash investigation near Mt. Pleasant Township, PA, and we explore the safety issues and safety recommendations issued as a result of our investigation. The NTSB final report for the Multivehicle Crash Near Mt. PleasantTownship, Pennsylvania, mentioned in this episode is available on … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/04/28/episode-47-mt-pleasant-township-pa-crash-investigation/" class="more-link">Continue reading Episode 47: Mt. Pleasant Township, PA Crash Investigation →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, Highway Factors Investigator, Dan Walsh discusses the 2020 multi-vehicle crash investigation near Mt. Pleasant Township, PA, and we explore the safety issues and safety recommendations issued as a result of our investigation.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="5823" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/5823/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/episode-47-mp3-image.jpg" data-orig-size="1500,1500" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/episode-47-mp3-image.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/episode-47-mp3-image.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/episode-47-mp3-image.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5823" width="348" height="348" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/episode-47-mp3-image.jpg?w=348 348w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/episode-47-mp3-image.jpg?w=696 696w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/episode-47-mp3-image.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/episode-47-mp3-image.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 348px) 100vw, 348px" /></figure></div>
The NTSB final <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/HWY20MH002.aspx">report</a> for the Multivehicle Crash Near Mt. Pleasant Township, Pennsylvania, mentioned in this episode is available on our website.
For more information about the NTSB Most Wanted List visit our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/default.aspx">website</a>.
To learn more about the NTSB Safe System Approach Roundtable Series visit our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/Pages/2021-safe-systems-rt.aspx">website</a>. Recordings of each installment of the series are available on our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0XgHY82R0o&list=PL5aVmmm4Qt9G6GU917DH97pv6wboCBzZo">YouTube channel</a>.
Subscribe to the podcast on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-scene-ntsb/id1286590741?mt=2">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/behindthescenentsb/behindthescene-ntsb">Stitcher</a> or your favorite podcast platform.
And find more ways to listen here: <a href="https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/">https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/</a>
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<title>Improving Safety in the Second-Largest Continent</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/04/26/improving-safety-in-the-second-largest-continent/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/04/26/improving-safety-in-the-second-largest-continent/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 26 Apr 2022 14:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Aviation Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Marine Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pipeline]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Rail Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5807</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Nicholas Worrell, Chief, NTSB Safety Advocacy Division In August, 2019, I wrote that Safe Skies for Africa was ending, but that the safety journey would go on in Africa, the world’s second-largest and second-most-populous continent. Earlier this month, it was my pleasure to represent the NTSB in a presentation about best practices in safety … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/04/26/improving-safety-in-the-second-largest-continent/" class="more-link">Continue reading Improving Safety in the Second-Largest Continent →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Nicholas Worrell, Chief, NTSB Safety Advocacy Division
In August, 2019, I wrote that <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2019/08/23/safe-skies-for-africa-ends-but-the-safety-journey-continues/">Safe Skies for Africa was ending</a>, but that the safety journey would go on in Africa, the world’s second-largest and second-most-populous continent. Earlier this month, it was my pleasure to represent the NTSB in a presentation about best practices in safety advocacy at the <a href="https://www.ipiaam.cv/">Civil Aviation Operational Safety Workshop</a> in Cape Verde.
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img data-attachment-id="5816" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/04/26/improving-safety-in-the-second-largest-continent/aviation-safety-week-africa-2/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/aviation-safety-week-africa-2.jpg" data-orig-size="6000,4000" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"4","credit":"Kamadjones Photography","camera":"NIKON D3400","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1649766653","copyright":"JPK","focal_length":"70","iso":"1600","shutter_speed":"0.016666666666667","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Aviation Safety Week – Africa (2)" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/aviation-safety-week-africa-2.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/aviation-safety-week-africa-2.jpg?w=474" data-id="5816" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/aviation-safety-week-africa-2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5816" /></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img data-attachment-id="5817" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/04/26/improving-safety-in-the-second-largest-continent/aviation-safety-week-africa/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/aviation-safety-week-africa.jpg" data-orig-size="4272,2848" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"4.5","credit":"","camera":"Canon EOS 450D","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1649769394","copyright":"","focal_length":"21","iso":"1600","shutter_speed":"0.02","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Aviation Safety Week – Africa" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/aviation-safety-week-africa.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/aviation-safety-week-africa.jpg?w=474" data-id="5817" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/aviation-safety-week-africa.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5817" /></figure>
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The occasion was Aviation Safety Week, which gathered together transportation safety leaders from seven African nations, the EU, and the United States to share safety knowledge. Attendees were interested to learn from my presentation that in the United States, the accident investigator—the NTSB—has no power whatsoever to require change.
Enter Advocacy.
It’s been said that information + persuasion = advocacy. The idea is never to misrepresent; rather, it is to present information that makes the case most compellingly. If the case is compelling enough, your advocacy might inspire people to act. Then, they might influence others to act as well, creating a critical force multiplier. I spoke to my audience about advocacy methodology, messaging, and tools, and the absolute need for collaboration, working with and through others. I reminded my audience, though, that advocacy differs with the context and the organization. At the NTSB, for example, it’s the one way we can bring about change and encourage implementation of our recommendations. However, I urged safety leaders in Africa to be mindful that all advocacy is local. What might work in the United States might not necessarily work for all of Africa.
Ultimately, wherever it is done, advocacy done right moves the needle toward saving lives. As transportation safety leaders, I told my audience, we must communicate our work to gain the desired impact and outcomes. We must be proactive and go to our audience, not sit back waiting for them to come to us.
It was an honor addressing these passionate transportation safety leaders from the African region. We should always remember that our transportation safety work crosses air, land, and sea. When we share our lessons learned and best practices, and when others share theirs with us, we may save lives not just nationally, but globally, as well.
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<title>The 2021-2022 MWL After One Year: Noticeable Progress But Few Closed Recommendations</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/04/25/the-2021-2022-mwl-after-one-year-noticeable-progress-but-few-closed-recommendations/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/04/25/the-2021-2022-mwl-after-one-year-noticeable-progress-but-few-closed-recommendations/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 25 Apr 2022 17:50:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[automated vehicles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[autonomous vehicles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Aviation Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Bicyclists]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[connected vehicles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Hazardous Materials]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impairment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Infrastructure]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Marine Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Motorcycles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pedestrians]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pipeline]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Rail Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Recorders]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Speeding]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Teen Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[V2X]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5810</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Kathryn Catania, Acting Director, NTSB Office of Safety Recommendations and Communications Since the unveiling a year ago of the 2021-2022 cycle of the NTSB’s Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements, we have seen increased awareness and discussion of safety items, high levels of engagement from the public, and incremental progress toward implementation of … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/04/25/the-2021-2022-mwl-after-one-year-noticeable-progress-but-few-closed-recommendations/" class="more-link">Continue reading The 2021-2022 MWL After One Year: Noticeable Progress But Few Closed Recommendations →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Kathryn Catania, Acting Director, NTSB Office of Safety Recommendations and Communications
Since the unveiling a year ago of the 2021-2022 cycle of the <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/advocacy/mwl/Pages/default.aspx">NTSB’s Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements</a>, we have seen increased awareness and discussion of safety items, high levels of engagement from the public, and incremental progress toward implementation of many recommendations.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="819" data-attachment-id="5793" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/mwl-titles-1/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/mwl-titles-1.jpg" data-orig-size="1500,1200" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="MWL titles 1" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/mwl-titles-1.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/mwl-titles-1.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/mwl-titles-1.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5793" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/mwl-titles-1.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/mwl-titles-1.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/mwl-titles-1.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/mwl-titles-1.jpg?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/mwl-titles-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
In the past year, the NTSB has already successfully <a href="https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/query-builder/route/?t=published&n=25">closed eight safety recommendations</a> associated with this MWL cycle. But that is not enough. There are <a href="https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/query-builder/route/?t=published&n=1">167 other key recommendations</a> that, if implemented, would save lives, and prevent injuries.
Soon after <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlYbIHZ3M1c">the unveiling of the MWL</a> last year, NTSB Board members and staff sprang into action to educate, engage, and amplify the critical safety messages of our 10 safety improvements. Here’s a quick look by mode, starting with Highway, which makes up 5 of our 10 safety improvements. 
<figure data-carousel-extra='{"blog_id":19981937,"permalink":"https:\/\/safetycompass.wordpress.com\/2022\/04\/25\/the-2021-2022-mwl-after-one-year-noticeable-progress-but-few-closed-recommendations\/"}' class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-11 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img data-attachment-id="5798" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/hs-05-titles-sm-2/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-05-titles-sm.jpg" data-orig-size="1500,1200" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="HS-05 Titles-sm" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-05-titles-sm.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-05-titles-sm.jpg?w=474" data-id="5798" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-05-titles-sm.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5798" /></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img data-attachment-id="5797" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/hs-04-titles-sm-2/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-04-titles-sm.jpg" data-orig-size="1500,1200" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="HS-04 Titles-sm" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-04-titles-sm.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-04-titles-sm.jpg?w=474" data-id="5797" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-04-titles-sm.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5797" /></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img data-attachment-id="5796" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/hs-03-titles-sm-2/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-03-titles-sm.jpg" data-orig-size="1500,1200" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="HS-03 Titles-sm" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-03-titles-sm.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-03-titles-sm.jpg?w=474" data-id="5796" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-03-titles-sm.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5796" /></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img data-attachment-id="5795" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/hs-02-titles-sm/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-02-titles-sm.jpg" data-orig-size="1500,1200" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="HS-02 Titles-sm" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-02-titles-sm.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-02-titles-sm.jpg?w=474" data-id="5795" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-02-titles-sm.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5795" /></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img data-attachment-id="5794" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/hs-01-titles-sm-2/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-01-titles-sm.jpg" data-orig-size="1500,1200" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="HS-01 Titles-sm" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=474" data-id="5794" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hs-01-titles-sm.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5794" /></figure>
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Highway
In recent years, we have increasingly expressed our highway safety goals in the language of the Safe System Approach—the very approach that we use in our own safety investigations. (We first discussed the approach in our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/documents/ss1701.pdf">2017 report on reducing speeding</a>.)
The Safe System Approach views every aspect of the crash as an opportunity to interrupt the series of events leading to it, and an opportunity to mitigate the harm that the crash does. People make mistakes, but safe roads, safe vehicles, safe road users, safe speeds, and post-crash care can combine to prevent the crash entirely, or failing that, to prevent the deaths or serious injuries of road users.
This paradigm shift applies to each of the highway safety improvements on the MWL, and is mentioned by name in “<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-02.aspx">Protect Vulnerable Road Users Through a Safe System Approach,”</a>
Between May 2021 and February 2022, we produced <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5aVmmm4Qt9G6GU917DH97pv6wboCBzZo">seven virtual roundtables</a> to explain the approach and call for its adoption.  National and international experts discussed the approach and shared their successes and challenges. More than 1,000 advocates, regulators, academics, and others attended our webinars.
Included in the series hosted by Chair Homendy was a <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/Pages/2021-safe-system2-rt.aspx">Safe Speeds Roundtable</a> that explored the <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-01.aspx">“Implement a Comprehensive Strategy to Eliminate Speeding-Related Crashes”</a> safety improvement. Additionally, a “<a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/11/19/episode-45-most-wanted-list-vulnerable-road-users-and-speeding/">Behind the Scene @NTSB</a>” podcast featured discussion on speeding and vulnerable road users.
In 2021, the Department of Transportation and Congress incorporated the approach into the DOT’s National Roadway Safety Strategy and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, respectively.
Will the new model result in lifesaving protections? Only final, and positive, closure of our recommendations will answer that. But the signs are very good, with the alignment of Congress, the DOT, and the road safety community.
Our MWL safety improvement, <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-04.aspx">“Require Collision-Avoidance and Connected-Vehicle Technologies on all Vehicles,”</a> could result in far superior situational awareness on our roads… if sufficient spectrum is available for the safety improvement.
Vehicle to everything (V2X) technology can save lives but has been delayed, and might be reduced or stopped, due to FCC rulings limiting the spectrum for safety operations. We released a <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/safety-topics/Pages/v2x.aspx">four-part video series</a> in which Member Graham interviewed some of the leading experts in V2X technologies—including academics, researchers, automakers, and policymakers—to discuss what can be done to find a way forward to deployment.
In progress toward <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-05.aspx">Eliminating Distracted Driving, </a> Vice Chairman Landsberg and staff joined government officials, industry, academia, insurers, and transportation safety advocates to announce the launch of a new <a href="https://usnddc.org/">National Distracted Driving Coalition</a>. This is the first such broad national coalition on distracted driving.
We kept <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/NR20220211.aspx">working with states considering lowering their BAC limit from .08 to .05</a> or lower, to help <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-03.aspx">Prevent Alcohol- and Other Drug-Impairment</a>. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has now evaluated the results from Utah, which has made the change to .05. Not surprisingly, the lower threshold prevented drinking and driving and saved lives. <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/utah-lower-impaired-driving-law-study">NHTSA’s study</a> showed that the state’s fatal crash rate dropped by 19.8% in 2019, the first year under the lower legal limit, and the fatality rate decreased by 18.3%.
Aviation
To highlight our two aviation MWL safety items, “<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-as-01.aspx">Require and Verify the Effectiveness of Safety Management Systems in all Revenue Passenger-Carrying Aviation Operations</a>” and “<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-as-02.aspx">Install Crash-Resistant Recorders and Establish Flight Data Monitoring Programs</a>,” we met with operators and pilots from the Helicopter Association International, General Aviation Manufacturers Association, and National Business Aviation Association, among others. In <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/Activities/Pages/graham-20210914.pdf.aspx">webinars</a>, podcasts, and at in-person <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/Activities/Pages/graham-20220307.aspx">national conferences</a>, Board members talked with Part 135 and Part 91 operators and pilots to identify challenges. Our outreach meetings alone reached more than 1,500 operators nationwide.
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img data-attachment-id="5800" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/as-02-titles-sm-3/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/as-02-titles-sm.jpg" data-orig-size="1500,1200" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="AS-02 Titles-sm" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/as-02-titles-sm.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/as-02-titles-sm.jpg?w=474" data-id="5800" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/as-02-titles-sm.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5800" /></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img data-attachment-id="5592" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/11/29/paying-passengers-deserve-safety-on-all-flights/as-01-titles-sm/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/as-01-titles-sm.jpg" data-orig-size="1500,1200" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="AS-01 Titles-sm" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/as-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/as-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=474" data-id="5592" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/as-01-titles-sm.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5592" /></figure>
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Marine
With an increasing number of deadly fishing vessel accidents in recent years, Office of Marine Safety Director Morgan Turrell and Chair Homendy hosted a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YM3Kbcnh_W8">virtual roundtable on improving fishing vessel safety</a> that was viewed by over 1,000 people. Panelists discussed what can be done to address commercial fishing safety, implement NTSB safety recommendations, and improve the safety of fishing operations in the United States.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="819" data-attachment-id="5268" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/ms-01-titles/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/ms-01-titles.jpg" data-orig-size="3000,2400" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="ms-01-titles" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/ms-01-titles.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/ms-01-titles.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/ms-01-titles.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5268" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/ms-01-titles.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/ms-01-titles.jpg?w=2048 2048w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/ms-01-titles.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/ms-01-titles.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/ms-01-titles.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Our MWL calls for pipeline and hazardous materials (hazmat) stakeholders to <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-rph-01.aspx">“Improve Pipeline Leak Detection and Mitigation”</a> by equipping all pipeline systems with leak-detection systems and automatic shutoff or remote-control valves. These valves allow for quick detection and mitigation.
Additionally, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7bC329QejE&t=8s">we produced a video</a> featuring Member Michael Graham and Hazardous Materials Investigator Rachael Gunaratnam, which explores cases in which odorants failed as a natural gas leak-detection strategy, and promotes both required natural gas leak detectors, and voluntary adoption of such detectors until they are required.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="819" data-attachment-id="5565" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/rph-01-titles-sm-2/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rph-01-titles-sm.jpg" data-orig-size="1500,1200" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="rph-01-titles-sm" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rph-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rph-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rph-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5565" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rph-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rph-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rph-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rph-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rph-01-titles-sm.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Rail
To highlight the dangers to rail roadway workers and to help <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-rph-02.aspx">Improve Rail Worker Safety</a>, Member Tom Chapman wrote <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/09/22/improve-rail-worker-safety/">a blog on rail worker safety</a>, discussing how the railroad regulators—the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and the Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA)— are in the best position to make change.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="819" data-attachment-id="5803" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/rph-02-titles-2/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/rph-02-titles.jpg" data-orig-size="3000,2400" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="RPH-02 Titles" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/rph-02-titles.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/rph-02-titles.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/rph-02-titles.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5803" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/rph-02-titles.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/rph-02-titles.jpg?w=2048 2048w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/rph-02-titles.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/rph-02-titles.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/rph-02-titles.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
We also completed our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/RRD18FR006.aspx">investigation of the April 24, 2018</a>, accident in which an Amtrak rail watchman was killed in Bowie, Maryland. As a result of this investigation, we called on the FRA and Amtrak to put an immediate end to the use of train approach warning (TAW) systems as the sole method of on-track safety in areas covered by positive train control.
To mark the anniversary of the January 2017 train collision in Edgemont, South Dakota, we also issued <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/NR20220119.aspx">a media statement</a> again urging railroads to act to better protect rail roadway workers.
Looking ahead
We are pleased by the engagement of so many of our safety advocacy partners, industry groups, and associations in the past year, to promote our recommendations and highlight transportation safety concerns. Also, we acknowledge that many industry groups and operators are making voluntary efforts to improve safety, including on some of our recommendations. However, without mandates, many others may not act.
We remain disappointed by the lack of movement by regulators to implement the safety recommendations associated with our MWL. While there has been some progress during this first year, much more needs to be done to implement the 167 remaining safety recommendations associated with the current list. The longer these authorities wait to implement our recommendations, the greater the risk to the traveling public. Safety delayed is safety denied.
The NTSB will not stand by quietly and watch as regulators, industry, and other recommendation recipients ignore and dismiss our safety recommendations—and neither should the public. As NTSB Chair Homendy expressed in recent remarks to the <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/Activities/Pages/homendy-20220315.aspx">largest highway safety gathering</a> in the U.S, “The horrific toll of people who’ve died on our roads and their families… millions of people who were injured… are counting on us to “fight like hell” for the next family. To give a voice to those who no longer have one.”
All our lives are on the line, and no death in transportation is acceptable. It is our mission to advocate for the changes outlined in our safety recommendations which, if implemented, will save lives.
Safety is a shared responsibility. We all play a role in getting us to zero transportation deaths. The NTSB cannot do this alone. We need each of you, individually and collectively, to <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-toolkit.aspx">help us advocate</a> for these critical safety improvements.
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<title>Kicking off National Distracted Driving Awareness Month</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/04/01/distracted-driving-awareness-month-kickoff/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/04/01/distracted-driving-awareness-month-kickoff/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 01 Apr 2022 14:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impairment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Speeding]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Distracted Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[highway safety]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5782</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Nicholas Worrell, Chief, NTSB Safety Advocacy Division More people are dying in crashes since the pandemic began. Deaths on our roads increased from 36,096 in in 2019 to 38,824 in 2020, and to an estimated 31,720 in the first 9 months of 2021, a further 12% increase. At that rate of increase, fatalities will … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/04/01/distracted-driving-awareness-month-kickoff/" class="more-link">Continue reading Kicking off National Distracted Driving Awareness Month →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Nicholas Worrell, Chief, NTSB Safety Advocacy Division
More people are dying in crashes since the pandemic began. Deaths on our roads increased from 36,096 in in 2019 to 38,824 in 2020, and to an estimated 31,720 in the first 9 months of 2021, a further 12% increase. At that rate of increase, fatalities will be well over 40,000 for the full year.
Our roads have become more dangerous, and Americans know it. <a href="https://news.nationwide.com/bad-driving-has-americans-on-edge/?utm_source=prn">A new study from Nationwide finds that</a>, compared with 2020, more than three quarters of respondents think drivers are more aggressive, drive faster, and are more reckless. “Even more frightening,” says Nationwide, “more than a third of drivers (34%) believe it is safe to hold your phone while driving—whether that is to make a call, send a text, or use navigation.”
Additionally, <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220330005565/en/">the Travelers Companies recently announced the results of the 2022 Travelers Risk Index on distracted driving.</a> The results “suggest that work-related pressure might lead to distracted driving. Most business managers (86%) expect employees to respond to work-related communications at least sometimes while outside the office during work hours. One-third expect employees to answer or participate in work calls while driving.”
Since the pandemic began, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been reporting upticks in risky driving such as <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-01.aspx">speeding</a>, <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-03.aspx">impairment by alcohol and other drugs</a>, and driving without a seatbelt—a driver’s best protection in a crash. But what about <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-05.aspx">distracted driving</a>?
Late last year, citing studies by Cambridge Mobile Telematics and Zendrive, NHTSA stated <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/2021-10/Traffic-Safety-During-COVID-19_Jan-June2021-102621-v3-tag.pdf">that risks associated with distracted driving rose during the pandemic</a> too. One study suggested that, in 16% of crashes detected, a cell phone was manipulated within 5 seconds of the crash.
What is distracted driving?
Distraction occurs when drivers divert their attention away from the driving task. Personal electronic devices, such as cell phones and tablets, are among the culprits, though activities such as grooming and eating contribute as well.
Visual distraction is taking your eyes off the road—for example, to glance down at a twitter feed. Manual distraction is taking your hands away from the vehicle controls, such as when you text or search for a phone contact. Cognitive distraction degrades driving when your mind is not on the road. Even if you use your phone hands-free, you are subject to cognitive distraction—mentally focusing on something other than the driving task.
NHTSA says that<a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving"> 3,142 people lost their lives to distracted driving in 2019,</a> and that is likely an undercount. Often those who have lost a loved one to such senseless road violence are driven to action, like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS9zK6QXXtQ">these participants in our 2017 roundtable, “Act to End Deadly Distractions.”</a>
What you can do
Last year, NTSB Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg announced the launch of the <a href="https://usnddc.wpengine.com/">National Distracted Driving Coalition</a> to unite the many individuals and organizations that are working for change, so that member organizations can focus on their own strengths, while developing common resources to avoid duplication of efforts.
Passionate individuals and organizations, responsible companies and legislatures, the academic community, and government agencies have begun to make an impact on distracted driving behaviors and strengthening distracted driving laws across the nation.
But anybody who drives can do their part just by disconnecting for the drive. 
Be the boss of your devices, not the other way around. And be a boss in general. Plan for how and when you will take calls—not while driving—and let people know your plan. Let people know that you’ll be on the road, or you’ll be on your phone, but not both. Because no call, no text, no update is worth a human life.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="600" height="600" data-attachment-id="5789" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/04/01/distracted-driving-awareness-month-kickoff/driving-fast-with-a-sport-car-10/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/distractednocall.jpg" data-orig-size="600,600" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"4.5","credit":"oneinchpunch - Fotolia","camera":"NIKON D610","caption":"Man driving the car on the freeway in Los Angeles, California. concept about traffic jam,transportation and travels","created_timestamp":"1442411238","copyright":"oneinchpunch - Fotolia","focal_length":"12","iso":"250","shutter_speed":"0.008","title":"Driving fast with a sport car","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Driving fast with a sport car" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="Man driving the car on the freeway in Los Angeles, California. concept about traffic jam,transportation and travels
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/distractednocall.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/distractednocall.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/distractednocall.jpg?w=600" alt="" class="wp-image-5789" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/distractednocall.jpg 600w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/distractednocall.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/distractednocall.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></figure></div>
Connect with us
Follow us on the Web and Twitter to learn more about this month’s advocacy engagement to eliminate distracted driving.
<ul><li>Website: <a href="http://www.NTSB.gov" rel="nofollow">http://www.NTSB.gov</a></li><li>Twitter: @NTSB</li></ul>
Upcoming Event:
<ul><li>April 13, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern – <a href="https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07ej4l4tu22a216abd&oseq=&c=&ch=">National Distracted Driving Coalition #Act2EndDD Webinar</a> </li></ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="535" data-attachment-id="5785" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/04/01/distracted-driving-awareness-month-kickoff/ssp-finaldraft-coalitionwebinar_fb-linkedin-002/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/ssp.finaldraft.coalitionwebinar_fb-linkedin-002.jpg" data-orig-size="1200,628" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="SSP.Finaldraft.CoalitionWebinar_FB-LinkedIN (002)" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/ssp.finaldraft.coalitionwebinar_fb-linkedin-002.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/ssp.finaldraft.coalitionwebinar_fb-linkedin-002.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/ssp.finaldraft.coalitionwebinar_fb-linkedin-002.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5785" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/ssp.finaldraft.coalitionwebinar_fb-linkedin-002.jpg?w=1022 1022w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/ssp.finaldraft.coalitionwebinar_fb-linkedin-002.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/ssp.finaldraft.coalitionwebinar_fb-linkedin-002.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/ssp.finaldraft.coalitionwebinar_fb-linkedin-002.jpg?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/ssp.finaldraft.coalitionwebinar_fb-linkedin-002.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Additional Resources
NTSB Most Wanted List
<ul><li><a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-05.aspx">Eliminate Distracted Driving</a></li></ul>
NTSB Distracted Driving Roundtables and Forum
<ul><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O84dspivic4&t=47s">Roundtable: Act to End Deadly Distractions</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr5-PoxcnNQ&list=PL5aVmmm4Qt9HU7uiNr5h23TNXTVDgBkzq&index=12&t=4s">Western States Teen Safe Driving Roundtable</a></li></ul>
NTSB Blogs
<ul><li><a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2018/04/02/focus-on-distracted-driving/">Focus on Distracted Driving</a></li><li><a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2017/05/02/act-to-end-distracted-driving-one-life-at-a-time/">Act to End Distracted Driving: One Life at a Time</a></li><li><a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2017/04/25/act-to-end-deadly-distractions-2/">Act to End Deadly Distractions</a></li><li><a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2017/05/22/todays-actions-tomorrows-consequences/">Today’s Actions, Tomorrow’s Consequences</a></li><li><a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2016/04/01/addressing-dangers-on-the-roads-this-is-no-april-fools/">Addressing Dangers on the Roads: This is no April Fools!</a></li><li><a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2015/04/28/protect-your-business-by-protecting-your-employees/">Protect Your Business by Protecting Your Employees</a></li><li><a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2015/04/21/cognitive-distraction-and-the-hands-free-device-myth/">Cognitive Distraction and the Hands-Free Device Myth</a></li><li><a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2015/04/14/deadly-addictions/">Deadly Addictions</a></li><li><a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2019/04/01/eliminate-distractions/">Eliminate Distractions</a></li><li><a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/04/22/eliminate-distracted-driving/">Eliminate Distracted Driving</a></li></ul>
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<title>Episode 46: Chair Jennifer Homendy</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/03/24/episode-46-chair-jennifer-homendy/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/03/24/episode-46-chair-jennifer-homendy/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 24 Mar 2022 15:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Behind-the-Scene]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Jennifer Homendy]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5768</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, Chair Jennifer Homendy reflects on her NTSB journey so far, her transition from Board Member to Chair, and talks about our Most Wanted List of transportation safety improvements, the Safe System Approach, and what she hopes to see accomplished to improve transportation safety as head of the agency. For … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/03/24/episode-46-chair-jennifer-homendy/" class="more-link">Continue reading Episode 46: Chair Jennifer Homendy →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, <a href="http://media.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/www.ntsb.gov/about/board/Pages/default.aspx#jenniferhomendy">Chair Jennifer Homendy</a> reflects on her NTSB journey so far, her transition from Board Member to Chair, and talks about our Most Wanted List of transportation safety improvements, the Safe System Approach, and what she hopes to see accomplished to improve transportation safety as head of the agency.
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="5770" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/5770/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/episode-46-mp3-image.jpg" data-orig-size="1500,1500" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/episode-46-mp3-image.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/episode-46-mp3-image.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/episode-46-mp3-image.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5770" width="437" height="437" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/episode-46-mp3-image.jpg?w=437 437w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/episode-46-mp3-image.jpg?w=874 874w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/episode-46-mp3-image.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/episode-46-mp3-image.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/episode-46-mp3-image.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 437px) 100vw, 437px" /></figure></div>
For more information about the NTSB Most Wanted List visit our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/default.aspx">website</a>.
To learn more about the NTSB Safe System Approach Roundtable Series hosted by Chair Homendy visit our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/Pages/2021-safe-systems-rt.aspx">website</a>. Recordings of each installment of the series are available on our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0XgHY82R0o&list=PL5aVmmm4Qt9G6GU917DH97pv6wboCBzZo">YouTube channel</a>.
The previously released podcast episodes featuring Chair Homendy are available on our <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/jennifer-homendy/">website</a>.
Subscribe to the podcast on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-scene-ntsb/id1286590741?mt=2">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/behindthescenentsb/behindthescene-ntsb">Stitcher</a> or your favorite podcast platform.
And find more ways to listen here: <a href="https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/">https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/</a>
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<title>40 Years Later: The Safety Impact of the 21 Minimum Legal Drinking Age Law</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/03/14/40-years-later-the-safety-impact-of-the-21-minimum-drinking-age-law/</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 14 Mar 2022 16:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impairment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[By Leah Walton, NTSB Safety Advocate I was 21 years old in the year 2000 when I started working in the field of impaired driving prevention, specifically underage drinking prevention. I remember some of my colleagues recalling, “Back in my day, the legal drinking age was 18 years old.” I don’t have that recollection – … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/03/14/40-years-later-the-safety-impact-of-the-21-minimum-drinking-age-law/" class="more-link">Continue reading 40 Years Later: The Safety Impact of the 21 Minimum Legal Drinking Age Law →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Leah Walton, NTSB Safety Advocate
I was 21 years old in the year 2000 when I started working in the field of impaired driving prevention, specifically underage drinking prevention. I remember some of my colleagues recalling, “Back in my day, the legal drinking age was 18 years old.” I don’t have that recollection – as long as I can remember, I have known the legal drinking age to be 21.
It is incredible that many folks still remember a time when turning 18 meant a celebration of adulthood marked by legal consumption of alcohol. It is a similar feeling for me to consider that at one point seat belts weren’t standard safety equipment in vehicles.
Between 1970 and 1982, in many American states, the legal drinking age was reduced from 21 to 18 or 19. But on our roads, lowering the legal drinking age showed an immediate increase in deaths, as impaired teen drivers died, and killed others, behind the wheel.
Then on March 14, 1982, forty years ago, the NTSB investigated a collision where a train collided with a van at a railroad grade crossing in Mineola, NY, in what I might describe as a parent’s worst nightmare. Nine of the 10 occupants of the van, all teenagers, died. The tenth survived with serious injuries. The 19-year-old owner and presumed driver of the van, who died in the crash, was impaired at the time of the crash.
The crash was a turning point. By that July, NTSB <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/H82_18.pdf">called for states with drinking ages below age 21 to raise them to age 21</a>.
Why was the drinking age lowered in the first place? In 1971, the 26th Amendment extended the right to vote in Federal elections to citizens as young as 18. Many states had already adopted age-18 voting. Taking the trend into the realm of alcohol consumption, between 1970 and 1973, 35 states lowered their drinking age to 18 or 19, either for beer and wine only, or for all alcoholic beverages.
This in turn sparked a deadly trend in alcohol-impaired driving crashes involving teen drivers, with some states changing their drinking ages back to 21. Studies of states that reverted from age 18 or 19 drinking back to age 21 showed impressive results.
For example, Michigan lowered its drinking age to 18 in January 1972 and raised it back to 21 in December 1978. A study of the change found “crash involvement among 18–20-year-old drivers, showed a reduction of 31 percent in the first 12 months after the drinking age was raised from 18 to 21 in December of 1978.”<a id="_ftnref1" href="#_ftn1">[1]</a>
There were precautions in place to prevent the Mineola crash – regardless of age, it was still illegal to drive impaired, and the owner and presumed driver of the van in the Mineola crash was impaired. Additionally, the grade crossing was protected by an automatic gate. The gate was lowered, and its lights were flashing, at the time of the crash. But the van was driven around the gate, onto the main line tracks of the Long Island Rail Road and into the path of an oncoming train.
Would it have mattered if the legal drinking age were 21? Perhaps, difficulty in obtaining alcohol would have broken the chain of events, perhaps not.
But we know that the fatality numbers change when the minimum drinking age changes. In statistical terms, it is clear, a drinking age of 21 saves lives. And, when combined with other changes, the culture around youth drinking and driving can change.
That is why, in 1984, the National Minimum Drinking Age Act was signed, effective September 30, 1985. With that law, also championed by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and other advocacy organizations, the state-by-state recommendations made by NTSB in the wake of the Mineola crash became national policy.
Since that time, even more research has come out about the age of full brain development (<a></a><a href="https://www.madd.org/the-problem/myths-and-facts">mid-20’s</a>) and how alcohol affects the brain which reiterates the gravity of this law.
Devastating experiences, the newer science of brain development, the impact on alcohol and the developing brain, and historical data of lower drinking ages have shaped legal drinking age policy. However, while changing the legal drinking age has saved lives, over 10,000 die on the nation’s roads every year because of alcohol-impaired driving. The bottom line remains – <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-03.aspx">impaired driving is 100% preventable</a> – whether the driver is 18, 21, or 51 years old.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1024" data-attachment-id="4114" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2018/07/03/buzzed-driving-is-drunk-driving-time-to-walk-the-talk/impaired-driving-preventable-2/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/impaired-driving-preventable.jpg" data-orig-size="2048,2048" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Impaired Driving Preventable" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/impaired-driving-preventable.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/impaired-driving-preventable.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/impaired-driving-preventable.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-4114" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/impaired-driving-preventable.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/impaired-driving-preventable.jpg 2048w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/impaired-driving-preventable.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/impaired-driving-preventable.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/impaired-driving-preventable.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
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<a href="#_ftnref1" id="_ftn1">[1]</a> Wagenaar, Alexander Clarence, The Minimum Legal Drinking Age: A Times-Series Impact Evaluation, Dissertation, University of Michigan, 1980, p. 148.
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<title>Reflections on International Women’s Day</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/03/08/international-womens-day/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 08 Mar 2022 22:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[International Women's Day]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Transportation History]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Jennifer Homendy]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[By Chair Jennifer Homendy Who will be speaking? The Chair? What’s his name? That’s what I overheard a reporter asking an NTSB employee just a few weeks ago. We were in Pittsburgh, where I was on scene for the agency’s investigation into the collapse of the Fern Hollow Bridge.   I couldn’t help myself and … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/03/08/international-womens-day/" class="more-link">Continue reading Reflections on International Women’s Day →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/board/Pages/Jennifer-Homendy.aspx">Chair Jennifer Homendy</a>
Who will be speaking? The Chair? What’s his name?
That’s what I overheard a reporter asking an NTSB employee just a few weeks ago. We were in Pittsburgh, where I was on scene for the agency’s investigation into the collapse of the <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/HWY22MH003.aspx">Fern Hollow Bridge</a>.  
I couldn’t help myself and jumped in with: “He’s a she…and it’s me!”
The reporter was mortified and apologized profusely. We shared a laugh and went on to have a great press conference.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="682" data-attachment-id="5758" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/img_4071/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/img_4071.jpg" data-orig-size="3648,2432" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"4","credit":"","camera":"Canon EOS 6D","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1643464204","copyright":"","focal_length":"73","iso":"1250","shutter_speed":"0.008","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="img_4071" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/img_4071.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/img_4071.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/img_4071.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5758" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/img_4071.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/img_4071.jpg?w=2046 2046w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/img_4071.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/img_4071.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/img_4071.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>NTSB Chair Homendy at a press briefing on the NTSB investigation into the collapse of the Fern Hollow Bridge in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.</figcaption></figure>
Even though I responded with humor, that exchange was just one example of an unconscious bias that women encounter every day. Of course, unconscious biases can reflect one or more “-isms:” racism, ableism, heterosexism, ageism, classism, etc. 
In all fairness to the reporter, he responded appropriately. By that I mean he acknowledged his mistake and apologized sincerely. He wasn’t defensive and he didn’t invalidate my reaction. His response showed real humility, which is why we were able to move on so quickly.  
What You Can Do
I offer two suggestions for small but powerful ways you can recognize <a href="https://www.internationalwomensday.com/">International Women’s Day</a> and #BreakTheBias.
First, accept that no one is free from unconscious bias. Work to become aware of the ways you may show your own “-isms” and do what the reporter did: own the error and offer a genuinely sincere apology. Fight the urge to say I didn’t mean it like that. The only way to ensure you do better next time is to respond with humility.
You can also be intentional about using words that communicate a sense of belonging. When backed up by action, the language we use can change the culture from one of exclusion to one of inclusion.
Women in Transportation
Increasing the representation of women in all transportation modes will go a long way toward combatting unconscious bias. Consider the following statistics:
<ul><li>Aviation: Women <a href="https://www.wai.org/sites/default/files/assets/News/lutte2021womeninaviationworkforcereport_website.pdf">hold</a> only 8.5% of FAA pilot certificates. Female flight engineers, 4.3%; mechanics, 2.6%; parachute riggers, 10.1%; ground instructors, 7.8%; air traffic controllers, 16.8%; dispatchers, 19.7%.</li><li>Highway: While 49% of all workers nationally are women, only 18% of <a href="https://www.brookings.edu/research/reversing-americas-poor-track-record-on-inclusivity-in-infrastructure-jobs/">infrastructure workers</a> are women. Moreover, in 20 of the largest infrastructure occupations, less than 5% of workers are women. And 7.9% of <a href="https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat11.htm">truck drivers</a> are women.</li><li>Marine: Women make up just 1.2% of the global <a href="https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/TechnicalCooperation/Pages/WomenInMaritime.aspx">seafarer workforce</a>. While this represents a nearly 46% jump from 2015, it’s not nearly enough.</li><li>Railroad: Women hold less than 8% of rail transportation <a href="https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat18.htm">jobs</a> and the latest Federal Railroad Administration <a href="https://railroads.dot.gov/sites/fra.dot.gov/files/2020-11/Workforce%20Development%20Survey-A.pdf">report</a> acknowledges that “recruiting and retaining a diverse representation of employees remains a persistent issue.”</li><li>Pipeline & Hazardous Materials: Over 80% of hazardous materials removal <a href="https://datausa.io/profile/soc/hazardous-materials-removal-workers">workers</a> are male — and just 15% of <a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/wb/data/occupations">civil engineers</a> are women. As for <a href="https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat18.htm">pipeline</a>, women make up 10.8% of the pipeline transportation workforce and 21.8% in natural gas distribution. Unfortunately, these numbers drop <a href="https://energyworkforce.org/archives/pesa-diversity-study-identifies-opportunities-to-advance-women-in-the-workplace/">even lower</a> when it comes to higher-paying technical jobs in the oil and gas industry.</li></ul>
We have work to do, including here at NTSB. Our latest state of the agency report showed that our female workforce is 7% below the civilian labor force — something I think about every day. I’m only the fourth woman to serve as Chair since the agency was created in 1966. This is a message I’ll be sharing at the upcoming <a href="https://www.wai.org/conference">International Women in Aviation Conference.</a>
When I was appointed to lead the NTSB, I made the decision to be addressed as Chair Homendy. I didn’t make this out of personal preference, but for the next woman to serve in the role. Perhaps, if we de-gender the office, the fifth female Chair will have one less bias to break.  
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<title>BEFORE LANDING CHECKLIST to Pilot: “Remember me?”</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/03/01/before-landing-checklist-to-pilot-remember-me/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 01 Mar 2022 17:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Aviation Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Aviation]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5733</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Leah Read, NTSB Senior Air Safety Investigator “N555$$, call the tower.  N555$$ call the tower…your gear isn’t down!” As a newly minted certified flight instructor (CFI) in the early 90s, I loved reading the latest addition of Flight Training magazine. I’ll never forget reading a funny quip about a pilot who was on final … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/03/01/before-landing-checklist-to-pilot-remember-me/" class="more-link">Continue reading BEFORE LANDING CHECKLIST to Pilot: “Remember me?” →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Leah Read, NTSB Senior Air Safety Investigator
“N555$$, call the tower.  N555$$ call the tower…your gear isn’t down!”
As a newly minted certified flight instructor (CFI) in the early 90s, I loved reading the latest addition of Flight Training magazine. I’ll never forget reading a funny quip about a pilot who was on final approach to land at a controlled airport and forgot to extend his landing gear. The control tower tried to contact the pilot numerous times to warn him, but he never responded and landed gear up. Once the pilot realized what happened and came to a stop on the runway, he called the tower and learned that the tower had tried to contact him several times. The pilot responded, “Sorry, I didn’t hear you because there was a horn going off in the cockpit!” To this day, whenever I fly a retractable gear airplane, I always think of that story. I’ve only had one gear-up landing in my 33 years of flying, and that was due to mechanical failure that prevented the gear from extending. I can say from experience: landing gear‑up involves a lot of loud scraping noises, a shortened roll out, and an even shorter step out of the airplane.
As part of my duties as a regional NTSB investigator, I take “phone duty” for the entire eastern region of the Unites States during on-call periods. As the duty officer, I receive all the incident and accident notifications from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or directly from pilots, and I’m surprised by the amount of gear-up landings we process. Now, some of these are due to mechanical issues like I experienced, but most of them are due to pilots (who admit) they either got complacent or distracted (or both!) and simply forgot to extend the gear.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="615" height="461" data-attachment-id="5736" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/03/01/before-landing-checklist-to-pilot-remember-me/king-air-taken-by-srq-airport-operations/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/king-air-taken-by-srq-airport-operations.jpg" data-orig-size="615,461" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="King Air taken by SRQ Airport Operations" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/king-air-taken-by-srq-airport-operations.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/king-air-taken-by-srq-airport-operations.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/king-air-taken-by-srq-airport-operations.jpg?w=615" alt="" class="wp-image-5736" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/king-air-taken-by-srq-airport-operations.jpg 615w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/king-air-taken-by-srq-airport-operations.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/king-air-taken-by-srq-airport-operations.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 615px) 100vw, 615px" /><figcaption>Photo of King Air taken by SRQ Airport Operations</figcaption></figure>
Gear-up landings usually don’t result in serious injuries to pilots and passengers, but they are a big ego buster. They also cost a lot of money in unnecessary damage to the airplane’s propellers, engines, structure, antennae, and skin. Often a mechanic needs to be hired to remove skin so the damage can be better evaluated. More money! And, if the damage is substantial, you’ll also be dealing with an “accident” as defined by 49 Code of Federal Regulations 830.2, and you’ll not only be getting a call from your local FAA inspector, but also from your friendly NTSB investigator. Nobody has time for that!
So, how do you make sure you never forget to put your gear down?
<ol><li>Use your BEFORE LANDING checklist—it’s there for a reason!</li><li>Repeat your GUMPS check (gas, undercarriage, mixture, propeller, seat belts and switches) OUT LOUD several times before you land.</li><li>Visually (if possible) confirm the gear is extended.</li><li>Stay ALERT and FOCUSED on flying (configuring) the airplane in the traffic pattern. AVOID unnecessary conversation and MAINTAIN situational awareness. Traffic patterns can get hectic, and things can happen fast.</li><li>Do some online research for articles about avoiding gear-up landings. There are some good articles and case studies out there written by CFIs and highly experienced pilots.</li></ol>
And remember: keep the rubber side down!
Happy flying!
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<title>Black History Month and Transportation Safety</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/02/22/black-history-month-and-transportation-safety/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 22 Feb 2022 19:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Black History Month]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Transportation History]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5727</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Nicholas Worrell, Chief, NTSB Safety Advocacy Division Our stoplight system—red for stop, green for go, and yellow for caution—benefits every motorist in the nation. Yet, most people don’t realize that the system was invented by a Black man whose father was formerly enslaved: Garrett Morgan. A largely self-taught inventor and a hard worker, Morgan … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/02/22/black-history-month-and-transportation-safety/" class="more-link">Continue reading Black History Month and Transportation Safety →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Nicholas Worrell, Chief, NTSB Safety Advocacy Division
Our stoplight system—red for stop, green for go, and yellow for caution—benefits every motorist in the nation. Yet, most people don’t realize that the system was invented by a Black man whose father was formerly enslaved: Garrett Morgan.
A largely self-taught inventor and a hard worker, Morgan was the first Black person in his city of Cleveland, Ohio, to own a car. In 1923, he realized the need for a yellow signal after seeing a crash at an intersection, and the rest is history. As a result, our roads are much safer today.
But they’re not equally safe for all communities. As Chair Jennifer Homendy has said, “Black road users are not as safe as their white counterparts—and these disparities are unacceptable.” For example:
<ul><li>Traffic fatalities among Black people increased by 23% between 2019 and 2020, compared to an overall increase of 7.2%. (<a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/2020-fatality-data-show-increased-traffic-fatalities-during-pandemic">NHTSA</a>)</li><li>From 2010–2019, Black people were struck and killed by drivers at an 82% higher rate than white, non-Hispanic Americans. (<a href="https://smartgrowthamerica.org/dangerous-by-design/">Smart Growth America</a>)</li><li>Drivers are less likely to yield to Black people walking and biking than white people doing those activities. Black pedestrians were passed by twice as many cars and experienced 32% longer wait times for cars to yield to them than white pedestrians. (<a href="https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1009&context=psy_fac">National Institute for Transportation and Communities</a>)</li></ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" data-attachment-id="5730" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/02/22/black-history-month-and-transportation-safety/print-29/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/bhm-2022-garrettmorgan.jpg" data-orig-size="1085,568" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"Print","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Print" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/bhm-2022-garrettmorgan.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/bhm-2022-garrettmorgan.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/bhm-2022-garrettmorgan.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5730" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/bhm-2022-garrettmorgan.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/bhm-2022-garrettmorgan.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/bhm-2022-garrettmorgan.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/bhm-2022-garrettmorgan.jpg?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/bhm-2022-garrettmorgan.jpg 1085w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
This month, we celebrate Garrett Morgan and all Black leaders who’ve worked to improve transportation safety. We should also take this time to examine the shameful statistics and work to address their root causes. We can’t address the problems different communities face in transportation until we recognize the diversity of the communities we serve and the disparities between them. These statistics beg the question: How much of the full transportation safety story are we overlooking?
Members of the transportation safety community must understand how—and who—transportation tragedies strike, and we must engage the communities we want to help in designing solutions. We need representatives of all colors, creeds, and perspectives to improve transportation for everyone, regardless of their race.
Garrett Morgan improved life for all in the U.S. Yet during his time, a time before civil rights, overt racism was so common that it was literally built into our transportation system’s asphalt and concrete bones. We owe it to Black pioneers like Garrett Morgan—and to all the traveling public—to make transportation safety more equitable. 
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<title>February 20: International Day Commemorating Air Crash Victims and Families</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/02/18/international-day-commemorating-air-crash-victims-and-families/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/02/18/international-day-commemorating-air-crash-victims-and-families/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 18 Feb 2022 18:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Aviation Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Family Assistance]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Inside NTSB]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Transportation Disaster Assistance]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5721</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Elias Kontanis, Chief, NTSB Transportation Disaster Assistance Division This year, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) designated February 20 the International Day Commemorating Air Crash Victims and Families. Although ICAO has addressed various aspects of family assistance for decades, this is the first time a day has been set aside to remember and honor … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/02/18/international-day-commemorating-air-crash-victims-and-families/" class="more-link">Continue reading February 20: International Day Commemorating Air Crash Victims and Families →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Elias Kontanis, Chief, NTSB Transportation Disaster Assistance Division
This year, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) designated February 20 the International Day Commemorating Air Crash Victims and Families. Although ICAO has addressed various aspects of family assistance for decades, this is the first time a day has been set aside to remember and honor all who lost their lives in air disasters and their families.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" data-attachment-id="5725" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/02/18/international-day-commemorating-air-crash-victims-and-families/2022-intlday-aircrashvictimsfamilies-2/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/2022-intlday-aircrashvictimsfamilies-1.jpg" data-orig-size="2168,1136" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="2022-IntlDay-AirCrashVictimsFamilies" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/2022-intlday-aircrashvictimsfamilies-1.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/2022-intlday-aircrashvictimsfamilies-1.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/2022-intlday-aircrashvictimsfamilies-1.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5725" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/2022-intlday-aircrashvictimsfamilies-1.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/2022-intlday-aircrashvictimsfamilies-1.jpg?w=2046 2046w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/2022-intlday-aircrashvictimsfamilies-1.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/2022-intlday-aircrashvictimsfamilies-1.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/2022-intlday-aircrashvictimsfamilies-1.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
ICAO’s interest in family assistance dates to 1976, with the inclusion of a recommended practice in Annex 13, the document that outlines standards and recommended practices for accident investigations. The following is a brief timeline of significant ICAO activities related to family assistance.
<ul><li>1976: Contracting States (that is, countries) whose citizens are involved in a crash are granted access to information about the crash investigation and play a direct role in identifying their citizens. This recommended practice was strengthened to a standard in 2001.</li><li>1998: The ICAO Assembly acknowledges that “the policy of the ICAO should be to ensure that the mental, physical and spiritual well-being of victims involved in civil aviation accidents and their families are considered and accommodated by ICAO and its Contracting States.”<a href="#_ftn1" id="_ftnref1">[1]</a></li><li>2001: In response to Assembly Resolution A32-7, ICAO issues Circ 285, “Guidance on Assistance to Aircraft Accident Victims and their Families,” a keystone document for countries interested in developing family assistance programs. Circ 285 provides guidance on the various aspects of a comprehensive family assistance operation.</li><li>2005: Provisions are included in Annex 9, “Facilitation,” to enable victims’ family members to expeditiously enter the State in which the accident occurred. Additional provisions address repatriation of remains and emergency travel documents for family members and accident survivors.</li><li>2013: ICAO issues Doc 9998, “ICAO Policy on Assistance to Aircraft Accident Victims and Their Families,” and Doc 9973, “Manual on Assistance to Aircraft Accident Victims and Their Families.”</li><li>2015: Annex 9 is further amended with Recommended Practice 8.46, which encourages Contracting States to establish legislation, regulations, and/or policies in support of assistance to aircraft accident victims and their families.</li><li>2021: ICAO convenes its first International Symposium on Assistance to Aircraft Accident Victims and Their Families. This 3-day event, hosted by the governments of Spain and the Canary Islands, provides an opportunity for participants to share best practices and lessons learned to support the development of family assistance programs. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy and I were honored to participate as guest speakers at this important event.</li><li>2021: ICAO’s Global Aviation Training Section begins developing a 3-day course designed to provide Contracting States, as well as aircraft and airport operators, the foundational knowledge to develop family assistance plans. The NTSB is a proud partner in this effort.</li><li>2021: ICAO proposes elevating Recommended Practice 8.46 to a standard and developing a new recommended practice encouraging aircraft and airport operators to develop family assistance plans. Again, the United States stands with a significant number of other States in support of this initiative.</li></ul>
Through the Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act of 1996, the United States committed to addressing the needs of passengers’ families following an aviation disaster. This commitment continues to grow. Today, the NTSB is the lead federal agency responsible for coordinating federal resources to support the families of air crash victims, as well as the victims of any other transportation disaster the NTSB investigates.
As family assistance specialists, my team and I work every day with the families of those lost in transportation crashes, trying to shed what light we can during some of their darkest days. We provide information during a time of uncertainty, address questions, and facilitate access to services that help loved ones navigate the loss they have suffered.
We have this charge in common with family assistance specialists all around the world, and we work collaboratively with international colleagues to enhance family assistance programs worldwide. We offer representatives of ICAO Contracting States seats in our family assistance course to help them develop or enhance their family assistance programs. We deliver presentations and participate in discussion panels overseas on family assistance, and we assist ICAO in developing its 3-day family assistance course.
Over the decades, the strength of survivors and victims’ families has humbled us. We have seen them organize not only to support each other through the grieving process, but also to advocate for change to enhance transportation safety so that others never have to face the same kind of loss.
We at the NTSB stand alongside our international colleagues in honoring the International Day Commemorating Air Crash Victims and Families. No traveler likes to ponder the possibility, however remote, that a flight will crash. But, if the unthinkable happens, the NTSB and our counterparts around the globe are dedicated to supporting crash survivors and family members.
<hr class="wp-block-separator" />
<a href="#_ftnref1" id="_ftn1">[1]</a> International Civil Aviation Organization. Assembly Resolution A32-7. <a href="https://www.icao.int/Meetings/AMC/MA/Assembly%2032nd%20Session/resolutions.pdf">Resolutions Adopted at the 32nd Session of the Assembly</a>. Montreal, Quebec; Sept. 22–Oct. 2, 1998.
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<title>The Super Bowl—By the Numbers</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/02/10/the-super-bowl-by-the-numbers/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/02/10/the-super-bowl-by-the-numbers/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 10 Feb 2022 22:21:53 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impairment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thomas Chapman]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5701</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Member Tom Chapman This year, the Super Bowl will be played on Sunday, February 13th. Like many Americans, I circled the date on my calendar months ago. It’s a special day to enjoy with family and friends.  It’s a day to watch the biggest game of the year while indulging in favorite football fare— … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/02/10/the-super-bowl-by-the-numbers/" class="more-link">Continue reading The Super Bowl—By the Numbers →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/board/Pages/default.aspx#thomasbchapman">Member Tom Chapman</a>
This year, the Super Bowl will be played on Sunday, February 13th. Like many Americans, I circled the date on my calendar months ago. It’s a special day to enjoy with family and friends.  It’s a day to watch the biggest game of the year while indulging in favorite football fare— buffalo wings, salsa and chips, and a cold beer or two.
Fifty-six years of Super Bowls have generated lots of impressive numbers. In 1995, the San Francisco 49ers beat the San Diego Chargers by a score of 49 to 26. That’s a combined score of 75 points, making it the highest-scoring Super Bowl in history. Carolina Panthers Muhsin Muhammad’s 85-yard touchdown reception in Super Bowl XXXVIII (2004) still stands as the longest passing play. The Pittsburg Steelers and New England Patriots are tied as the winningest teams, at six Super Bowl wins each. Every team strives for higher scores, longer plays, and more Super Bowl wins.
At the NTSB, like everyone who works in traffic safety, we strive to reach the number ZERO. That’s the number that matters the most—zero traffic deaths.
This year, the Super Bowl will take place at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, only five miles from the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum where the very first Super Bowl was played in 1967. That year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a staggering 50,724 road users died on our roadways. Since then, some progress has been made toward reducing traffic deaths. But we are nowhere near our vision of zero. And the trend is alarmingly up in the last few years. According to <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/2020-fatality-data-show-increased-traffic-fatalities-during-pandemic">NHTSA’s latest estimate</a>, 38,680 people died in traffic crashes in 2020. That was the highest number of traffic fatalities since 2007. To put this in perspective, SoFi Stadium has a capacity of 70,240. The 38,680 preventable traffic deaths in 2020 would have filled 55% of the seats.
Super Bowl Sundays have regularly seen higher traffic fatalities over the years. A disturbing trend was revealed by a look at the 12-hour period (Sunday 6 pm to Monday 6 am) of five previous Super Bowl Sundays (2015–2019). A total of 244 traffic deaths occurred in those five 12-hour periods (a total of 60 hours) on Super Bowl Sundays. For comparison, the traffic deaths were 202 and 187 for the same 12-hour period one week before and one week after a Super Bowl Sunday, respectively.
It’s hard to say exactly why we often see higher traffic deaths on Super Bowl Sundays. However, alcohol consumption is certainly one factor. According to an analysis of NHTSA data, 46% of the 244 traffic deaths during the 12-hour period on the five Super Bowl Sundays were alcohol-related (that is, the police considered at least one driver involved in the crash to be impaired by alcohol, or the driver tested positive for alcohol in their system). What about the Sundays one week before and one week after the five targeted Super Bowl Sundays? Alcohol-related traffic fatalities were 74% higher on Super Bowl Sunday compared to the week before, and 82% higher than the following week.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="910" height="346" data-attachment-id="5711" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/02/10/the-super-bowl-by-the-numbers/impairement-superbowl-data/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/impairement-superbowl-data.png" data-orig-size="910,346" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Impairement Superbowl Data" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/impairement-superbowl-data.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/impairement-superbowl-data.png?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/impairement-superbowl-data.png?w=910" alt="" class="wp-image-5711" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/impairement-superbowl-data.png 910w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/impairement-superbowl-data.png?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/impairement-superbowl-data.png?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/impairement-superbowl-data.png?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 910px) 100vw, 910px" /><figcaption>Analysis of NHTSA fatality data</figcaption></figure>
There are actions everyone can take to prevent these crashes without dampening the enjoyment of the Super Bowl Sunday experience. Impairment starts with the first drink. The smartest action you can take is to separate drinking from driving. Make a plan before you head to a Super Bowl party, so you have a safe way to get home. If you’re hosting a party, check in with your guests to verify they have a sober ride home before they start drinking. Have the contact for a taxi or rideshare service on hand. Be prepared to offer your guests a place to stay overnight if no sober ride is available.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" data-attachment-id="5705" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/02/10/the-super-bowl-by-the-numbers/ntsb-super-bowl-twitterfb_/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ntsb-super-bowl-twitterfb_.png" data-orig-size="1600,900" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="NTSB Super Bowl TwitterFB_" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ntsb-super-bowl-twitterfb_.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ntsb-super-bowl-twitterfb_.png?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ntsb-super-bowl-twitterfb_.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5705" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ntsb-super-bowl-twitterfb_.png?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ntsb-super-bowl-twitterfb_.png?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ntsb-super-bowl-twitterfb_.png?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ntsb-super-bowl-twitterfb_.png?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ntsb-super-bowl-twitterfb_.png 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
At the NTSB, we’re doing our part. Our 2021–2022 Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements includes the safety item, “<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-03.aspx">Prevent Alcohol- and Other Drug-Impaired Driving</a>.” NTSB has issued specific recommendations that, if implemented, would help prevent deaths and injuries that are attributed to alcohol impairment. They include requiring all-offender ignition interlocks and .05 percent or lower blood alcohol content limits (or .05 BAC).
The recently enacted <a href="https://www.congress.gov/117/plaws/publ58/PLAW-117publ58.pdf">Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act</a> advances some of the NTSB’s most important safety recommendations to prevent impaired driving. For example, the new law requires the Secretary of Transportation to issue a final rule within three years requiring all new passenger motor vehicles to be equipped with advanced drunk-driving prevention technology. This is a <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=H-12-048">safety recommendation we made in 2012</a>, and we’re eager to see it move toward acceptable closure .
I look forward to this year’s Super Bowl Sunday, spending time with my family, taking in all the excitement and fun the game (and sometimes the commercials) can offer, and enjoying our favorite game-day food and drinks. My family and friends will do our part to achieve the goal of zero traffic deaths. We will separate drinking from driving. I call on you to do the same.
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<title>Recognizing a Quarter Century of 24/7 Response</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/02/03/recognizing-a-quarter-century-of-24-7-response/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 03 Feb 2022 23:32:54 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Inside NTSB]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Transportation History]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Jennifer Homendy]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5692</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Chair Jennifer Homendy Blue jackets. Devastating scenes. Calm in the wake of tragedy. This is how many people describe their first impressions of NTSB. It’s not surprising given the international visibility of our on-scene work. But today is all about who you don’t see: the folks who make the agency’s headline-grabbing work possible. I’m … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/02/03/recognizing-a-quarter-century-of-24-7-response/" class="more-link">Continue reading Recognizing a Quarter Century of 24/7 Response →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/board/Pages/Jennifer-Homendy.aspx">Chair Jennifer Homendy</a>
Blue jackets. Devastating scenes. Calm in the wake of tragedy.
This is how many people describe their first impressions of NTSB. It’s not surprising given the international visibility of our on-scene work.
But today is all about who you don’t see: the folks who make the agency’s headline-grabbing work possible.
I’m talking about the incredible people of NTSB’s Response Operations Center, which is today celebrating 25 years of uninterrupted service to our nation.
What is the ROC?
It’s no exaggeration to say the Response Operations Center — or “ROC,” as we affectionally call it — is the agency’s central nervous system.
The ROC is staffed 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week by at least two watch officers. They work three or four consecutive, 12-hour shifts, for a total of about seven shifts over two weeks. 
The room looks as you would imagine: a dozen televisions line the wall in front of desks staffed by watch officers. Newscasters deliver the day’s stories from C-SPAN, the Weather Channel, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, and various local stations.
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img data-attachment-id="5694" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/02/03/recognizing-a-quarter-century-of-24-7-response/roc-image/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/roc-image.jpg" data-orig-size="630,472" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="NTSB’s Response Operations Center" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="NTSB’s Response Operations Center. The photo was taken before the pandemic required the use of masks in our office.
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/roc-image.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/roc-image.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/roc-image.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5694" /><figcaption>NTSB’s Response Operations Center. The photo was taken before the pandemic required the use of masks in our office.</figcaption></figure></div>
This is where the team takes in reports of transportation-related events around the clock. In addition to monitoring the news outlets, the team fields phone calls and emails from around the world, triages them, and rapidly pushes out the news to NTSB leadership and investigators who need to respond.
But most importantly, the ROC initiates the launch process by notifying the appropriate modal duty officers when an accident or crash occurs. 
As the investigation team members pack their gear, the ROC staff help prepare everything for the launch. This includes setting up conference calls, reserving hotel rooms, and booking rental cars. As for flights, many of the Washington, DC-based go-team members will expedite their travels to investigation destinations using one of the jets managed and operated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img data-attachment-id="5696" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/02/03/recognizing-a-quarter-century-of-24-7-response/roc-image-2/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/roc-image-2.jpg" data-orig-size="609,303" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Federal Aviation Administration jet" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="The NTSB has access to two jets managed and operated by the Federal Aviation Administration.
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/roc-image-2.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/roc-image-2.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/roc-image-2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5696" /><figcaption>The NTSB has access to two jets managed and operated by the Federal Aviation Administration.</figcaption></figure></div>
Origin Story
The first NTSB communications center opened its doors on February 3, 1997, in a conference room at NTSB headquarters.
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img data-attachment-id="5697" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/02/03/recognizing-a-quarter-century-of-24-7-response/roc-image-3/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/roc-image-3.jpg" data-orig-size="616,410" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="NTSB Communications Center" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="NTSB’s first communication center in 1997.
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/roc-image-3.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/roc-image-3.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/roc-image-3.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5697" /><figcaption>NTSB’s first communication center in 1997. </figcaption></figure></div>
The idea to launch a command center came from former NTSB Chairman Jim Hall, who was on scene for the July 17, 1996, Trans World Airlines flight 800 explosion. It was the third-deadliest aviation tragedy in U.S. history.
Befitting its status as “central” to our mission, the agency relocated the ROC in 2014 to a room in the literal center of the building.
What It Takes to Operate for 9,125 Consecutive Days — and Counting
Once settled into its current location, the agency invested in everything needed to operate the ROC without interruption, no matter what.
Here are some examples of what it takes to keep the ROC ready for anything:
<ul><li>Computers specifically built to run nonstop, complete with special air filters to keep their internal systems clean.</li><li>A standalone HVAC system that runs independently from that of the building.</li><li>A full kitchen to ensure ROC staff can eat and prepare food even if local restaurants are closed.</li><li>Ever mindful of workplace safety, even the chairs in the ROC are ergonomically designed for continuous use.</li><li>Regular drills to ensure preparedness. </li></ul>
The View from the ROC
For many working in the ROC, having a front seat to transportation tragedies can take an emotional toll.  
When asked how they cope, here’s what some team members had to share:
“For me, when these bad things happen, it is sort of like a wake-up call. It helps me appreciate life more.”
“The way I cope is by not following a crash after we play our role in the ROC. I don’t keep tabs on what is going on with them. I have to let go.”
The serious nature of the work may explain why the ROC team has named the electronic voice from its primary notification system.
Similar to the voice from your favorite smart speaker, “Helga” alerts ROC staff when notifications arrive from the FAA, Federal Railroad Administration, or the National Response Center. She’s been a constant in the ROC.
One team member shared that giving the system a persona is another coping mechanism, adding: “If it ever gets lonely in the ROC, there is always Helga to keep you company.”  
Celebrating 25 Years of 24/7 Response
Even as we celebrate the dedicated service of our ROC team, every NTSB employee is working to put ourselves out of a job by making transportation safer.
Until that day arrives, consider sending a mental “thank you” to the incredible professionals of the ROC the next time you’re enjoying the weekend, celebrating a holiday, or enjoying a quiet night at home.
The duty officers are always there, monitoring the safety of our transportation system.
Just as they have for the last 25 years.
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<title>How EMS Workers Can Improve Air Ambulance Safety</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/01/28/how-ems-workers-can-improve-air-ambulance-safety/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/01/28/how-ems-workers-can-improve-air-ambulance-safety/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 28 Jan 2022 16:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Aviation Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Recorders]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Jennifer Homendy]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5687</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Chair Jennifer Homendy Adapted from i-Chiefs magazine, originally published Feb 2021 Imagine for a moment that you’re an emergency medical services (EMS) worker. You’re assisting a patient who requires transport to another facility. You decide to request a helicopter air ambulance (HAA). How do you pick the safest HAA operator? In a perfect world, … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/01/28/how-ems-workers-can-improve-air-ambulance-safety/" class="more-link">Continue reading How EMS Workers Can Improve Air Ambulance Safety →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/board/Pages/default.aspx#jenniferhomendy">Chair Jennifer Homendy</a>
Adapted from i-Chiefs magazine, originally published Feb 2021
Imagine for a moment that you’re an emergency medical services (EMS) worker.
You’re assisting a patient who requires transport to another facility. You decide to request a helicopter air ambulance (HAA). How do you pick the safest HAA operator?
In a perfect world, all companies would conduct a risk assessment before accepting the flight request to ensure everyone’s safety. They would consider factors such as weather, flight conditions, and which pilot is on duty. How — and if — those risks are assessed and mitigated can determine whether the medical transport flight you’re requesting is safe…or leads to tragedy.
Three years ago, we launched to a crash involving a medical transport flight where this scenario played out. Based on our investigation, we’ve learned that there are steps EMS workers and, indeed, anyone requesting air medical transport can take to improve safety.
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-attachment-id="5689" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/01/28/how-ems-workers-can-improve-air-ambulance-safety/zaleski/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/zaleski.bmp" data-orig-size="972,462" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Zaleski" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/zaleski.bmp?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/zaleski.bmp?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/zaleski.bmp" alt="" class="wp-image-5689" /><figcaption>Photograph of helicopter before crash (Source: The Columbus Dispatch)</figcaption></figure></div>
Remembering Zaleski, Ohio
On January 29, 2019, a patient at Holzer Meigs Emergency Department in Pomeroy, Ohio, required transport to another hospital, located approximately 70 nautical miles away in Columbus. The emergency room technician contacted three helicopter air ambulance companies to help move the patient.
The first company immediately declined the flight request due to icing probability and snow squalls. The second company stated they would call back after conducting a weather check. Before hearing back, the emergency room technician reached out to a third company, Survival Flight, which quickly accepted the request. The second company then called back to decline the flight due to weather-related safety concerns.
Three Survival Flight crew members, the pilot, flight nurse, and flight paramedic departed for Pomeroy to pick up the patient. About 22 minutes into the flight, the pilot encountered two snow bands that decreased her visibility. The pilot attempted a maneuver to escape from the inadvertent instrument meteorological conditions (IIMC), in keeping with standard operating procedures, but did not maintain altitude. Tragically, the Survival Flight helicopter crashed into forested terrain near Zaleski, Ohio. All three crew members died.
What Went Wrong?
The NTSB was called in to investigate. <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR2001.pdf">Our investigation</a> revealed numerous safety deficiencies that we can learn from. Here’s what went wrong.
Lack of comprehensive and effective flight risk assessment and risk management procedures. This means the pilot was unaware that other operators had refused to accept the flight due to weather concerns.
The lack of both a positive safety culture and a comprehensive safety management system (SMS). The casual behavior of Survival Flight management regarding risk assessment and safety programs was not indicative of a company with an established SMS program, which operators use to evaluate and address risk, as well as their pilots’ skills and flight behavior. The NTSB has long advocated for the adoption of a SMS in all flight operations. Indeed, this recommendation is so important that it has been associated with several issues on our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/advocacy/mwl/Pages/default.aspx">Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements</a> over the years.
Need for flight data monitoring (FDM) programs for HAA operators. Although the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires helicopter air ambulance operators to have FDM recorders installed, it does not require that operators use the recorders and the data collected. But an FDM program that is part of a broader SMS has great potential to identify risky situations and make changes before a crash occurs. For example, an FDM program would have allowed Survival Flight to identify deviations from normal operations and potential safety issues.
Lack of HAA experience for principal operations inspector. The investigation revealed the FAA principal operations inspector assigned to oversee Survival Flight’s operation was unaware of deficiencies that were later identified in Survival Flight’s flight risk assessment.  
Lack of accurate terminal doppler weather radar data available on the HEMS (helicopter emergency medical services) Weather Tool. The current version of the HEMS Weather Tool does not incorporate terminal doppler weather radar data to display precipitation. As a result, the pilot could not tell if there were gaps in the data or if there were, in fact, no precipitation.  
Lack of a flight recorder. If a recorder system that captured cockpit audio, images, and parametric data had been installed, it would have enabled NTSB investigators to reconstruct the final moments of the crash and determine why the pilot did not maintain the helicopter’s altitude and successfully exit the IIMC encounter.
How You Can Promote Safe Air Medical Transports
Don’t underestimate the “power of the purse” to encourage the safest operating practices when selecting an air ambulance operator: only give your business to operators that take safety seriously. Here are some practical steps that can help you make an informed decision:
<ul><li>Vet the companies in your area before you need air transport. Consider selecting a company that has earned accreditation from a respected third party. For example, the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) accredits medical transport organizations that pass their audit and agree to abide by certain best practices, which are usually more stringent than those required by regulations. It’s important to note that most helicopter air ambulance programs in the United States are CAMTS-accredited; in fact, the U.S. Department of Defense requires CAMTS accreditation for civilian contracts. Despite this being the “gold standard” for auditing and accrediting helicopter air ambulances, Survival Flight was not CAMTS accredited.</li><li>Meet the helicopter air ambulance companies that serve your area. Some offer a shadowing opportunity for EMS workers. Ask the crew members you meet how they determine which flights to accept.</li><li>Do some research. Find out which operators have shown a commitment to the highest levels of safety by obtaining FAA approval for an SMS program and have an FDM program that regularly evaluates data collected to identify and address flight safety issues. While HAA operators are not yet required by FAA to have either, some have implemented these measures voluntarily. Your patients and crews deserve the safety benefits that accompany SMS and FDM programs.</li></ul>
Finally, never hesitate to reevaluate the necessity of air transport as weather conditions change, especially when other helicopter operators turn down the same request due to weather or other safety concerns.
Do it not just for your patient, but for the helicopter crew. Do it to honor the lives lost in Zaleski three years ago.
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<title>NTSB Video Series Highlights Safety Benefits of Connected-Vehicle Technology, Raises Concern about Future of V2X</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/01/19/ntsb-video-series-highlights-safety-benefits-of-connected-vehicle-technology-raises-concern-about-future-or-v2x/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 19 Jan 2022 18:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Bicyclists]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[connected vehicles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Motorcycles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pedestrians]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[V2X]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael Graham]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5677</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Member Michael Graham Today, the NTSB released a four-part video series: “V2X: Preserving the Future of Connected-Vehicle Technology.” Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) is one of the most promising life-saving technologies available today. While radars and sensors are limited to line-of-sight and are often impeded by inclement weather, V2X technology uses direct communication between vehicles and with … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/01/19/ntsb-video-series-highlights-safety-benefits-of-connected-vehicle-technology-raises-concern-about-future-or-v2x/" class="more-link">Continue reading NTSB Video Series Highlights Safety Benefits of Connected-Vehicle Technology, Raises Concern about Future of V2X →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/board/Pages/default.aspx#michaelegraham">Member Michael Graham</a>
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" data-attachment-id="5681" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/01/19/ntsb-video-series-highlights-safety-benefits-of-connected-vehicle-technology-raises-concern-about-future-or-v2x/print-28/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/2022_v2x-videoseries-banner-graphic-1-18-22.jpg" data-orig-size="2579,1350" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"Print","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Print" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/2022_v2x-videoseries-banner-graphic-1-18-22.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/2022_v2x-videoseries-banner-graphic-1-18-22.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/2022_v2x-videoseries-banner-graphic-1-18-22.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5681" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/2022_v2x-videoseries-banner-graphic-1-18-22.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/2022_v2x-videoseries-banner-graphic-1-18-22.jpg?w=2048 2048w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/2022_v2x-videoseries-banner-graphic-1-18-22.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/2022_v2x-videoseries-banner-graphic-1-18-22.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/2022_v2x-videoseries-banner-graphic-1-18-22.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>
Today, the NTSB released a four-part video series: “V2X: Preserving the Future of Connected-Vehicle Technology.” Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) is one of the most promising life-saving technologies available today. While radars and sensors are limited to line-of-sight and are often impeded by inclement weather, V2X technology uses direct communication between vehicles and with infrastructure. Additionally, V2X technology increases the safety and visibility of vulnerable road users by alerting drivers to the presence of pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists that may be outside a driver’s or vehicle‑based sensor’s field of observation.
Despite the immense safety potential of V2X, the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) recent actions threaten its basic viability. In May 2021, the FCC <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/05/03/2021-08802/use-of-the-5850-5925-ghz-band">finalized</a> the rulemaking to substantially reduce the available spectrum for V2X applications by 60 percent. This ruling retained only 30 MHz for transportation safety applications and invited interference from the surrounding bands from unlicensed Wi-Fi devices. <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/v2v-cr_dsrc_wifi_baseline_cross-channel_interference_test_report_pre_final_dec_2019-121219-v1-tag.pdf">Research</a> by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) demonstrated that expected interference into the spectrum would further compromise the integrity of safety applications—rendering V2X untenable.
In this video series, I had the privilege of interviewing eight experts from government, industry, academia, and associations about the safety benefits and the maturity level of V2X technology, the reasons for its scarce deployment, and the impact of the FCC’s recent actions to limit the spectrum available for transportation safety.
I talked with some of the leading voices in the V2X space, including:
<ul><li>Debby Bezzina, Center for Connected and Automated Transportation, University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute</li><li>Bob Kreeb, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration</li><li>Ken Leonard, US Department of Transportation’s Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Joint Program Office</li><li>Laura Chace, ITS America</li><li>Scott Marler, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials</li><li>John Hibbard, Georgia Department of Transportation</li><li>John Capp, General Motors</li><li>John Kenney, Toyota</li></ul>
The NTSB first issued a safety recommendation to the FCC to allocate spectrum for V2X technology in 1995, and we continue to fervently believe in the promise of V2X technology to save lives.
This series was developed as part of the NTSB’s Most Wanted List safety topic, <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-04.aspx">Require Collision-Avoidance and Connected-Vehicle Technologies on all Vehicles</a>. I sincerely appreciate each of the eight guests who graciously agreed to participate in the series.
I encourage you to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9RaJmwxTCc&list=PL5aVmmm4Qt9FfvYMokOkz2ZZHg1T48g7R">watch all four episodes of this series on the NTSB YouTube channel</a>. You can learn more about the video series, including our featured guests and supporting research, on the NTSB’s <a href="http://www.ntsb.gov/v2x"></a><a href="http://www.ntsb.gov/v2x">V2X web page</a>.
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<title>Remembering Air Florida Flight 90 and the Progress Towards Eliminating Airline Icing Accidents</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/01/12/remembering-air-florida-flight-90-and-the-progress-towards-eliminating-airline-icing-accidents/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 12 Jan 2022 19:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5667</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Jeff Marcus, Chief, NTSB Safety Recommendations Division Forty years ago, on Jan. 13, 1982, a Boeing 737 jetliner crashed into Washington, DC’s 14th Street Bridge and plunged into the freezing Potomac River after departing National Airport during a snowstorm. The crash killed 73 of the 79 people aboard the airplane and 4 people in cars on … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/01/12/remembering-air-florida-flight-90-and-the-progress-towards-eliminating-airline-icing-accidents/" class="more-link">Continue reading Remembering Air Florida Flight 90 and the Progress Towards Eliminating Airline Icing Accidents →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Jeff Marcus, Chief, NTSB Safety Recommendations Division
Forty years ago, on Jan. 13, 1982, a Boeing 737 jetliner crashed into Washington, DC’s 14th Street Bridge and plunged into the freezing Potomac River after departing National Airport during a snowstorm. The crash killed 73 of the 79 people aboard the airplane and 4 people in cars on the bridge; 4 others on the bridge were injured. A total of five passengers and a flight attendant escaped the airplane into the freezing, ice-filled Potomac River and clung to wreckage.
About 20 minutes after the crash, a National Park Service helicopter arrived. Showing remarkable flying skills, the pilot and paramedic worked so close to the water that at times the helicopter’s skids dipped beneath the surface. They managed to pull four of the survivors to shore. As a fifth survivor lost her grip on the helicopter’s lifeline, Lenny Skutnik—one of hundreds of bystanders—dove into the icy water and brought her to the riverbank.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img data-attachment-id="5669" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2022/01/12/remembering-air-florida-flight-90-and-the-progress-towards-eliminating-airline-icing-accidents/airflorida/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/airflorida.jpg" data-orig-size="624,587" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="AirFlorida" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="(A U.S. Park Police helicopter pulls two people from the wreckage of an Air Florida jetliner that crashed into the Potomac River when it hit a bridge after taking off from National Airport in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 13, 1982. Photo by Charles Pereira, Associated Press)
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/airflorida.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/airflorida.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/airflorida.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5669" /><figcaption>(A U.S. Park Police helicopter pulls two people from the wreckage of an Air Florida jetliner that crashed into the Potomac River when it hit a bridge after taking off from National Airport in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 13, 1982. Photo by Charles Pereira, Associated Press)</figcaption></figure>
A sixth survivor of the impact had taken the lifeline and flotation rings from the helicopter and passed them to others. When the helicopter returned for him, he was gone. The 14th Street Bridge is today named in honor of that passenger, Arland D. Williams.
NTSB investigators found that after traveling almost half a mile farther down the runway than was typical for a normal takeoff, the airplane lifted off and attained a maximum altitude of only about 350 feet before crashing into the bridge, which was less than a mile from the end of the runway. While the airplane was on its takeoff roll, the first officer remarked several times, “that don’t seem right, does it? Ah, that’s not right. That don’t seem right.” The captain did not respond.
The NTSB’s investigation identified numerous errors related to safely flying in snowy and icy conditions.
<ul><li>Though the outside temperature was well below freezing and snow was falling, the crew did not activate the engine anti-ice system that prevents sensors in the engines from freezing and giving incorrect engine power readings. Although the pilots set the engines to the correct power setting, the NTSB’s analysis showed the engines were actually operating with substantially less power than was needed.</li><li>After leaving the gate, the aircraft waited in a taxi line with many other aircraft for 49 minutes before reaching the takeoff runway. The pilot decided not to return to the gate for reapplication of deicing, fearing that the flight’s departure would be even further delayed. More snow and ice accumulated on the wings during that period.</li><li>While waiting in line to take off, the pilots decided to maneuver closely behind a DC‑9 that was taxiing just ahead of them, mistakenly believing that the heat from the DC-9’s engines would melt the snow and ice that had accumulated on flight 90’s wings. This action, which went specifically against flight-manual recommendations for an icing situation, contributed to the icing on the Air Florida jet. The exhaust gases from the DC-9 turned the snow into a slush mixture that froze on the wings and the engine.</li><li> Although the crew was aware of the ice and snow on the wings, they decided to take off.</li></ul>
Air Florida flight 90 was just one of numerous airframe-icing-related crashes we’ve investigated. Between 1982 and 1997, we investigated eight fatal accidents of aircraft flown by professional flight crews that encountered icing conditions. Other professionally crewed flights were among the numerous icing accidents we investigated through April 2011, when the final report on such an accident was issued. These crashes killed 265 people. Similar problems were found by the Canadian Transportation Safety Board where two accidents in 1985 and 1989 killed 280 passengers and crew.
As a result of these accidents, we’ve issued several recommendations covering a variety of topics, including the following:
<ul><li>Deicing fluid properties</li><li>The number of minutes after which a plane can safety take off after being deiced</li><li>Airport congestion and the time needed for air traffic control clearance, which can delay takeoff beyond when deicing fluid is effective</li><li>The importance of deicing engine instruments that are used to set the proper engine power</li><li>Prolonged autopilot use in icing conditions can mask developing problems with controllability until it is too late to avoid a crash</li><li>Icing on swept wing aircraft (including most airliners) can cause an airplane to pitch up uncontrollably, leading to a stall</li><li>Small amounts of ice on an airplane wing (comparable to the roughness of sandpaper) disrupt airflow and reduce the airplane wing’s ability to hold up the airplane</li><li>FAA certification standard revisions for airplanes approved to fly in icing conditions</li><li>Increasing stall speed in icing conditions</li></ul>
Because the NTSB identified airframe icing as a significant threat to aviation safety, it was on our Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements for 14 years.
After researching how ice forms on airplane wings in flight, and how that ice affects airplane performance, the FAA revised the standards for airplanes certified for flight in icing conditions. Pilot training and flight procedures were improved, and more attention was paid to minimizing the time between deicing and taking off.
Although the NTSB still investigates aviation accidents involving icing, the numbers are down drastically. We have not investigated a fatal icing-related crash involving a professional flight crew since the February 16, 2005, crash of a Cessna Citation 560 in Pueblo, Colorado.
At the NTSB, we draw knowledge from tragedy to improve the safety of all. The knowledge gained from our investigations of icing accidents, such as Air Florida flight 90, identified the actions needed to improve the safety of everyone who flies.
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<title>A New Year’s Resolution We All Can Make: Prioritize Safety</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/12/30/a-new-years-resolution-we-all-can-make-prioritize-safety/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 30 Dec 2021 15:29:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Aviation Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Bicyclists]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Child Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Drowsy Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Fatigue]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Aviation]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Hazardous Materials]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impairment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Infrastructure]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Marine Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Motorcycles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pedestrians]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pipeline]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Rail Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Recorders]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Speeding]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Teen Driving]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5608</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Nicholas Worrell, Chief, NTSB Safety Advocacy Division As 2021 ends, it’s time to reflect on the past 12 months and begin to set goals for the year ahead. After all, as Zig Ziglar once said, “if you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.” So, let us all aim to improve the … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/12/30/a-new-years-resolution-we-all-can-make-prioritize-safety/" class="more-link">Continue reading A New Year’s Resolution We All Can Make: Prioritize Safety →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Nicholas Worrell, Chief, NTSB Safety Advocacy Division
As 2021 ends, it’s time to reflect on the past 12 months and begin to set goals for the year ahead. After all, as Zig Ziglar once said, “if you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.” So, let us all aim to improve the safety of our transportation system in 2022.
The NTSB recognizes the need for improvements in all modes of transportation–on the roads, rails, waterways, pipelines, and in the sky. Our 2021–2022 NTSB Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements (MWL), released in April this year, highlights the transportation safety improvements we believe are needed now to prevent accidents and crashes, reduce injuries, and save lives. We use the list to focus our advocacy efforts and to serve as an important call to action. We ask lawmakers, industry, advocacy, community organizations, and the traveling public to act and champion safety.
As a fellow safety advocate, I ask you to join me in a New Year’s resolution: I pledge to do my part to make transportation safer for all.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1024" data-attachment-id="5610" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/nye22/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/nye22.png" data-orig-size="1046,1046" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="nye22" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/nye22.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/nye22.png?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/nye22.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5610" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/nye22.png?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/nye22.png?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/nye22.png?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/nye22.png?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/nye22.png 1046w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
To help you take steps to accomplish this resolution, our MWL outlines actions you can take to make transportation safer:
<ol type="1"><li><a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-as-01.aspx">Require and Verify the Effectiveness of Safety Management Systems in all Revenue Passenger-Carrying Aviation Operations</a></li></ol>
<ol type="1" start="2"><li><a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-as-02.aspx">Install Crash-Resistant Recorders and Establish Flight Data Monitoring Programs</a></li></ol>
<ol type="1" start="3"><li><a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-01.aspx">Implement a Comprehensive Strategy to Eliminate Speeding-Related Crashes</a></li></ol>
<ol type="1" start="4"><li><a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-02.aspx">Protect Vulnerable Road Users through a Safe System Approach</a> </li></ol>
<ol type="1" start="5"><li><a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-03.aspx">Prevent Alcohol- and Other Drug-Impaired Driving</a></li></ol>
<ol type="1" start="6"><li><a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-04.aspx">Require Collision-Avoidance and Connected-Vehicle Technologies on all Vehicles</a></li></ol>
<ol type="1" start="7"><li><a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-05.aspx">Eliminate Distracted Driving</a></li></ol>
<ol type="1" start="8"><li><a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-ms-01.aspx">Improve Passenger and Fishing Vessel Safety</a></li></ol>
<ol type="1" start="9"><li><a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-rph-01.aspx">Improve Pipeline Leak Detection and Mitigation</a></li></ol>
<ol type="1" start="10"><li><a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-rph-02.aspx">Improve Rail Worker Safety</a></li></ol>
Achieving these improvements is possible; otherwise, they wouldn’t be on our list. The NTSB MWL includes tangible changes and solutions that will, undoubtedly, save lives. But it’s only words on a list if no action is taken. Unlike Times Square on New Year’s Eve, we cannot drop the ball on improvements to transportation safety. The clock is ticking, and the countdown has begun—we can’t afford to waste any more time. Make the resolution to do your part to make transportation safer for all!
In closing, I’d like to thank the transportation safety stakeholders, industry, lawmakers, and advocates we have worked with in 2021 and we look forward to working together in 2022 and beyond.
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<title>Drive Sober and Save Lives the Holiday Season</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/12/22/drive-sober-and-save-lives-the-holiday-season/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 22 Dec 2021 15:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Holiday Travel]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impairment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thomas Chapman]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5604</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Member Tom Chapman Unlike last year when many holiday gatherings were cancelled due to the pandemic, many of us will return to visiting family and attending holiday parties this year. Some may see this as an opportunity for a 2020 do-over and may overindulge on merriment. The holiday season is a time of increased … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/12/22/drive-sober-and-save-lives-the-holiday-season/" class="more-link">Continue reading Drive Sober and Save Lives the Holiday Season →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/board/Pages/Thomas-Chapman.aspx">Member Tom Chapman</a>
Unlike last year when many holiday gatherings were cancelled due to the pandemic, many of us will return to visiting family and attending holiday parties this year. Some may see this as an opportunity for a 2020 do-over and may overindulge on merriment.
The holiday season is a time of increased impaired-driving crashes due to these celebrations and gatherings. The President has designated December as <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/11/30/a-proclamation-on-national-impaired-driving-prevention-month-2021/">National Impaired Driving Prevention Month</a>, and it serves as a reminder that traffic fatalities and injuries attributed to impaired driving are 100 percent preventable.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1024" data-attachment-id="4114" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2018/07/03/buzzed-driving-is-drunk-driving-time-to-walk-the-talk/impaired-driving-preventable-2/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/impaired-driving-preventable.jpg" data-orig-size="2048,2048" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Impaired Driving Preventable" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/impaired-driving-preventable.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/impaired-driving-preventable.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/impaired-driving-preventable.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-4114" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/impaired-driving-preventable.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/impaired-driving-preventable.jpg 2048w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/impaired-driving-preventable.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/impaired-driving-preventable.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/impaired-driving-preventable.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
In 2019, according to the <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving">National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)</a>, 10,142 people were killed in traffic crashes in which at least one driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of 0.08 g/dL or higher. That number comprises 28 percent of the 36,096 traffic fatalities that year.  Also of concern, NHTSA <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/2020-fatality-data-show-increased-traffic-fatalities-during-pandemic">estimated a 9 percent increase</a> in police-reported alcohol involved crashes between 2019 and 2020.  These deaths are not abstract statistics. These were mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, children, friends, and other loved ones. They are people who will be deeply missed at this year’s holiday gatherings.
In addition to alcohol, there are other impairing substances, such as marijuana, other illegal drugs, and prescribed and over-the-counter medications. These can all be as dangerous as alcohol for a driver. As we continue to understand more about the extent to which drugged driving contributes to fatalities and injuries, we are certain that the prevalence of this, as well as multiple or “poly-drug” use while driving, is on the rise.
In June, <a href="https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/56125">NHTSA published an update on research</a> looking at drug and alcohol prevalence in seriously and fatally injured road users before and during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The overall picture is very troubling. In general, drug and alcohol prevalence among drivers seriously injured or killed in crashes increased during the pandemic. Significant increases were reported for drivers testing positive for cannabinoids and multiple substances. These are not the trends that we want to see.
The NTSB has issued specific recommendations that, if implemented, would help prevent these deaths and injuries. They include required all-offender ignition interlocks, .05 (or lower) BAC limits, and a national drug testing standard. Our 2021-2022 Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements includes the safety item “<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-03.aspx">Prevent Alcohol- and other Drug-impaired Driving</a>,” with these and several additional safety recommendations remaining open.
Congress recently passed the <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3684/text">Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act</a>, which advances some of NTSB’s most important safety recommendations. For example, the new law requires the Secretary of Transportation to issue a final rule requiring all new passenger motor vehicles to be equipped with advanced drunk driving prevention technology within three years. I am encouraged and hopeful we’ll see this technology incorporated soon, as it could be a game-changer for alcohol-impaired driving.
By exercising personal responsibility, you can do your part to prevent impaired driving crashes during the holiday season. It’s simple. Choose drinking or driving, but not both. Have a designated driver. Call a taxi or ride-share service. These basic steps will save lives. Let’s ensure there will be many more enjoyable holiday seasons to come.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1024" data-attachment-id="5186" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/web-3/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/choosedriveordrink-holiday.jpg" data-orig-size="4501,4505" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"Web","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Web" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/choosedriveordrink-holiday.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/choosedriveordrink-holiday.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/choosedriveordrink-holiday.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5186" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/choosedriveordrink-holiday.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/choosedriveordrink-holiday.jpg?w=2046 2046w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/choosedriveordrink-holiday.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/choosedriveordrink-holiday.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/choosedriveordrink-holiday.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
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<title>Three Key Strategies to Prevent Teen Distracted-Driving Crashes</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/12/13/three-key-strategies-to-prevent-teen-distracted-driving-crashes/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Dec 2021 18:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Child Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Teen Driving]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5598</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Bryan Delaney, NTSB Safety Advocate Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for teens and, for today’s teens, distraction is a major factor in crash risk. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), dialing a phone number while operating a vehicle increases a teen’s risk of crash by 6 times, … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/12/13/three-key-strategies-to-prevent-teen-distracted-driving-crashes/" class="more-link">Continue reading Three Key Strategies to Prevent Teen Distracted-Driving Crashes →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Bryan Delaney, NTSB Safety Advocate
Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for teens and, for today’s teens, distraction is a major factor in crash risk. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), dialing a phone number while operating a vehicle increases a teen’s risk of crash by 6 times, and texting while driving <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/teen-driving">increases crash risk by 23 times</a>.
The NTSB recognizes the importance of teen driver safety, and we’ve made numerous recommendations to prevent distracted driving and promote safe driving behaviors for these vulnerable road users. The following strategies can improve teen driver safety and reduce the risk of teen distracted-driving crashes.
Educate Teens on the Risk of Distracted Driving 
Education is key to changing driving behaviors among teens. Parents should model safe driving behaviors, laying out expectations and enforcing consequences if rules are broken. Adults must remember that the driving habits they teach teens through formal education and informal instruction is only half the battle—they must also “walk the walk” by avoiding risky behaviors and teaching by example.
Teens must also set a positive example for their peers by buckling up; obeying the speed limit; avoiding distracted, drowsy, and impaired driving; and making sure their emergency information is up to date and accessible in case of a crash. Peer-to-peer education and accountability can foster a driving environment where distracted driving is unacceptable.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="535" data-attachment-id="5601" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/12/13/three-key-strategies-to-prevent-teen-distracted-driving-crashes/2021-ntsbesafe-tips4teens/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/2021-ntsbesafe-tips4teens.png" data-orig-size="2171,1136" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="2021-NTSBeSAFE-Tips4Teens" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/2021-ntsbesafe-tips4teens.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/2021-ntsbesafe-tips4teens.png?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/2021-ntsbesafe-tips4teens.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5601" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/2021-ntsbesafe-tips4teens.png?w=1022 1022w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/2021-ntsbesafe-tips4teens.png?w=2045 2045w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/2021-ntsbesafe-tips4teens.png?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/2021-ntsbesafe-tips4teens.png?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/2021-ntsbesafe-tips4teens.png?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Ban Portable Electronic Devices While Driving
States have a role in preventing teen distracted driving. For a decade, the NTSB has recommended that states prohibit the nonemergency use of all portable electronic devices, except those designed to aid the driving task, while driving. We need a cultural shift to put human life at the center of our transportation system over perceived productivity or social engagement. Driving distracted must become as unacceptable as driving impaired by alcohol or other drugs—for both adult and teen drivers.
Establish a Comprehensive Graduated Driver License Law 
All states have some form of a graduated driver license (GDL) program, but no state has a comprehensive program with all provisions to minimize driving risks for teens. As outlined below, the NTSB recommends that all states establish a comprehensive, three-phase GDL law for teen drivers to gain driving experience before obtaining a full license. The following GDL provisions can help states improve overall teen driving and reduce crashes resulting from inexperience.
<ul><li>Phase 1: Learner’s permit<ul><li>6-month minimum holding period (without an at-fault driver or traffic violation)</li></ul><ul><li>Supervised driver requirement with supervising driver age 21 or older</li></ul><ul><li>Seat belts used by all occupants in all seating positions</li></ul><ul><li>Driving with a measurable blood alcohol level prohibited</li></ul><ul><li>Cell phone use prohibited while driving</li></ul></li></ul>
<ul><li>Phase 2: Intermediate (provisional) license<ul><li>6-month minimum holding period (without an at-fault crash or traffic violation)</li></ul><ul><li>Nighttime driving restriction</li></ul><ul><li>Teen passenger restriction (up to 1 passenger)</li></ul><ul><li>Seat belts used by all occupants in all seating positions</li></ul><ul><li>Driving with a measurable blood alcohol level prohibited</li></ul><ul><li>Cell phone use prohibited while driving</li></ul></li></ul>
<ul><li>Phase 3: Full licensure<ul><li>Seat belts used by all occupants in all seating positions</li></ul><ul><li>Driving with a measurable blood alcohol level by all drivers under age 21 prohibited</li></ul></li></ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="535" data-attachment-id="5602" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/12/13/three-key-strategies-to-prevent-teen-distracted-driving-crashes/2021-ntsbesafe-gdl/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/2021-ntsbesafe-gdl.png" data-orig-size="2171,1136" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="2021-NTSBeSAFE-GDL" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/2021-ntsbesafe-gdl.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/2021-ntsbesafe-gdl.png?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/2021-ntsbesafe-gdl.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5602" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/2021-ntsbesafe-gdl.png?w=1022 1022w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/2021-ntsbesafe-gdl.png?w=2045 2045w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/2021-ntsbesafe-gdl.png?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/2021-ntsbesafe-gdl.png?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/2021-ntsbesafe-gdl.png?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Distraction is impairing. Even cognitive distraction slows your reaction time, and visual and manual distraction might make it impossible to see or avoid a hazard. All drivers—but especially teens, among whom distraction is pervasive—should keep their eyes on the road, their hands on the wheel, and their phones in the glovebox.
No text, email, or notification is worth a life.
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<title>Paying Passengers Deserve Safety on All Flights</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/11/29/paying-passengers-deserve-safety-on-all-flights/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 29 Nov 2021 17:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Aviation Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael Graham]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5590</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Member Michael Graham In 2015, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) required commercial airlines to develop a comprehensive safety management system (SMS) to improve safety for the flying public. An SMS is an organization-wide system that ensures operators are properly identifying, assessing, and mitigating the conditions that exist for an accident to occur. The FAA, … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/11/29/paying-passengers-deserve-safety-on-all-flights/" class="more-link">Continue reading Paying Passengers Deserve Safety on All Flights →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/MGraham/Pages/bio_graham.aspx">Member Michael Graham</a>
In 2015, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) required commercial airlines to develop a comprehensive safety management system (SMS) to improve safety for the flying public. An SMS is an organization-wide system that ensures operators are properly identifying, assessing, and mitigating the conditions that exist for an accident to occur.
The FAA, however, has not required the same for revenue passenger-carrying operations under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Parts 91 and 135, leaving passengers on these flights at unnecessary risk. Similar to passengers of commercial airlines, those passengers who pay for a charter flight, skydiving experience, or hot air balloon ride exercise no control and bear no responsibility over the airworthiness or operation of which they are being flown. Therefore, paying passengers of Part 91 and Part 135 flights deserve a similar level of safety as those who fly on a commercial airline. That is why <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-as-01.aspx">Require and Verify the Effectiveness of Safety Management Systems in all Revenue Passenger-Carrying Aviation Operations</a> is on the NTSB’s 2021–2022 Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements.
The Problem
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="609" height="476" data-attachment-id="5593" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/11/29/paying-passengers-deserve-safety-on-all-flights/togiak-ak/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/togiak-ak.jpg" data-orig-size="609,476" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Togiak AK" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/togiak-ak.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/togiak-ak.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/togiak-ak.jpg?w=609" alt="" class="wp-image-5593" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/togiak-ak.jpg 609w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/togiak-ak.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/togiak-ak.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 609px) 100vw, 609px" /><figcaption>Togiak, AK – Separated section of empennage with vertical and horizontal stabilizers and rudder attached.</figcaption></figure></div>
Since the airlines were required to develop an SMS in 2015, the NTSB continues to investigate Part 91 and Part 135 accidents that could have been prevented by an effective SMS—all involving paying passengers—including the following:
<ul><li>On October 2, 2016, <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/ANC17MA001.aspx">Ravn Connect flight 3153</a>, a turbine-powered Cessna 208B Grand Caravan airplane operated under Part 135, collided with steep, mountainous terrain northwest of Togiak Airport in Alaska, killing both commercial pilots and their passenger. The operator did not have an SMS, and we found that after experiencing two previous controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accidents in the preceding three years the company had missed opportunities to adequately assess this CFIT-related risks and implement more effective strategies for preventing such accidents.</li><li>On <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/CEN17MA183.aspx">May 15, 2017, a Learjet 35A</a> departed controlled flight while on a circling approach to runway 1 at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey, and impacted a commercial building and parking lot. The pilot-in-command (PIC) and the second-in-command (SIC) died. The operator lacked both an SMS and a flight data monitoring program, and the company did not identify or mitigate hazards that contributed to this accident, including the pairing of pilots who had exhibited difficulties in training, the informal practice of some captains who allowed unapproved copilots to serve as pilot flying, and other patterns of flight crew procedural noncompliance.</li><li>On <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/ERA18MA099.aspx">March 11, 2018, an Airbus Helicopters AS350 B2</a> lost engine power during an aerial photography flight and ditched on the East River in New York City. The pilot sustained minor injuries and his five passengers drowned. Again, the operator lacked an SMS and, although the operator’s employees were aware of the potential hazards that led to the accident, the operator did not have a robust safety program that could adequately prioritize and address hazards that played a role in this accident, including the potential for entanglement of a passenger harness/tether system with floor-mounted engine controls, the inability of passengers to evacuate without assistance, and the possibility the emergency flotation system might only partially inflate due to difficulties with the float activation mechanism.</li><li>On <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/WPR19MA177.aspx">June 21, 2019, a Beech King Air 65-A90 airplane, N256TA</a>, impacted terrain after takeoff from Dillingham Airfield, Mokuleia, Hawaii. The pilot and 10 passengers were fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a postcrash fire. In this accident, the operator failed to address numerous safety issues that a formal SMS would likely have identified as significant risks and prevented the accident. These included allowing passengers to be transported in a poorly maintained airplane, not implementing any standard operating procedures (SOPs) or written guidance for the company’s parachute operations, providing no structured initial or recurrent training for company pilots, using flawed methods in calculating the weight and balance of its flights, and allowing its pilot to routinely violate numerous Federal Aviation Regulations. In April 2021, the NTSB issued <a href="https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/A-21-013">Safety Recommendation A-21-13</a>, which asked the FAA to require SMS for the revenue passenger-carrying operations discussed in the <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA20SP001.aspx">Part 91 aviation investigation report</a>; these operations included parachute jump flights.</li></ul>
These accidents seemingly had little in common, yet, in each case, an effective SMS might have helped the operator identify hazards or better mitigate those that were already known.
An Effective SMS
Any operator can print out the four pillars of an SMS, put up a poster, and add an anonymous comment box to the breakroom. However, implementing an effective SMS that changes safety behavior in an organization is not a box-checking exercise. An effective SMS is a management system that brings safety conscious behaviors to the forefront of an organization, which aids in identifying and mitigating risks inherent in flight operations and other activities. Every day, every task.
An effective SMS must fully address the following four pillars:
<ul><li>Safety policy<ul><li>Sets objectives, assigns responsibilities, and develops standards</li></ul><ul><li>Clearly defines roles and responsibilities</li></ul><ul><li>Engages accountable executive</li></ul></li><li>Safety risk management<ul><li>Systematic processes for identifying hazards and mitigating risks</li></ul></li><li>Safety assurance<ul><li>Monitors, measures, audits, and assesses the performance of SMS</li></ul></li><li>Safety promotion<ul><li>Ensures a positive and just safety culture</li></ul><ul><li>Circulates and incorporates safety lessons</li></ul><ul><li>Advocates, communicates, and trains the principles of SMS</li></ul></li></ul>
By establishing an effective SMS and creating a safety culture that fosters the free flow of safety-related information and organizational learning about the nature of operational risks, operators will reduce the likelihood of an accident and improve the safety of their flight operations.
What Can Be Done
Oversight is necessary to ensure operators adhere to the principles and processes of an effective SMS to provide sufficient safety to paying passengers. The NTSB has investigated numerous accidents involving operators whose deficient SMS failed to identify and mitigate the conditions that contributed to the accident. Therefore, the NTSB calls on the FAA to require SMS for all revenue passenger-carrying Part 91 and Part 135 operations and provide ongoing oversight.
To operators, the NTSB’s investigations repeatedly demonstrate that an effective SMS could have identified the hazards and mitigated the risks that led to the accidents. Do not wait for an accident to occur or a FAA mandate to invest in the safety of your passengers, pilots, and other personnel, voluntarily implement an effective SMS today.
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="819" data-attachment-id="5592" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/11/29/paying-passengers-deserve-safety-on-all-flights/as-01-titles-sm/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/as-01-titles-sm.jpg" data-orig-size="1500,1200" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="AS-01 Titles-sm" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/as-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/as-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/as-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5592" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/as-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/as-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/as-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/as-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/as-01-titles-sm.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>
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<title>World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/11/19/world-day-of-remembrance-for-road-traffic-victims-2/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/11/19/world-day-of-remembrance-for-road-traffic-victims-2/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 19 Nov 2021 18:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Bicyclists]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Child Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Drowsy Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Fatigue]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Holiday Travel]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impairment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Infrastructure]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Medical Fitness]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Motorcycles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pedestrians]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Speeding]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Teen Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Jennifer Homendy]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5584</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Chair Jennifer Homendy November 21 is the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. It is a day to honor the 1.3 million lives lost each year around the world in motor vehicle crashes. Today, I urge everyone to take a moment to remember all those who have lost loved ones in crashes, … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/11/19/world-day-of-remembrance-for-road-traffic-victims-2/" class="more-link">Continue reading World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/board/Pages/Jennifer-Homendy.aspx">Chair Jennifer Homendy</a>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" data-attachment-id="5587" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/11/19/world-day-of-remembrance-for-road-traffic-victims-2/wdor/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/wdor.jpg" data-orig-size="1920,1080" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="WDOR" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/wdor.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/wdor.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/wdor.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5587" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/wdor.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/wdor.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/wdor.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/wdor.jpg?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/wdor.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
November 21 is the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. It is a day to honor the 1.3 million lives lost each year around the world in motor vehicle crashes.
Today, I urge everyone to take a moment to remember all those who have lost loved ones in crashes, as millions have done around the world since 1995. Here in the United States, traffic deaths are up 18 percent over the first half of 2020. We are on pace to lose 40,000 Americans this year alone.
My thoughts are with all who have lost loved ones, but especially those I’ve met who lost loved ones in crashes that the NTSB has investigated, and the survivor advocates I’ve gotten to know over the years.
We need to remember these numbers are people from our communities. They are lives lost: mothers, fathers, or children suddenly, permanently gone; brothers and sisters absent from holiday gatherings; friends missing from a baby shower. We record our losses in data tables, but we feel them at the dinner table, and in the graduations, weddings, and birthdays never celebrated.
At a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JexMAxQEv9A&t=2290s">November 10 virtual roundtable </a>on the need for our nation to transition to a Safe System approach, I called for a moment of silence in advance of the World Day of Remembrance. I said then that, for the NTSB, the toughest part of our job is facing family members after a tragedy, explaining that their loved one’s death was 100 percent preventable and that we’ve issued recommendations which, if acted upon, would have prevented the crash and the loss of their loved one.
Then I said that we need a paradigm shift in how we address this ever-growing public health crisis.
For 26 years now, the world has memorialized the victims of motor vehicle crashes, and we have been right to remember them. No loss should be forgotten. But these are unnecessary losses. They must not be remembered only in words.
They deserve and demand action now.
They demand to be remembered with road treatments, traffic calming measures, engineering speed assessments, road safety laws, and other investments that will result in safe roads and safe speeds on those roads.
They demand to be remembered with the manufacture of safe vehicles that should come standard with better technology for avoiding collisions, including collisions with pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists.
They must be remembered with vehicle sizes and shapes that are less likely to result in the pedestrian and bicyclist deaths that we have seen so often.
They demand to be remembered with ignition interlocks for all impaired drivers, in the development of in-vehicle alcohol detection technology, and in fair and just traffic law enforcement.
They demand to be memorialized with increased investments in alternative modes of transportation, like public transit, which will reduce crashes on our roads, in newly changed laws to improve road safety, and in the enforcement of existing laws.
But most of all, these victims should be remembered as what they were: flesh and blood. Human. Vulnerable.
Put that image at the center of all the other aspects of our roads, and you’ll see the road as we must in order to finally make it safe. Don’t think of numbers, think of people. Put them at the center of every decision about our road system. That’s the paradigm shift that we need—to make our many layers of traffic hazards into layers of traffic protection, so that when crashes happen, nobody pays for it with their life.
This Day of Remembrance, let’s remember that the candle we light to remember victims is more than just a memorial; it’s a light showing the way to a safer tomorrow.
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<title>EPISODE 45: MOST WANTED LIST – VULNERABLE ROAD USERS AND SPEEDING</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/11/19/episode-45-most-wanted-list-vulnerable-road-users-and-speeding/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 19 Nov 2021 05:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Behind-the-Scene]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Bicyclists]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Motorcycles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pedestrians]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Speeding]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @ NTSB, we talk with Mike Fox and Steve Prouty, Highway Crash Investigators, Nathan Doble, Transportation Research Analyst and Brittany Rawlinson, Statistician about the 2021-2022 Most Wanted List safety items Implement a Comprehensive Strategy to Eliminate Speeding-Related Crashes and Protect Vulnerable Road Users through a Safe System Approach. For more information about the … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/11/19/episode-45-most-wanted-list-vulnerable-road-users-and-speeding/" class="more-link">Continue reading EPISODE 45: MOST WANTED LIST – VULNERABLE ROAD USERS AND SPEEDING →</a>]]></description>
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In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @ NTSB, we talk with Mike Fox and Steve Prouty, Highway Crash Investigators, Nathan Doble, Transportation Research Analyst and Brittany Rawlinson, Statistician about the 2021-2022 Most Wanted List safety items <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-01.aspx">Implement a Comprehensive Strategy to Eliminate Speeding-Related Crashes</a> and <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-02.aspx">Protect Vulnerable Road Users through a Safe System Approach</a>.
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For more information about the NTSB Most Wanted List visit our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/default.aspx">website</a>. 
The NTSB safety research reports mentioned in this episode are available on our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Pages/SafetyStudies.aspx">website</a>.
The previously released podcast episodes featuring Mike Fox are available on our <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?s=mike+fox">website</a>.
The previously released podcast episode featuring Nathan Doble is available on our <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2017/11/30/episode-5-nathan-doble-and-ivan-cheung/">website</a>.
Get the latest episode on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-scene-ntsb/id1286590741?mt=2">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/behindthescenentsb/behindthescene-ntsb">Stitcher</a> or your favorite podcast platform.
And find more ways to listen here: <a href="https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/">https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/</a>



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<title>Improve Pipeline Leak Detection and Mitigation</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/11/16/improve-pipeline-leak-detection-and-mitigation/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/11/16/improve-pipeline-leak-detection-and-mitigation/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Nov 2021 15:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Hazardous Materials]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pipeline]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael Graham]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5562</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Member Michael Graham Every day more than 2.6 million miles of pipelines across the United States transport enormous volumes of natural gas and liquid petroleum that provide for the nation’s energy needs. These pipelines crisscross the country under our neighborhoods, homes, and businesses. While, statistically, pipelines are the safest method for energy transportation, the … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/11/16/improve-pipeline-leak-detection-and-mitigation/" class="more-link">Continue reading Improve Pipeline Leak Detection and Mitigation →</a>]]></description>
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By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/board/Pages/Michael-Graham.aspx">Member Michael Graham</a>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="819" data-attachment-id="5565" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/rph-01-titles-sm-2/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rph-01-titles-sm.jpg" data-orig-size="1500,1200" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="rph-01-titles-sm" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rph-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rph-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rph-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5565" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rph-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rph-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rph-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rph-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rph-01-titles-sm.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Every day more than 2.6 million miles of pipelines across the United States transport enormous volumes of natural gas and liquid petroleum that provide for the nation’s energy needs. These pipelines crisscross the country under our neighborhoods, homes, and businesses. While, statistically, pipelines are the safest method for energy transportation, the NTSB has investigated some accidents that demonstrate the need for improved pipeline leak detection and mitigation:
<ul><li>On February 23, 2018, a natural gas-fueled explosion at a house in Dallas, Texas, injured all five occupants, one of whom died. The house sustained major structural damage. Investigators located a through-wall crack in the 71-year-old natural gas main that served the residence and positive gas measurements leading from this crack to the residence. Investigators believe the pipeline was likely cracked in 1995 by accidental damage from mechanical excavation equipment. Leaked gas accumulated and eventually ignited from the gas main, which was damaged during a sewer replacement project 23 years earlier. Atmos Energy Corporation failed to detect the leak during an earlier investigation of two related natural gas incidents just two days before the February 23rd explosion.</li><li>On August 10, 2016, a 14-unit apartment building in Silver Spring, Maryland, partially collapsed due to a natural gas-fueled explosion and fire, which also heavily damaged an adjacent apartment building. Seven residents died and 65 were transported to the hospital, along with three firefighters, who were treated and released. The probable cause was the failure of an indoor mercury service regulator with an unconnected vent line, which allowed natural gas into the meter room where it accumulated and ignited.</li><li>On September 9, 2010, a 30-inch-diameter segment of an intrastate natural gas transmission pipeline, owned and operated by the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), ruptured in a residential area in San Bruno, California. The rupture produced a crater about 72 feet long by 26 feet wide. The section of pipe that ruptured, which was about 28 feet long and weighed about 3,000 pounds, was found 100 feet south of the crater. PG&E estimated that 47.6 million standard cubic feet of natural gas was released, ignited, and resulted in a fire that destroyed 38 homes and damaged 70, killing eight people and injuring many more. Several people were evacuated from the area.</li></ul>
High Consequence Area Leaks
According to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), in the last five years, an estimated 1.05 million leaks have been repaired on gas distribution systems. While most pipeline leaks are minor, during the same time, there have been 827 leaks in high-consequence areas – segments of pipeline systems within more populated areas that pose the greatest threat to human life and property – on gas transmission systems, and an estimated 167 accidents on gas distribution and transmission systems.
Leak Detection and Mitigation
Pipelines reliably and efficiently transport the energy that provides heat and electricity for countless Americans. Ensuring the safe distribution and transmission is paramount. Pipeline leak-detection and mitigation tools are essential and can make the difference between a minor leak and a deadly explosion. The NTSB first identified the need for leak-detection and mitigation methods in natural gas transmission and distribution pipelines nearly 50 years ago, but PHMSA, the federal pipeline regulator, has yet to require operators to use these life-saving measures, and many operators have yet to act on their own.
Pipeline systems equipped with leak-detection systems and automatic shutoff valves, or remote‑control valves, can warn operators of an imminent accident and allow for quick mitigation. Also, placing gas service regulators outside buildings can prevent a gas-leak incident; yet, many older homes and multifamily structures still have regulators inside, which can trap accumulating gas and lead to an explosion. And finally, methane detection devices help mitigate the consequences of a natural gas leak by alerting the public, thereby minimizing exposure.
I encourage PHMSA, industry groups, pipeline operators, and the public to work together to ensure the continued safe transportation of our important energy resources.
What is the Solution?
The Role of The Regulator
PHMSA is trusted to act on behalf of citizens to enhance pipeline safety. To better protect public safety, the NTSB has called on PHMSA to:
<ul><li>Require all operators of natural-gas transmission and distribution pipelines to equip their supervisory control and data-acquisition systems with tools to help recognize leaks and pinpoint their location.</li><li>Require automatic shutoff valves or remote-control valves to be installed in high‑consequence areas and in class 3 and 4 locations.</li><li>Require that all new service regulators be installed outside occupied structures and that existing interior service regulators be relocated whenever the gas service line, meter, or regulator is replaced. Multifamily structures should be prioritized over single-family dwellings.</li><li>Require methane-detection systems in residential occupancies with gas service.</li></ul>
The Role of Industry Groups
Gas industry groups can also play a critical role in improving public safety. The NTSB urges industry groups to:
<ul><li>Revise the National Fuel Gas Code, National Fire Protection Association 54 to require methane-detection systems for all types of residential occupancies with gas service.</li><li>Develop additional guidance for gas distribution operators so they can safely respond to leaks, fires, explosions, and emergency calls.</li></ul>
Operators Can Enhance Safety Directly
Regardless of when—or if—PHMSA makes the NTSB’s recommended changes, pipeline operators can take steps now to mitigate gas pipeline risks. The NTSB recommends operators take the following action:
<ul><li>Review and update, as needed, their incident-reporting practices; policies and procedures for responding to leaks, fires, explosions, and emergency calls; and integrity management programs.</li><li>Equip supervisory control and data-acquisition systems with tools to assist in leak detection.</li><li>Install remote-closure and automatic-shutoff valves in high-consequence areas and class 3 and 4 locations.</li></ul>
These steps taken by the regulator, industry groups, and operators can reduce gas pipeline risks.
What You Can Do
The public also has an important role in preventing pipeline leaks and incidents.
The most common cause of a pipeline leak is accidental damage. If you are planting a tree, installing a fence, or digging on your property for any other reason, call 8-1-1 before you dig. The NTSB has investigated numerous accidents in which accidental damage played a role.
You can also greatly decrease the possibility of an undetected gas buildup by purchasing and properly installing a methane detector in your home. Early detection is critical.
As a reminder, if you ever smell gas, please evacuate the area, and contact 9-1-1 and the gas company.
<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-rph-01.aspx">Improve Pipeline Leak Detection and Mitigation</a> is a safety item highlighted on the <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/mwl/Pages/default.aspx">2021-2022 Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements</a>. 
Learn more on NTSB.gov
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe class="youtube-player" width="474" height="267" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w7bC329QejE?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&wmode=transparent" allowfullscreen="true" style="border:0;" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox"></iframe>
</div><figcaption>In this video, NTSB Member Michael Graham and HAZMAT Investigator Rachel Gunaratnam, talk about why leak-detection and mitigation tools are essential and can make the difference between a minor incident and a deadly explosion.</figcaption></figure>
<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/PLD18FR002.aspx" target="_blank">Atmos Energy Corporation Natural Gas-Fueled Explosion Dallas, TX | February 2018</a>
<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA16FP003.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Building Explosion and Fire Silver Spring, MD | August 2016</a>
<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA10MP008.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pacific Gas and Electric Company Natural Gas Pipeline Rupture and Fire San Bruno, CA | September 2010</a>

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<title>A Look Back on Teen Driver Safety Week 2021</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/11/01/a-look-back-on-teen-driver-safety-week-2021/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/11/01/a-look-back-on-teen-driver-safety-week-2021/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 01 Nov 2021 20:04:29 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Drowsy Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Fatigue]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Speeding]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Teen Driving]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5548</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Bryan Delaney, NTSB Safety Advocate Last month, as part of Teen Driver Safety Week the NTSB held two virtual roundtables to discuss the state of teen driver safety and graduated driver license laws (GDLs). While the dialogue was robust and yielded many critical insights, these events reminded us that one week isn’t enough to … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/11/01/a-look-back-on-teen-driver-safety-week-2021/" class="more-link">Continue reading A Look Back on Teen Driver Safety Week 2021 →</a>]]></description>
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By Bryan Delaney, NTSB Safety Advocate
Last month, as part of Teen Driver Safety Week the NTSB held two <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/Pages/2021-tdsw1-rt.aspx">virtual roundtables </a>to discuss the state of teen driver safety and graduated driver license laws (GDLs). While the dialogue was robust and yielded many critical insights, these events reminded us that one week isn’t enough to highlight the dangers associated with teen driving; to keep teen drivers safe on the roads, our focus must persist long into the future.
As advocates for teen driver safety, peers, parents, guardians, and mentors must continue to set a positive example, instill good driving behaviors during this learning stage, and work toward effective programming and policy that promotes teen driving safety.
We wanted to share some of the key takeaways from experts who participated in our two roundtables. If we heed their words, teen drivers will be safer on our roadways today and into the future.
Tara Gill, Senior Director, Advocacy, <a href="https://saferoads.org/issues/">Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety</a>
“Crashes are a leading cause of death for teens. And it shouldn’t be acceptable that thousands of teens are killed each year in crashes involving a teen driver. Traffic safety laws, vehicle safety technology, along with requirements and standards and road safety upgrades—this is the package we should be looking at. We must urge all states to give their GDL program a second look and prioritize changes to improve the programs.”
Haley Reid, National Vice President of Membership, <a href="https://fcclainc.org/">Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)</a>
“Encourage students, and encourage parents, and encourage peers to take advantage of the opportunities provided for students who are part of FCCLA and other similar organizations.
Teens and parents should be part of the solution together.”
Shaina Finkel, National President, <a href="https://www.sadd.org/">Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD)</a> National
“Make yourself and your safety the first priority. You should always do what you know is right on the road and off the road.”
Kelly Browning, Executive Director, <a href="https://www.impactteendrivers.org/">Impact Teen Drivers</a>
“To parents, the number one influencer: be the driver you want your child to be.”
Rick Birt, President & CEO, SADD
“The power of peer-to-peer prevention is one thing I am going to walk away with today. We need to rely on them (teens leaders) to really be the mobilizer to reach all the other students in the hallways of our schools and streets in our communities. We need to invest in the peer-to-peer approach with adult allies to support them, cheer them on from the sidelines, and give them resources.”
Sandy Spavone, Executive Director, FCCLA
“We need to prioritize teen driver safety education and making it equitable and fair for all youth. We must invest in our next generation. Teen driver safety education needs to be a priority in the United States.”
Charlie Klauer, Research Scientist and Training Systems Lead, Division of Vehicle, Driver, and Safety Systems, <a href="https://www.vtti.vt.edu/">Virginia Tech Transportation Institute</a>
“To teens and all drivers, keep your eyes on the road. Be patient and take things slow. There is no reason to go fast, no reason to look away and mess with other things. It is critical to pay attention and drive safe.”
William Van Tassel, Manager, Driver Training Programs, <a href="https://northeast.aaa.com/community.html">AAA National</a>
“It’s all about vehicle choice. We need to make sure that our new drivers use the vehicle technology (collision avoidance technology) safely and effectively. It’s one thing to get it in their hands, but we have to take it another step as well. They have to be trained to use that. We know that most of these drivers are operating vehicles without a fully developed brain so there is a great temptation to consume vehicle technologies for a performance benefit rather than for a safety benefit, at least among younger drivers. To be able to counter that, they need to use them safely and effectively. In training drivers, that’s probably going to be perhaps our biggest issue over the next 20 years.
Pam Fischer, Senior Director of External Engagement, <a href="https://www.ghsa.org/">Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA)</a>
“We can’t diminish the important role of parents. Graduated driver license laws are really parent programs that are designed to give them the minimum standards to shoot for. We have to make sure parents understand that and leverage GDL for all its worth, because it is a proven tool.”
Kenny Bragg, Senior Highway Investigator, NTSB
“For parents, become as involved as you can in your child’s transition to motoring. Give them the education, have conversations, and give guidelines. Do everything you can to ensure your child’s success.”
Rebecca Weast, Research Scientist, <a href="https://www.iihs.org/topics/teenagers">Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)</a>
“I want to plug vehicle choice. There are lots of points of contact for parents and teens as they are going through the process of teens becoming a licensed driver. Vehicles should be a slightly larger vehicle, slightly heavier vehicle with a lower horsepower and it will limit their ability to do things that are risky. If it’s possible to put them into a vehicle with advanced safety features, parents and teens need to know how these features work.”
All our roundtable participants discussed the importance of education—educating parents, states, policymakers, and lawmakers—about the importance of a relentless focus on teen driver safety. After all, education plus action equals positive change.
Watch video of the roundtables here:
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyPh9QeU3Oc">NTSB Roundtable on the State of Teen Driver Safety</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9O0mgNExRI">NTSB Roundtable on the State of Graduate Driver License Laws</a>
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<title>EPISODE 44: TEEN DRIVER SAFETY</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/10/29/episode-44-teen-driver-safety/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/10/29/episode-44-teen-driver-safety/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 29 Oct 2021 16:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Behind-the-Scene]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Drowsy Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Fatigue]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Speeding]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Teen Driving]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5532</guid>
<description><![CDATA[October 17-23, 2021 was designated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as Teen Driver Safety Week, a time dedicated to raising awareness of preventive measures that can be taken to eliminate teen injuries and fatalities on American roadways. In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @ NTSB, State and Local Liaison Steve Blackistone, Chief of the … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/10/29/episode-44-teen-driver-safety/" class="more-link">Continue reading EPISODE 44: TEEN DRIVER SAFETY →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
October 17-23, 2021 was designated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as Teen Driver Safety Week, a time dedicated to raising awareness of preventive measures that can be taken to eliminate teen injuries and fatalities on American roadways.
In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @ NTSB, State and Local Liaison Steve Blackistone, Chief of the Safety Advocacy Division Nicholas Worrell, Senior Highway Crash Investigator Kenny Bragg, and Safety Advocate Bryan Delaney discuss NTSB’s long history of advocating for preventive measures that would mitigate teen traffic crashes including eliminating distractions, fatigue, and impairment, reducing speeds, occupant protection, and implementation of robust Graduated Driver License (GDL) laws. They also discuss the recent NTSB Teen Driver Safety Roundtable series and the importance of recognizing that traffic crashes are a leading cause of death for teens and encouraging teens and parents to speak up about safe driving behaviors among teens.
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To learn more about our Teen Driver Safety Week Roundtable Series and to access recordings of the events visit the <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/Pages/2021-tdsw1-rt.aspx">event page</a>. 
The previously released podcast <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?s=kenny+bragg">episodes </a>featuring Kenny Bragg are available on our website.
The previously released podcast <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?s=behind-the-scene+nicholas+worrell">episodes</a> featuring Nicholas Worrell are available on our website.
Get the latest episode on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-scene-ntsb/id1286590741?mt=2">Apple Podcasts</a>, on <a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Ihj2oejp6ut3rrvs3kpej7y3qsu?t=Behind-the-Scene__NTSB">Google Play</a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/behindthescenentsb/behindthescene-ntsb">Stitcher</a>, or your favorite podcast platform.
And find more ways to listen here: <a href="https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/">https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/</a>
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<title>Teen Driver Safety: Education + Action = Positive Change</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/10/18/teen-driver-safety-education-action-positive-change/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/10/18/teen-driver-safety-education-action-positive-change/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 18 Oct 2021 20:12:20 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Child Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Drowsy Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Fatigue]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Speeding]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Teen Driving]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[By Bryan Delaney, NTSB Safety Advocate For most teens, receiving the car keys for their first trip alone on the road is a ceremonious moment—one that opens their world to freedom of mobility. For parents and guardians, however, this moment can be nerve-wracking. Unfortunately, the anxiety parents and guardians feel is justifiable, as traffic crashes … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/10/18/teen-driver-safety-education-action-positive-change/" class="more-link">Continue reading Teen Driver Safety: Education + Action = Positive Change →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Bryan Delaney, NTSB Safety Advocate
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For most teens, receiving the car keys for their first trip alone on the road is a ceremonious moment—one that opens their world to freedom of mobility. For parents and guardians, however, this moment can be nerve-wracking. Unfortunately, the anxiety parents and guardians feel is justifiable, as traffic crashes continue to be a leading cause of death for teens. According to the most recent teen driver safety statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 205,000 young drivers were injured, and 1,603 young drivers died in traffic crashes in 2019.
Today marks the beginning of Teen Driver Safety Week, a week dedicated to raising awareness and seeking solutions to prevent teen injuries and deaths on the road. This week is critical to educate teens, parents, guardians, lawmakers, and the public on the risks of unsafe driving, and empower those individuals to make positive decisions and practice good driving habits behind the wheel. Although the week is focused on teens, it’s a good time to assess the role each of us plays in improving driving habits to ensure our roads are the safe.
The NTSB has long advocated for preventive measures that would mitigate or prevent teen driving-related traffic crashes, including eliminating distractions, fatigue, and impairment; reducing speeds; improving occupant protection; and implementing a robust graduated driver license (GDL) program. Throughout Teen Driver Safety Week, the NTSB will share helpful resources and engage with our stakeholders to educate the public on teen driver safety.
We’ve planned two roundtables this week to address specific NTSB concerns about teen driver safety and to share other important insights from experts in roadway safety.
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Tomorrow, October 19, Member Thomas Chapman will kick off the NTSB’s Teen Driver Safety Week Roundtable Series with “The State of Teen Driver Safety.” This roundtable will bring together traffic safety advocates and experts to discuss critical issues and risks impacting teen drivers, effective programs to influence positive teen driving behaviors, and future strategies for reducing fatalities and injuries resulting from teen driving-related crashes. This roundtable will provide a national platform to amplify young people’s voices. <a href="https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07ein0rnt68745f599&oseq=&c=&ch=">Register here</a> for the “State of Teen Driver Safety” Roundtable.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" data-attachment-id="5529" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/final-2021-teendriversafety-thu-21/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/final-2021-teendriversafety-thu-21.png" data-orig-size="2171,1137" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="final-2021-teendriversafety-thu-21" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/final-2021-teendriversafety-thu-21.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/final-2021-teendriversafety-thu-21.png?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/final-2021-teendriversafety-thu-21.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5529" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/final-2021-teendriversafety-thu-21.png?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/final-2021-teendriversafety-thu-21.png?w=2048 2048w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/final-2021-teendriversafety-thu-21.png?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/final-2021-teendriversafety-thu-21.png?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/final-2021-teendriversafety-thu-21.png?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
On Thursday, October 21, we will host a second roundtable discussion, “The State of Graduated Driver License Laws.” The NTSB has long advocated for comprehensive driver education and robust GDL programs by adding passenger restrictions, cell phone restrictions, and provisions addressing minimum driving practice and minimum holding periods. Driver education programs should help new drivers learn proper vehicle control and safe operating behavior when behind the wheel. This roundtable is an opportunity to bring together legislative experts and advocates to discuss teen driver education, GDL laws, and the policy strategies that can be used to improve teen driver safety. <a href="https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07ein11rhzdae7b663&oseq=&c=&ch=">Register now</a> for “The State of Graduated Driver License Laws” Roundtable.
Education and action are the key elements to creating positive change for teen drivers. Parents should model safe driving behaviors, laying out expectations and enforcing consequences if rules are broken. Parents have great influence over teen driving behaviors.
The NTSB is committed to advocating for driving measures that create the safest environment for teens to learn. Their first experience on the roadways should start with good driving behaviors that continue for a lifetime. Our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/advocacy/mwl/Pages/default.aspx">Most Wanted List</a> (MWL) of transportation safety improvements is designed to address our most critical safety recommendations; we encourage you to look to our MWL for ways to keeping not just new drivers, but all drivers safe.
We’re successful when teens, parents, caregivers, lawmakers, and the public—collectively—engage with teens on this issue, set a positive example, and execute strategies designed to prevent car crashes, injuries, and deaths.
Teen Driver Safety Week might last only one week, but our positive example and dedication to keeping our young people safe must continue all year, every year.
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<title>Accident or Incident? Explaining Aircraft Damage Assessment</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/09/30/accident-or-incident-explaining-aircraft-damage-assessment/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/09/30/accident-or-incident-explaining-aircraft-damage-assessment/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 30 Sep 2021 16:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Aviation Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Aviation]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5497</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Mike Hodges, Air Safety Investigator, and Clint Crookshanks, Aerospace Engineer (Structures) When an aircraft crashes, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) air safety investigators and aerospace engineers must determine if the event can be classified as an accident or an incident, as defined by Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 830. An accident … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/09/30/accident-or-incident-explaining-aircraft-damage-assessment/" class="more-link">Continue reading Accident or Incident? Explaining Aircraft Damage Assessment →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Mike Hodges, Air Safety Investigator, and Clint Crookshanks, Aerospace Engineer (Structures)
When an aircraft crashes, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) air safety investigators and aerospace engineers must determine if the event can be classified as an accident or an incident, as defined by <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title49/49cfr830_main_02.tpl">Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 830</a>.
An accident is:
“…an occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft which takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight and all such persons have disembarked, and in which any person suffers death or serious injury, or in which the aircraft receives substantial damage.”
An incident is:
“…an occurrence other than an accident, associated with the operation of an aircraft, which affects or could affect the safety of operations.”
Although the determination of an accident focuses on damage as well as injuries, here we will focus on damage assessment.
So, when assessing the damage, how do we decide what’s an accident and what’s an incident? When we’re first notified about an adverse aircraft event, we begin to assess the aircraft damage. NTSB investigators and engineers attempt to obtain as much information as possible about the damage. Sometimes we’re given information that makes it obvious the aircraft sustained substantial damage, such as the photos showing the extent of the damage (see Figures 1–3). Figures 1-3 show the substantial damage as indicated by the arrows.
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img data-attachment-id="5507" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/artcic-village-ak/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/artcic-village-ak-1-e1633014534445.png" data-orig-size="409,292" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Artcic Village, Alaska" data-image-description="Figure 1. A Cessna 170 airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, due to ground impact after an aerodynamic stall on takeoff in Arctic Village, Alaska.
" data-image-caption="Figure 1. A Cessna 170 airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, due to ground impact after an aerodynamic stall on takeoff in Arctic Village, Alaska.
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/artcic-village-ak-1-e1633014534445.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/artcic-village-ak-1-e1633014534445.png?w=409" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/artcic-village-ak-1-e1633014534445.png" alt="" class="wp-image-5507" /><figcaption>Figure 1. A Cessna 170 airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, due to ground impact after an aerodynamic stall on takeoff in Arctic Village, Alaska.</figcaption></figure></div>
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img data-attachment-id="5508" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/sodus-ny/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/sodus-ny.jpg" data-orig-size="395,262" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Sodus, New York" data-image-description="Figure 2. An Enstrom F280-F helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom, during a practice run-on landing in Sodus, New York.
" data-image-caption="Figure 2. An Enstrom F280-F helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom, during a practice run-on landing in Sodus, New York.
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/sodus-ny.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/sodus-ny.jpg?w=395" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/sodus-ny.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5508" /><figcaption>Figure 2. An Enstrom F280-F helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom, during a practice run-on landing in Sodus, New York.</figcaption></figure></div>
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img data-attachment-id="5509" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/sturgis-south-dakota/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/sturgis-south-dakota.jpg" data-orig-size="521,355" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Sturgis, South Dakota" data-image-description="Figure 3. A Piper PA-24-250 airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, after impacting a light pole during an instrument approach in Sturgis, South Dakota.
" data-image-caption="Figure 3. A Piper PA-24-250 airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, after impacting a light pole during an instrument approach in Sturgis, South Dakota.
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/sturgis-south-dakota.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/sturgis-south-dakota.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/sturgis-south-dakota.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5509" /><figcaption>Figure 3. A Piper PA-24-250 airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, after impacting a light pole during an instrument approach in Sturgis, South Dakota.</figcaption></figure></div>
Other times, we can’t tell the extent of damage right away and we need to dig deeper. Figures 4- 6 illustrate this scenario and show the substantial damage as indicated by the arrows. For figure 4, additional information surrounding the circumstances of the object impact, a tracked drilling unit, along with the damage sustained to the main rotor blades was obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the operator. For figure 5, the airplane’s structural repair manual for the damage sustained to the right wing from the bird strike was studied during the damage assessment process. For figure 6, the interior of the fuselage had to be inspected to identify the substantial damage sustained during the hard landing sequence.
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="570" height="273" data-attachment-id="5516" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/delta-junction-alaska/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/delta-junction-alaska.jpg" data-orig-size="570,273" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="delta-junction-alaska" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/delta-junction-alaska.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/delta-junction-alaska.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/delta-junction-alaska.jpg?w=570" alt="" class="wp-image-5516" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/delta-junction-alaska.jpg 570w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/delta-junction-alaska.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/delta-junction-alaska.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 570px) 100vw, 570px" /><figcaption>Figure 4. A Eurocopter AS 350 B3 helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades after impacting a tracked drilling unit in Delta Junction, Alaska.</figcaption></figure></div>
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="500" height="371" data-attachment-id="5517" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/sacramento-california/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/sacramento-california.jpg" data-orig-size="500,371" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="sacramento-california" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/sacramento-california.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/sacramento-california.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/sacramento-california.jpg?w=500" alt="" class="wp-image-5517" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/sacramento-california.jpg 500w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/sacramento-california.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/sacramento-california.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /><figcaption>Figure 5. A Cessna 208B airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing due to a bird strike in Sacramento, California.</figcaption></figure></div>
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="783" data-attachment-id="5518" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/gambell-alaska/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/gambell-alaska.jpg" data-orig-size="1057,809" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="gambell-alaska" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/gambell-alaska.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/gambell-alaska.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/gambell-alaska.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5518" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/gambell-alaska.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/gambell-alaska.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/gambell-alaska.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/gambell-alaska.jpg?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/gambell-alaska.jpg 1057w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Figure 6. A Beech 1900C airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower aft fuselage after a hard landing in Gambell, Alaska.</figcaption></figure></div>
When the damage sustained is not obviously substantial, NTSB air safety investigators and aerospace engineers may take additional steps to assess wreckage, such as the following:
<ul><li>Working with pilots, operators, mechanics, repair stations, FAA Flight Standards District Offices, aviation insurance adjustors, and aircraft recovery companies to obtain additional damage photographs or damage information</li><li>Consulting the airframe manufacturer’s air safety and engineering departments</li><li>Obtaining documents, such as the structural repair manual or illustrated parts catalog, from the airframe manufacturer</li><li>Considering other unique factors that may determine the damage level, such as airframe fire damage or the aircraft being immersed in a body of water</li><li>Inspecting the area in question (such as spars in wings, structural areas behind firewalls, driveshafts in helicopters, gearboxes in helicopters, etc.) once the aircraft is recovered</li><li>Removing components, panels, or skin and using tools to access hard-to-view areas (such as mirrors or electronic borescopes)</li></ul>
We would also determine:
<ul><li>if the damaged area is classified as a primary structure (primary structure is defined by the FAA as that structure which carries flight, ground, or pressurization loads, and whose failure would reduce the structural integrity)</li><li>what repairs are required</li><li>which components will be replaced to repair the damaged area</li><li>if the aircraft’s performance or flight characteristics were affected</li></ul>
(The cost or feasibility of repairing an aircraft, as determined by an aircraft insurance company, will not be considered when determining whether an aircraft has sustained substantial damage.)
The damage assessment timeline can vary, depending on how obvious the damage is initially. We might make a substantial determination in a few hours, or, if additional information is needed, the damage assessment can take several weeks. If the aircraft needs to be recovered from a remote area to obtain additional information, the damage assessment could extend even longer.
Although the <a href="https://www.faa.gov/">FAA</a> is always a party member to our investigations, the NTSB is the final authority for determining a damage classification. For those that are involved in an adverse aircraft event, some basic knowledge can help during the assessment, such as:
<ul><li>Understanding the definitions and reporting requirements in <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title49/49cfr830_main_02.tpl">49 CFR Part 830</a></li><li>Knowing how to directly <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Pages/Report.aspx">contact the NTSB</a></li><li>Having multiple, high-quality, high-definition photographs from all around the aircraft, showing the aircraft in its entirety</li><li>Having multiple, high-quality, high-definition photographs of the damaged areas, including close-ups</li><li>Knowing what repairs are required to the damaged area, along with what components will be replaced to repair the damage (when possible)</li></ul>
Being involved in an accident or incident, regardless of the outcome, is stressful for those involved. The NTSB works diligently with various stakeholders to provide as many answers regarding the damage classification as possible, whether it is determined to be an accident or an incident.
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<title>Episode 43: Improve Rail Worker Safety</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/09/23/episode-43-improve-rail-worker-safety/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 23 Sep 2021 14:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Behind-the-Scene]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Rail Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5443</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @ NTSB, we talk with Rob Hall, Director, NTSB Office of Railroad, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Investigations and Railroad Accident Investigators, Tim DePaepe and Joe Gordon, about the 2021-2022 Most Wanted List safety item Improve Rail Worker Safety. To learn more about the NTSB Most Wanted List and the Improve Rail Worker Safety item, … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/09/23/episode-43-improve-rail-worker-safety/" class="more-link">Continue reading Episode 43: Improve Rail Worker Safety →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @ NTSB, we talk with Rob Hall, Director, NTSB Office of Railroad, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Investigations and Railroad Accident Investigators, Tim DePaepe and Joe Gordon, about the <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/default.aspx">2021-2022 Most Wanted List</a> safety item <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-rph-02.aspx">Improve Rail Worker Safety</a>. 
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="5449" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/09/23/episode-43-improve-rail-worker-safety/episode-43/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/episode-43.jpg" data-orig-size="1500,1500" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Episode 43" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/episode-43.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/episode-43.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/episode-43.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5449" width="436" height="436" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/episode-43.jpg?w=436 436w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/episode-43.jpg?w=872 872w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/episode-43.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/episode-43.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/episode-43.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 436px) 100vw, 436px" /></figure></div>
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To learn more about the NTSB Most Wanted List and the Improve Rail Worker Safety item, visit our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/default.aspx">Most Wanted List web page</a>.
The previously released podcast <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/12/21/episode-38-positive-train-control/">episode</a> featuring Tim DePaepe is available on our website.
The previously released podcast <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2018/11/08/episode-18-graettinger-iowa-accident-investigation/">episode</a> featuring Joe Gordon is available on our website.
Get the latest episode on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-scene-ntsb/id1286590741?mt=2">Apple Podcasts</a> , on <a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Ihj2oejp6ut3rrvs3kpej7y3qsu?t=Behind-the-Scene__NTSB">Google Play</a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/behindthescenentsb/behindthescene-ntsb">Stitcher</a>, or your favorite podcast platform.
And find more ways to listen here: <a href="https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/">https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/</a>
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</item>
<item>
<title>Improve Rail Worker Safety</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/09/22/improve-rail-worker-safety/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/09/22/improve-rail-worker-safety/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 22 Sep 2021 14:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Rail Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thomas Chapman]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5433</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Member Tom Chapman The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the railroad industry have recently implemented new protections to make rail passenger travel and hazardous materials transportation safer. That’s great news. However, the NTSB anticipates more accidents involving passengers and the public until our safety recommendations regarding rail worker safety are implemented. Members of train … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/09/22/improve-rail-worker-safety/" class="more-link">Continue reading Improve Rail Worker Safety →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Member <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/TChapman/Pages/bio_chapman.aspx">Tom Chapman</a>
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the railroad industry have recently implemented new protections to make rail passenger travel and hazardous materials transportation safer. That’s great news. However, the NTSB anticipates more accidents involving passengers and the public until our safety recommendations regarding rail worker safety are implemented. Members of train crews, maintenance-of-way employees, and mechanical workers continue to be killed or injured in preventable accidents involving train or equipment movement.
Several rail workers have been struck in recent years while conducting routine maintenance, inspection, or switching operations. Other workers are vulnerable because cars carrying hazardous materials are too close to the operating cabs carrying train crew. Although rail worker fatalities have declined overall in recent years, we continue to see some recurring safety issues in our accident investigations, highlighting the need for better worker protections. Below are a few recent examples.
<ul><li>On June 10, 2017, <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/RAR2001.aspx">Long Island Rail Road train 7623</a> approached a five-member roadway crew working on another track at the interlocking in Queens Village, New York. The foreman and three workers were inspecting and making minor repairs, and a fifth roadway worker, a lookout, was clear of the tracks, keeping pace. The lookout sounded a handheld horn, yelled at the others, and raised a disc that told the locomotive engineer to sound the train’s horn, which he did. Unfortunately, the foreman still stepped into the path of the train and was killed. The probable cause of the accident was the decision to use a train approach warning (TAW) system to protect the roadway workers on active tracks.</li><li>On January 17, 2017, a westbound BNSF Railway train, traveling at 35 mph, struck and killed two roadway workers, including the watchman/lookout, in Edgemont, South Dakota. The roadway work group had been cleaning snow and ice from the track switch on the main track to prepare to move a train that was to have its air brake system tested. The crew of the striking train sounded the horn and bell and applied emergency braking; however, there was no response from the roadway work group. The probable cause of this <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/RAR1801.aspx">accident </a>was the BNSF Railway roadway work group’s improper use of a TAW to provide on-track safety.</li><li>In several accidents, separating cars carrying hazardous materials from cars carrying crew members has been an issue, as has been the placement of DOT-111 tank cars in trains with other cars carrying flammable liquids, as I’ll describe in more detail below.</li></ul>
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="819" data-attachment-id="5439" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/rph-02-titles/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/rph-02-titles.jpg" data-orig-size="3000,2400" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="rph-02-titles" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/rph-02-titles.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/rph-02-titles.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/rph-02-titles.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5439" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/rph-02-titles.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/rph-02-titles.jpg?w=2048 2048w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/rph-02-titles.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/rph-02-titles.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/rph-02-titles.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>
Roadway Workers
To better protect roadway workers (those who maintain the track), the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) implemented Roadway Worker Protection Regulations in 1997. However, since then, more than 50 roadway workers have been killed on the job. Meanwhile, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has yet to establish any specific regulations regarding roadway worker protection.
Many of the accidents we’ve investigated have also involved train approach warning systems, which are vulnerable to human errors like miscalculating site distance and generally underestimating the time needed for workers to clear tracks. We have long been concerned with the risks of using this method as the primary form of worker protection, especially because it lacks safety redundancy. Trains travel at deceptively high speeds, and without proper warning, workers may not have enough time to react. Methods of on-track safety that keep trains and other equipment away from workers provide a higher level of protection than TAW systems, which require workers to clear the tracks prior to the arrival of trains and equipment.
Another recurrent issue that we see in our investigations involves training and scheduling practices. Industry needs to ensure that job briefings are done correctly and that procedures are in place to audit those briefings. Additionally, watchmen/lookouts should receive proper training and have the required equipment. Railroads and transit agencies must develop work schedules and limitations based on science to prevent fatigued workers from being eligible to work overtime.
Operations and Mechanical Crews
Like roadway workers, operations crews and mechanical workers have also been killed in preventable accidents. One issue requiring attention is spacing between train crews and rail cars carrying hazardous materials. Although the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration (PHMSA) requires buffer cars between train crews and hazardous materials, the agency has also issued a regulatory interpretation that provides for a much shorter—and less safe—distance between hazardous materials and train crews. We believe PHMSA needs to withdraw its regulatory interpretation so railroads will be required to implement a minimum of five cars as a buffer between train crews and highly hazardous flammable material, at least until PHMSA determines the appropriate separation distance to keep train crews safe.
The Role of Regulators
Because so much in railroad safety is driven by the regulators—the FRA, the FTA, and PHMSA—they are in the best position to make change. Regulators should act expeditiously on our recommendations to establish adequate roadway worker and operations crew protections. Addressing these issues will help to ensure more preventable worker deaths are avoided.
The Role of Industry
Meanwhile, it isn’t necessary for industry to wait to protect workers. Improving training for watchmen/lookouts, for example, and more comprehensive briefings will help prevent accidents. Individual railroad workers, whether roadway workers, mechanical employees, or train crews, can learn more by reviewing NTSB railroad accident reports.
Learn More
<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-rph-02.aspx">Improve Rail Worker Safety</a>
<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/RAR2001.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Long Island Rail Road Roadway Worker Fatality Queens Village, NY | June 2017</a>
<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/RAR1801.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BNSF Railway Roadway Worker Fatalities Edgemont, SD | January 2017</a>
<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/RSR1803.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Using Technology to Protect Maintenance-of-Way Employees, Amtrak/Backhoe Collision Chester, PA | April 2016</a>
<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/RSR2001.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Placement of DOT-111 Tank Cars in High-Hazard Flammable Trains and the Use of Buffer Cars for the Protection of Train Crews | December 2020</a>
]]></content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>RAIL SAFETY WEEK 2021</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/09/20/rail-safety-week-2021/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/09/20/rail-safety-week-2021/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 20 Sep 2021 14:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Bicyclists]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Child Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Motorcoach]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Motorcycles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pedestrians]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Rail Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[School Buses]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Teen Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thomas Chapman]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[By Member Tom Chapman Each year, Operation Lifesaver, Inc., spearheads Rail Safety Week. For 2021, Rail Safety Week runs from September 20 through 26. Operation Lifesaver and its safety partners across North America, including the NTSB, use this annual event to educate and empower the public to make safe decisions around trains and tracks and … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/09/20/rail-safety-week-2021/" class="more-link">Continue reading RAIL SAFETY WEEK 2021 →</a>]]></description>
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By Member <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/TChapman/Pages/bio_chapman.aspx">Tom Chapman</a>
Each year, <a href="https://oli.org/about-us/public-awareness-campaigns/rail-safety-week">Operation Lifesaver, Inc., spearheads Rail Safety Week</a>. For 2021, Rail Safety Week runs from September 20 through 26. Operation Lifesaver and its safety partners across North America, including the NTSB, use this annual event to educate and empower the public to make safe decisions around trains and tracks and to raise awareness of the need for rail safety education.
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="262" height="296" data-attachment-id="4872" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/oli_rsw_2020_small-1/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/oli_rsw_2020_small-1.jpg" data-orig-size="262,296" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="oli_rsw_2020_small-1" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/oli_rsw_2020_small-1.jpg?w=262" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/oli_rsw_2020_small-1.jpg?w=262" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/oli_rsw_2020_small-1.jpg?w=262" alt="" class="wp-image-4872" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/oli_rsw_2020_small-1.jpg 262w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/oli_rsw_2020_small-1.jpg?w=133 133w" sizes="(max-width: 262px) 100vw, 262px" /></figure></div>
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) <a href="https://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/OfficeofSafety/publicsite/graphs.aspx">data</a> show there were 756 total fatalities on US railroads in 2020. Most of these deaths occurred in highway–rail grade crossing and trespassing incidents. Public awareness and outreach efforts are important because, tragically, hundreds of people are fatally struck by trains in preventable collisions.
I have an especially strong interest in rail safety because, in the early 1950s, my grandfather was struck and killed in a highway–rail grade crossing crash. My grandfather was a volunteer firefighter. He and a colleague were on a call when the collision occurred. The tragedy had a devastating impact on my mother and her family. My mother was a high school student at the time, and the loss of her father changed the course of her life.
At a highway–rail grade crossing, it is our responsibility, as road users, to stop for train traffic. Trains have the right of way and will pass through the crossing without stopping for road traffic. There are two types of grade crossings. At passive crossings, signage will warn road users to be vigilant when crossing tracks and to look for oncoming trains. In more populated areas, you may be more likely to encounter active crossings, which are typically equipped with flashing lights, audible alarms, and automatic gates that warn of an approaching train. When warnings are activated at a crossing, the appropriate and safe action is to stop and wait. Trains are faster than they seem, and they don’t stop on a dime. The average freight train traveling at 55 mph can take a mile or more to stop.
So, what should you do if your vehicle becomes stuck on the tracks at a grade crossing? First, get out of your car. Then, call the number on the Emergency Notification System (ENS) sign posted near the crossing. These blue-and-white signs include a number to call and a US Department of Transportation crossing identification number. If you cannot find the sign, simply call 911. Additional information is included in this <a href="https://youtu.be/e_aoLar4GlA">brief video</a> produced by Operation Lifesaver. Also, the FRA developed its <a href="https://railroads.dot.gov/highway-rail-crossing-and-trespasser-programs/crossing-inventory/rail-crossing-locator-mobile">Crossing Locator App</a> to help you find and call the ENS in case of an emergency or if you have a safety concern about a specific highway–rail grade crossing.
Too often, those who are struck and killed by trains near or on the tracks could have avoided putting their lives in such perilous danger. According to the FRA, <a href="https://railroads.dot.gov/highway-rail-crossing-and-trespasser-programs/trespassing-prevention/trespass-prevention">more than 400 trespass fatalities</a> occur each year, and the vast majority of them are preventable. An especially tragic example is highlighted in our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/rab1501.aspx">investigation</a> of a 2014 trespassing accident that involved a film crew near Jesup, Georgia, that was filming on a rail bridge without authorization when a freight train passed. One crewmember was killed, and six others were injured as a result of this preventable accident.
Whether you are taking a shortcut by crossing railroad tracks, or jogging, taking pictures (selfies included), fishing, or riding a recreational off-road vehicle, on or around tracks, you put yourself in imminent danger.
Remember, trains are faster and quieter than you think. They can’t stop quickly. They can’t swerve. They are enormously powerful machines and taking a chance on a collision with a train is risky business.
During this year’s Rail Safety Week, all of us at the NTSB join our friends at Operation Lifesaver in their mission to save lives around railroad tracks and trains. Here’s how you can do your part.
<ul><li>Know the signs.</li><li>Make good decisions.</li><li>Talk to your loved ones about rail safety.</li></ul>
Together, we can STOP track tragedies. See tracks? Think train.
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<title>Fostering Teen Driver Safety Through Policy, Advocacy and Technology</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/09/17/fostering-teen-driver-safety-through-policy-advocacy-and-technology/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/09/17/fostering-teen-driver-safety-through-policy-advocacy-and-technology/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Sep 2021 14:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Speeding]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Teen Driving]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5420</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Bryan Delaney, NTSB Safety Advocate Motor vehicle crashes continue to be a leading cause of death for American teens. As new teen drivers are tossed the keys to their first car, it’s important for peers, parents, guardians, and other influential individuals to encourage safe driving habits that will last a lifetime. These habits can … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/09/17/fostering-teen-driver-safety-through-policy-advocacy-and-technology/" class="more-link">Continue reading Fostering Teen Driver Safety Through Policy, Advocacy and Technology →</a>]]></description>
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By Bryan Delaney, NTSB Safety Advocate
Motor vehicle crashes continue to be a leading cause of death for American teens. As new teen drivers are tossed the keys to their first car, it’s important for peers, parents, guardians, and other influential individuals to encourage safe driving habits that will last a lifetime. These habits can be a matter of life and death for a novice driver.  The NTSB recognizes the importance of teen driver safety and has issued numerous recommendations to promote safe driving behaviors for these vulnerable road users.
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img data-attachment-id="383" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2011/05/23/raising-safe-teen-drivers-%e2%80%93-talking-parent-to-parent/teen-drivers-education/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/parent_and_teen_driver.jpg" data-orig-size="425,282" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"4","credit":"Lisa f. Young","camera":"Canon EOS 5D","caption":"Teen girl taking driving lessons from an instructor or her father.","created_timestamp":"1222576541","copyright":"","focal_length":"28","iso":"125","shutter_speed":"0.05","title":"Teen Drivers Education"}" data-image-title="Teen Drivers Education" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/parent_and_teen_driver.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/parent_and_teen_driver.jpg?w=425" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/parent_and_teen_driver.jpg" alt="Parent with a teen driver" class="wp-image-383" /></figure></div>
Policy Changes and Advocacy
Over the years, our advocacy efforts to promote youth traffic safety have been unwavering, with a particular focus on our recommendations to states to implement comprehensive graduated driver license (GDL) laws that foster a safe learning and driving experience for novice road users. The NTSB has advocated for strengthening these laws, including promoting nighttime driving restrictions, passenger restrictions, hours-of-driving-experience requirements, seat belt use requirements, and distraction prevention (cell phone and passenger restrictions) to prevent teen-driver-related crashes. The NTSB recommends a three-stage GDL law that proceeds through the following:
<ul><li>A supervised learning period in which an adult driver at least 21 years old can supervise the teen driver and instill good driving habits. According to the <a href="https://aaafoundation.org/teen-driver-risk-relation-age-number-passengers/">AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety</a>, a teen driver’s risk of death decreases 62 percent per mile driven when a passenger aged 35 or older is in the vehicle.</li><li>An intermediate stage with driving limitations to avoid high-risk driving scenarios (driving at night and driving with passengers). Teen drivers within the intermediate stage, unless accompanied by a supervising adult driver who is at least 21 years old, must refrain from carrying more than one passenger under the age of 20 until they receive full license privileges. According to AAA, a teen driver’s risk of death doubles when carrying two passengers younger than 21 and quadruples when carrying three or more passengers.</li><li>Full license privileges.</li></ul>
If your state does not have a comprehensive <a href="https://www.iihs.org/topics/teenagers#graduated-licensing">GDL law</a>, parents, guardians, and peers can still encourage these typical GDL requirements.
Technology Advances
Whether you’re a teen driver or a seasoned driver, mistakes happen; however, when it comes to driving, our mistakes shouldn’t have deadly consequences. The NTSB has long recommended and advocated for <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-04.aspx">vehicle safety technologies</a> that can assist drivers. We also believe that vehicle safety technology should be available as standard equipment in all vehicles, for all drivers.  Equipping teens with a safe vehicle that includes advanced driver assistance technology can reduce the risks of—and even prevent—crashes. In fact, a new <a href="https://www.iihs.org/topics/bibliography/ref/2237">Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study</a> found that equipping your teen driver with a vehicle with crash-avoidance and teen driver safety technologies can prevent or mitigate up to three-quarters of fatal crashes involving teens.
Teens are one of our most vulnerable driving populations, and it’s important that we instill safe driving habits and behaviors in them. Parents, guardians, and peers can have conversations with new drivers about avoiding distracted and impaired driving, buckling up as soon as they get into the vehicle, and follow the rules established within a GDL law, creating a positive example for novice drivers and fostering a safe environment for growth and learning.
As Teen Driver Safety Awareness Week approaches next month, we encourage our readers to stay alert for upcoming events and campaigns focused on teen drivers and the strategies for keeping young people safe behind the wheel. But you don’t have to wait until then to support teen driver safety; you can be an outspoken advocate to the teen drivers in your life today.
Learn More:
<ul><li><a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-04.aspx">NTSB Most Wanted List: Require Collision-Avoidance and Connected-Vehicle Technologies on all Vehicles</a> (NTSB.gov)</li><li><a href="https://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/get-materials/teen-safety/national-teen-driver-safety-week">National Teen Driver Safety Week</a> (Traffic Safety Marketing)</li><li><a href="https://aaafoundation.org/teen-driver-risk-relation-age-number-passengers/">Teen Driver Risk in Relation to Age and Number of Passengers</a> (AAA Foundation)</li><li><a href="https://www.iihs.org/topics/bibliography/ref/2237">Teen Driver Crashes Potentially Preventable by Crash Avoidance Features and Teen-Driver-Specific Safety Technologies</a> (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)</li><li><a href="https://www.iihs.org/ratings/safe-vehicles-for-teens">Safe Vehicles for Teens</a> (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Consumer Reports)</li></ul>
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<title>Two-years Later: Conception Tragedy Still a Reminder that More Should Be Done to Improve Passenger Vessel Safety</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/09/02/two-years-later-conception-tragedy-still-a-reminder-that-more-should-be-done-to-improve-passenger-vessel-safety/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 02 Sep 2021 14:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Family Assistance]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Marine Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Transportation History]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Jennifer Homendy]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[By Chair Jennifer Homendy Two years ago today, a preventable tragedy became one of the worst maritime events in US history. At about 3:14 a.m. on September 2, 2019, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) received a distress call from the Conception, a 75-foot-long small passenger vessel operated by Truth Aquatics, Inc. The Labor Day fire … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/09/02/two-years-later-conception-tragedy-still-a-reminder-that-more-should-be-done-to-improve-passenger-vessel-safety/" class="more-link">Continue reading Two-years Later: Conception Tragedy Still a Reminder that More Should Be Done to Improve Passenger Vessel Safety →</a>]]></description>
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By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/JHomendy/Pages/bio_homendy.aspx">Chair Jennifer Homendy</a>
Two years ago today, a preventable tragedy became one of the worst maritime events in US history.
At about 3:14 a.m. on September 2, 2019, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) received a distress call from the <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/MAR2003.aspx">Conception</a>, a 75-foot-long small passenger vessel operated by Truth Aquatics, Inc.
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="621" data-attachment-id="5410" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/conception-preaccident/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/conception-preaccident.jpg" data-orig-size="1347,817" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="conception-preaccident" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/conception-preaccident.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/conception-preaccident.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/conception-preaccident.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5410" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/conception-preaccident.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/conception-preaccident.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/conception-preaccident.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/conception-preaccident.jpg?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/conception-preaccident.jpg 1347w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Preaccident photograph of the Conception (Source: <a href="http://www.seawaysboats.net" rel="nofollow">http://www.seawaysboats.net</a>)</figcaption></figure></div>
The Labor Day fire began in the early morning hours, as five crewmembers slept in their upper-deck crew berthing. Two decks below, thirty-three passengers and one crewmember slept in the bunkroom. A crewmember on the upper deck, awakened by a noise, noticed a glow from the aft main deck and alerted the remaining four crewmembers that there was a fire on board. Then the captain radioed the 3:14 a.m. distress message to the USCG before evacuating the smoke-filled wheelhouse.
Crewmembers tried to get to the bunk room through the main deck salon but were blocked by fire and smoke. Unable to reach the bunkroom, they jumped overboard. Two of them re-boarded the vessel at its stern but were once again blocked by smoke and fire. Ultimately, the five crewmembers who had been sleeping on the upper deck survived. Two were treated for injuries. But tragically, the 33 passengers and one crewmember who had been asleep below deck in the bunkroom lost their lives in the fire.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="816" height="418" data-attachment-id="5412" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/conception-post-accident/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/conception-post-accident-e1630590933369.jpg" data-orig-size="816,418" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Conception Post Fire" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/conception-post-accident-e1630590933369.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/conception-post-accident-e1630590933369.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/conception-post-accident.jpg?w=816" alt="" class="wp-image-5412" /><figcaption>Small passenger vessel Conception at sunrise prior to sinking (Source: VCFD) </figcaption></figure>
Along with a multidisciplinary NTSB team, including marine safety investigators and specialists from the NTSB Transportation Disaster Assistance (TDA) and Media Relations divisions, I launched to my first maritime investigation as a Board Member. During my time on-scene, I met with the families of those on-board the vessel and gave them the only promise we at NTSB have to give, that we would find out what caused the fire aboard the Conception, in hopes of finding ways to prevent similar suffering for other families.
Our investigators, along with the USCG, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) were carefully recovering wreckage. They examined a similar vessel to help learn how it was built, and how escape might have been thwarted for so many. While we conducted our safety investigation, a parallel criminal investigation was underway.
Yet despite difficult circumstances and the limited evidence left after the fire, the NTSB was able to identify critical safety issues, determine the probable cause, and make important safety recommendations. If implemented, these recommendations will help prevent a similar tragedy from happening again.
NTSB investigators found that the Conception had no smoke detectors anywhere in the main deck salon where the fire likely started. But incredibly, there are no passenger vessel regulations requiring smoke detection in all accommodation spaces. The vessel was also required to have a roving patrol to guard against and raise alarm in case of a fire or other emergencies, but there was no evidence that such a safeguard was in place, and the USCG has difficulty enforcing such an important requirement aboard small passenger vessels.
Furthermore, small passenger vessel construction regulations for means of escape did not ensure that both escape paths from the sleeping compartment exited to different spaces. On the Conception, the only emergency routes from the passenger accommodations exited into the same space, which was fully engulfed in fire.
Finally, our investigation highlighted yet another company with ineffective safety oversight. When the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tfN1Y6v5Tg&list=PL5aVmmm4Qt9FKstKggWfQbPtynySAAUeB&index=13">Board met to deliberate the report</a> on the tragedy on October 20, 2020, we determined that the probable cause of the fire on board the small passenger vessel Conception was the failure of Truth Aquatics, Inc., to provide effective oversight of its vessel and crewmember operations, including requirements to ensure that a roving patrol was maintained, which allowed a fire of unknown cause to grow, undetected, in the vicinity of the aft salon on the main deck. Contributing to the undetected growth of the fire was the lack of a USCG regulatory requirement for smoke detection in all accommodation spaces. Contributing to the high loss of life were the inadequate emergency escape arrangements from the vessel’s bunkroom, as both exited into a compartment that was engulfed in fire, thereby preventing escape.
The NTSB reiterated its <a href="https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/M-12-003">Safety Recommendation (M-12-3)</a> to the USCG to require all operators of U.S.-flag passenger vessels to implement safety management systems (SMS) considering the characteristics, methods of operation, and nature of service of these vessels, and, with respect to ferries, the sizes of the ferry systems within which the vessels operate. An SMS is an enormously powerful tool which helps a safety critical company identify hazards and mitigate risks.
Additionally, we issued seven new safety recommendations to the USCG to:
<ul><li>require new and existing small passenger vessels to be equipped with smoke detectors in all accommodation spaces, which are interconnected so that when one detector alarms, the remaining detectors also alarm.</li><li>develop and implement inspection procedures to ensure vessel operators are conducting roving patrols when required.</li><li>require a secondary means of escape into different exits from overnight accommodations that emerge into different spaces than the primary exit, and that those routes are not obstructed.</li></ul>
While these regulatory changes may take time, the NTSB also recommended that industry groups such as the Passenger Vessel Association act voluntarily to install smoke detectors and improve emergency egress routes. Finally, we recommended that the company that operated the Conception implement an SMS to improve safety practices and minimize risk.
The Conception investigation report is an excellent example of the NTSB’s ability to complete investigations in a timely manner, resulting in effective common-sense safety recommendations. It is now up to the USCG and industry to make these essential changes to improve safety and prevent the horrendous loss of life we saw two years ago on Labor Day weekend. The NTSB added <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-ms-01.aspx">Improve Passenger and Fishing Vessel Safety to its Most Wanted List</a> in 2021 and will actively advocate to ensure these safety recommendations are implemented.
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<title>Comair 5191 Crash Led to Air Traffic Control Changes</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/08/27/comair-5191-crash-led-to-air-traffic-control-changes/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/08/27/comair-5191-crash-led-to-air-traffic-control-changes/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 Aug 2021 14:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Aviation Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Fatigue]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Transportation History]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5396</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Jeff Marcus, Chief, NTSB Safety Recommendations Division Fifteen years ago today, on August 27, 2006, Comair flight 5191, a Bombardier CL-600-2B19, lined up on the wrong runway and crashed during takeoff from Blue Grass Airport, Lexington, Kentucky (LEX), killing 49 people, including the captain and flight attendant. The first officer, who was seriously injured, … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/08/27/comair-5191-crash-led-to-air-traffic-control-changes/" class="more-link">Continue reading Comair 5191 Crash Led to Air Traffic Control Changes →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Jeff Marcus, Chief, NTSB Safety Recommendations Division
Fifteen years ago today, on August 27, 2006, <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/AAR0705.aspx">Comair flight 5191</a>, a Bombardier CL-600-2B19, lined up on the wrong runway and crashed during takeoff from Blue Grass Airport, Lexington, Kentucky (LEX), killing 49 people, including the captain and flight attendant. The first officer, who was seriously injured, was the only survivor. This investigation led to several improvements that furthered safety for all air travelers.
What Happened
The flight crew was instructed to take off from runway 22, a 7,000-foot-long air carrier runway. Instead, they lined up the airplane on runway 26, a 3,500-foot-long general aviation runway, and began the takeoff roll without cross-checking and verifying that the airplane was on the correct runway before takeoff.
Because runway 26 was too short for the takeoff, the airplane ran off the end of the runway, became momentarily airborne, and crashed into the airport perimeter fence, trees, and terrain. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and postcrash fire.
What We Found
The NTSB investigation determined that there were adequate cues on the airport surface and resources were available in the cockpit to allow the flight crew to successfully navigate from the air carrier ramp to the runway 22 threshold. The flight crew believed that they were taking off on runway 22, even though it was dark when flight 5191 tried to take off and runway 26 was unlighted. We determined the crash was due to:
<ul><li>the flight crewmembers’ failure to use available cues and aids to identify the airplane’s location on the airport surface during taxi, and</li><li>their failure to cross-check and verify that the airplane was on the correct runway before takeoff.</li></ul>
We also found that the flight crew was engaged in nonpertinent conversation during taxi, resulting in a loss of positional awareness, contributing to the accident. This is a violation of the FAA’s sterile cockpit rule, which bans nonpertinent conversation in critical phases of flight. (As awareness of distraction spread to other modes of transportation—and to distraction by other means—the sterile cockpit rule began to be seen as a forerunner of later anti-distraction measures.)
Our Recommendations
Although, the probable cause pointed to flight crew actions, our recommended changes covered all aspects of the aviation industry. We not only recommended improving flight crew procedures, but also recommended that moving map displays be required in cockpits to improve situational awareness to help prevent similar accidents in the future.
In addition, we saw other aspects of the aviation industry that could be improved to help prevent similar accidents: improving air traffic control practices and procedures.
Also contributing to the crash was the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) failure to require that all runway crossings be authorized only by specific air traffic control clearances. In this case, the air traffic controller on duty, like the pilots, had the ability to head off the accident, if he was alert and aware of the flight’s surface movements.
But the tower controller who could see the airplane on the airport surface did not detect the flight crew’s lining up to take off on the wrong runway. Instead of monitoring the airplane’s departure, he was not looking inside the control tower while he performed a lower-priority administrative task that could have waited until after transferring responsibility for the airplane.
The controller’s duty times, and sleep patterns indicated that he was most likely experiencing fatigue at the time of the accident. However, his routine practices did not consistently include the monitoring of takeoff. What’s more, the FAA’s policies and procedures at the time were not optimized to prioritize controller monitoring of aircraft surface operations over administrative tasks.
Lessons Learned
Followers of aviation safety know that the loss of Comair flight 5191 was an accident that brought a focus on preventing fatigue in air traffic controllers. The NTSB recommended, and the FAA implemented, numerous measures improving air traffic control practices and procedures. These included fatigue management programs, training, and, together with the <a href="https://www.natca.org/">National Air Traffic Controllers Association</a>, working to improve scheduling practices.
Many other recommendations which came out of the tragedy were implemented, advancing crew resource management and airport surface painting and markings, and prohibiting the issuance of a takeoff clearance during an airplane’s taxi to its departure runway until after the airplane has crossed all intersecting runways.
Because the NTSB’s mission is to improve safety, not to punish, finding a human error was by no means the end of the investigation. Instead, the actions of the flight crew were only the beginning. What conditions led to the human error? Was there anything that could have been done to capture the error? Were there other errors in other parts of the transportation system that allowed the crash to transpire? What could prevent the next crash?
The result is that revisions have been made to ensure that the same set of circumstances at play in LEX during the early morning of August 27, 2006, will not lead to another fatal accident.
Learn More
<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/AAR0705.aspx">Aviation Accident Report: Attempted Takeoff from Wrong Runway Comair Flight 5191, Lexington, KY, August 27, 2006</a>
<a href="https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?NTSBNumber=DCA06MA064">Aviation Investigation Docket: Attempted Takeoff from Wrong Runway Comair Flight 5191, Lexington, KY, August 2006</a>
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<title>Episode 42: TWA Flight 800</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/08/26/episode-42-twa-flight-800/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 26 Aug 2021 18:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Aviation Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Behind-the-Scene]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Transportation Disaster Assistance]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Transportation History]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5381</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, NTSB Managing Director, Sharon Bryson and Frank Hilldrup, Chief Technical Advisor for International Affairs, NTSB Office of Aviation Safety, talk about the July 17, 1996, TWA flight 800 accident. We discuss what happened, the findings and safety recommendations that came out of the investigation, its tremendous impact on aviation … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/08/26/episode-42-twa-flight-800/" class="more-link">Continue reading Episode 42: TWA Flight 800 →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, NTSB Managing Director, Sharon Bryson and Frank Hilldrup, Chief Technical Advisor for International Affairs, NTSB Office of Aviation Safety, talk about the July 17, 1996, TWA flight 800 accident. We discuss what happened, the findings and safety recommendations that came out of the investigation, its tremendous impact on aviation safety, how the Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act of 1996 led to the establishment of NTSB’s disaster assistance program, and the decommissioning of the TWA flight 800 reconstruction.
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="5385" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/5385/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/episode-42-mp3-image.jpg" data-orig-size="800,800" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/episode-42-mp3-image.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/episode-42-mp3-image.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/episode-42-mp3-image.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-5385" width="379" height="379" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/episode-42-mp3-image.jpg?w=379 379w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/episode-42-mp3-image.jpg?w=758 758w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/episode-42-mp3-image.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/episode-42-mp3-image.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 379px) 100vw, 379px" /></figure></div>
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The NTSB final <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/AAR0003.aspx">report</a> for the TWA flight 800 in-flight breakup mentioned in this episode and the NTSB <a href="https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?NTSBNumber=DCA96MA070">docket</a> for investigation is also available on our website.
To learn more about the NTSB Transportation Disaster Assistance (TDA) Program, visit our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/tda/Pages/default.aspx">TDA web page</a>.     
To learn more about the NTSB Most Wanted List (MWL), visit our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-making.aspx">MWL web page</a>. You can also access the <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwl_archive.aspx">MWL archive</a> on our website. 
Information about upcoming NTSB virtual training courses are available on our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Training_Center/Pages/2021/sched-courses.aspx">Training Center web page</a>. 
Get the latest episode on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-scene-ntsb/id1286590741?mt=2">Apple Podcasts</a> , on <a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Ihj2oejp6ut3rrvs3kpej7y3qsu?t=Behind-the-Scene__NTSB">Google Play</a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/behindthescenentsb/behindthescene-ntsb">Stitcher</a>, or your favorite podcast platform.
And find more ways to listen here: <a href="https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/">https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/</a>
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<title>It’s Time to Require Collision-Avoidance and Connected-Vehicle Technologies on all Vehicles</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/08/23/its-time-to-require-collision-avoidance-and-connected-vehicle-technologies-on-all-vehicles/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 23 Aug 2021 14:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[automated vehicles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[autonomous vehicles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Bicyclists]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Child Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Motorcycles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pedestrians]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Speeding]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael Graham]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5377</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Member Michael Graham Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death and injuries in the United States. Early estimates for 2020 show that more than 38,000 people lost their lives in traffic crashes on our nation’s roads. These preventable tragedies are often due to driver mistakes and poor decisions—speeding or driving while impaired, … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/08/23/its-time-to-require-collision-avoidance-and-connected-vehicle-technologies-on-all-vehicles/" class="more-link">Continue reading It’s Time to Require Collision-Avoidance and Connected-Vehicle Technologies on all Vehicles →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/MGraham/Pages/bio_graham.aspx">Member Michael Graham</a>
Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death and injuries in the United States. Early estimates for 2020 show that more than 38,000 people lost their lives in traffic crashes on our nation’s roads. These preventable tragedies are often due to driver mistakes and poor decisions—speeding or driving while impaired, distracted, or fatigued. Collision-avoidance technologies have the potential to mitigate the impact of these mistakes by alerting a driver to impending danger or actively reducing the vehicle’s speed if the driver does not act.
<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-04.aspx">“Require Collision-Avoidance and Connected-Vehicle Technologies on all Vehicles”</a> is on the NTSB’s 2021–2022 Most Wanted List of Safety Improvements to increase public awareness about collision-avoidance systems as a lifesaving technology. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) should develop comprehensive performance standards and mandates for collision-avoidance systems and connected-vehicle technology, and we urge NHTSA to incorporate collision-avoidance system ratings into its New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
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Collision-Avoidance Systems
The primary goal of any collision-avoidance technology is to prevent and mitigate the severity of crashes by detecting a conflict, alerting the driver and, when necessary, automatically braking. A standard collision-avoidance system is comprised of two separate technologies that work together to prevent and mitigate crashes: forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking. Forward collision warning assists a driver by presenting an auditory, visual, or haptic warning to the driver before a collision. Typically, once a warning occurs and a driver does not respond, automatic emergency braking autonomously applies the brakes to prevent or mitigate a crash.
<a href="https://www.iihs.org/media/259e5bbd-f859-42a7-bd54-3888f7a2d3ef/shuYZQ/Topics/ADVANCED%20DRIVER%20ASSISTANCE/IIHS-real-world-CA-benefits.pdf">According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety</a> (IIHS), an estimated 56 precent of rear‑end crashes that result in injuries could be prevented if passenger vehicles were equipped with a combination of forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking. These technologies can also improve the safety of commercial trucks. The <a href="https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/study-shows-front-crash-prevention-works-for-large-trucks-too">IIHS found</a> that equipping large trucks with both of these systems could eliminate more than 40 percent of crashes in which a large truck rear-ends another vehicle.
Despite the proven safety benefit of collision-avoidance systems, these lifesaving technologies are not required as standard options on passenger vehicles or commercial trucks. NHTSA’s regulatory inaction has delayed the broad deployment of these systems for too long. NHTSA must require forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking on all passenger vehicles and commercial trucks. 
Performance Standards
Although more collision-avoidance technologies have been deployed into new vehicles recently, forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking performance and reliability vary significantly among vehicle manufacturers and models. Performance standards specify the minimum level of performance for these technologies, and NHTSA has been slow to adopt comprehensive performance standards and criteria to assess these systems. Testing protocols to assess the performance of forward collision-avoidance systems should be expanded to include common obstacles, such as traffic safety hardware, cross-traffic vehicle profiles, and other applicable vehicle shapes or objects found in the highway operating environment.  Further, testing protocols should also assess their performance at various speeds that represent the wide range of speed conditions seen in crashes, including high speeds. NHTSA should set robust minimum performance standards for both systems to provide consumers with confidence and certainty of the safety benefits of these technologies.
New Car Assessment Program
The NCAP is a government resource, developed by NHTSA, that evaluates and rates the crashworthiness of all passenger vehicles. Consumers rely on NHTSA’s vehicle safety ratings to make informed purchasing decisions for their safety and that of their loved ones. The NCAP has been an effective tool for informing the public about a vehicle’s crashworthiness; however, the current NCAP does not rate collision-avoidance technologies such as forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking. This allows a vehicle without collision-avoidance technology to achieve the same safety rating as a vehicle equipped with a highly effective collision‑avoidance system.
The NTSB recommends that NHTSA expand the NCAP to rate collision-avoidance technology performance. Such a rating can inform the public about a vehicle’s capacity to prevent and mitigate crashes, as well as differentiate collision-avoidance systems based on their performance. Incorporating collision-avoidance system ratings into the NCAP also provides an incentive for vehicle manufacturers to equip new vehicles with forward collision-avoidance systems, which can speed up deployment of such systems into all vehicles.
Connected-Vehicle Technologies
One of the most promising lifesaving collision-avoidance technologies being researched and developed for nearly three decades is connected-vehicle technology. This technology does not rely on radar or cameras but on direct communication between vehicles, called vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications. This technology also allows vehicles to communicate with infrastructure and vulnerable road users such as pedestrians—collectively known as vehicle-to-everything communications (V2X).
The NTSB’s investigations have found that V2X communications-based technology could address many crash scenarios, including many intersection crashes. Additionally, connected-vehicle technology increases the safety and visibility of vulnerable road users by alerting drivers to the presence of pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists that may be outside a driver’s or vehicle‑based sensor’s field of observation.  
However, connected-vehicle technology depends on an available communications spectrum. Currently, the entire program is at risk due to a recent decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to allow shared use of a wireless communications band previously dedicated solely for transportation safety. We are concerned that sharing this spectrum could compromise successful connected-vehicle technology deployment. The NTSB urges the FCC and others to overcome this communications challenge so connected-vehicle technology can be deployed widely and securely.
Bottom Line
Every day we lose more than 100 lives in preventable traffic crashes on our nation’s roads. Humans make mistakes that lead to crashes, but technology can mitigate those mistakes, avoiding death and serious injuries. Collision-avoidance technologies assist drivers by alerting a driver to an impending crash and automatically stopping the vehicle if the driver does not act. This proven, lifesaving technology is available today.
Tragically, regulatory inaction has slowed both deployment and broad availability of these technologies. The NTSB calls on the NHTSA to:
<ul><li>require forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking on all passenger vehicles and commercial trucks,</li><li>adopt comprehensive performance standards and criteria to assess these systems, and</li><li>expand the NCAP to rate the performance of collision-avoidance technologies.</li></ul>
Any further delay will cost more lives.
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<title>Back-to-School Transportation Safety</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/08/20/back-to-school-transportation-safety/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Aug 2021 17:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Bicyclists]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Child Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Drowsy Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Fatigue]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impairment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pedestrians]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[School Buses]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Speeding]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Teen Driving]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[By Stephanie Shaw, NTSB Safety Advocate As parents, caregivers, teachers, school administrators, and school transportation safety professionals prepare for the return to school the health and safety of our children is the highest priority. This school year, back to school preparation for our children looks very different and it’s easy to forget about transportation safety … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/08/20/back-to-school-transportation-safety/" class="more-link">Continue reading Back-to-School Transportation Safety →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Stephanie Shaw, NTSB Safety Advocate
As parents, caregivers, teachers, school administrators, and school transportation safety professionals prepare for the return to school the health and safety of our children is the highest priority. 
This school year, back to school preparation for our children looks very different and it’s easy to forget about transportation safety amidst these other thoughts and concerns. But it’s so important that in addition to ensuring children are safe in the classroom, we also dedicate the time to discuss with our kids the safest way for them to get to and from school.
Over the past 50 years, we’ve made <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/Pages/schoolbuses.aspx">school transportation safety a priority</a>. Many of the most pressing back-to-school transportation issues (including speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving, and pedestrian and bicycle safety) are currently items on our <a href="http://www.ntsb.gov/mwl">Most Wanted List</a> (MWL) of transportation safety improvements. Our MWL contains what we believe to be the safety improvements that can prevent crashes and save lives, and these issues are among our highest priorities in our advocacy work.
The hour before and after school are the most dangers times for students on the roads.  In fact, more <a href="https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813105">school-age pedestrians were killed</a> between 7-7:59 a.m. and 3-3:39 p.m. than any other hours of the day. 
So, how will your kids get to school this year? Will they take the bus? Do you have a carpool set up with another family? Do they walk or bike to school? Is your teen driving to and from school this year? Regardless of how your child gets there and home, this is a critical time for you, as a parent, to think about ways you can help keep them safe. By talking to your children about steps you can take together this school year to ensure a safe trip to and from school.
Here are a few tips for keeping students safe this school year:
<ul><li>Students are about 70 times more likely to get to school safely if they take the school bus instead of traveling by car. If your student can ride the bus, make this your first choice.  <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksw67zFnuAE">School buses are the safest vehicle for traveling to- and from- school and school-related activities</a>. If your students school bus is equipped with seat belts ask them to buckle up, every trip, every time.</li><li>If your student will be walking to school, map out the safest route for them before school is back in session and practice it a few times. This will help your child become familiar with the route, including any crosswalks or intersections they may need to negotiate and allows you the opportunity to demonstrate safe walking behaviors.</li><li>If you have a student biking to school, be sure they wear a helmet and reflective gear! Helmets are the most important piece of safety equipment for bicycle riders. Just as with walking, it’s also important to help your child select the safest bicycle route before starting the school year.</li><li>If you’re the parent of a teen driver, talk to them about safe driving behaviors—following posted speed limits, no cell phone use, about always buckling up and getting enough sleep before they get behind the wheel.  Consider signing a parent-teen driving contract with your teen driver with clear guidelines for using the car. </li></ul>
We all have a shared responsibility to ensure that all children make it to school and return home safely.  Drivers, be on the look out for children in neighborhoods and around schools, and slow down. If you approach a school bus with flashing lights on and stop arm out, STOP!  When you’re behind the wheel, give the driving task your full attention, don’t be distracted by your cell phone —hand’s free doesn’t mean risk free— and never drive impaired by alcohol or other drugs, even over-the-counter medication.
For additional tips check out these valuable resources:
School Bus Safety
<a href="http://www.ntsb.gov/schoolbuses">NTSB School Bus Safety</a>
<a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/school-bus-safety">School Bus Safety</a> from NHTSA
<a href="http://www.americanschoolbuscouncil.org/">School Bus Safety</a> from American School Bus Council
<a href="https://www.safekids.org/safetytips/field_risks/school-bus-safety?gclid=Cj0KCQjwpf2IBhDkARIsAGVo0D0gtJsgeBKYSXTuruBmNM0U0KuoVB_vpHXKwgsV3SHDpuYUluJXPu8aAraVEALw_wcB">School Bus Safety Tips</a> from Safe Kids Worldwide
Pedestrian Safety
<a href="https://www.safekids.org/sites/default/files/documents/pedestrian_safety_tips_v2.pdf">Pedestrian Safety Tips</a> from Safe Kids Worldwide
<a href="https://www.safekids.org/sites/default/files/documents/spanish_pedestrian_safety_tips.pdf">Consejos de Seguridad para los Peatones</a>
<a href="http://guide.saferoutesinfo.org/graduated_walking/index.cfm">Teaching Children to Walk Safely as They Grow and Develop</a> from Safe Routes to School
Bicycle Safety
<a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/bicycle-safety">Bicycle Safety</a> from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
<a href="http://guide.saferoutesinfo.org/education/key_messages_for_children.cfm#bicyclist">Bicycle Safety Skills</a> from Safe Routes to School
Teen Drivers
<a href="https://www.iihs.org/topics/teenagers/graduated-licensing-laws-table">State Graduated Licensing Laws</a>
<a href="https://www.iihs.org/ratings/safe-vehicles-for-teens">Safe Vehicles for Teens</a> from IIHS
<a href="https://www.nsc.org/driveithome">DriveitHOME</a> from the National Safety Council
<a href="https://www.sadd.org/ContractForLife">Contract for Life</a> from SADD
<a href="https://www.ghsa.org/resources/Teens-and-Speeding-Report21">Teens and Speeding: Breaking the Deadly Cycle</a> from GHSA
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<title>Accident Data for Investigations, Routine Flight Data for Prevention</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/08/06/accident-data-for-investigations-routine-flight-data-for-prevention/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 06 Aug 2021 15:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Aviation Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Recorders]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Bruce Landsberg]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5363</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Acting Chairman Bruce Landsberg Most people are familiar with the nightly news image of NTSB investigators at the scene of an accident, searching for the “black (orange) box.” The flight data recorder (FDR), which records aircraft control inputs and operational conditions, and the cockpit voice recorder (CVR), which records pilot conversations, are at the … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/08/06/accident-data-for-investigations-routine-flight-data-for-prevention/" class="more-link">Continue reading Accident Data for Investigations, Routine Flight Data for Prevention →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/BLandsberg/Pages/bio_landsberg.aspx">Acting Chairman Bruce Landsberg</a>
Most people are familiar with the nightly news image of NTSB investigators at the scene of an accident, searching for the “black (orange) box.” The flight data recorder (FDR), which records aircraft control inputs and operational conditions, and the cockpit voice recorder (CVR), which records pilot conversations, are at the heart of modern aviation accident investigations on all airline aircraft. The devices have helped to improve the safety of airline operations tremendously. They are used, of course, in crash investigations but most airlines also use them routinely to monitor pilot and aircraft performance and correct problems before they result in a crash.
However, these devices designed to help in investigations are not required or used in most air-taxi or charter operations. For example, no recording equipment was installed in 86 percent of the turbine-powered aircraft involved in fatal accidents between 2005 and 2017. As a result, valuable information was missing to fully understand what happened and to prevent a crash from happening in the first place if the operator had used the predictive approach that the systems provide.
We believe recorders and analysis of their data before a crash offer tremendous safety benefits. That’s one reason why <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-as-02.aspx">Install Crash-Resistant Recorders and Establish Flight Data Monitoring Programs</a> is on the NTSB’s Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements (MWL).  
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="819" data-attachment-id="5365" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/as-02-titles-sm-2/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/as-02-titles-sm.jpg" data-orig-size="1500,1200" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="as-02-titles-sm" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/as-02-titles-sm.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/as-02-titles-sm.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/as-02-titles-sm.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5365" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/as-02-titles-sm.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/as-02-titles-sm.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/as-02-titles-sm.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/as-02-titles-sm.jpg?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/as-02-titles-sm.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Cockpit Image Recorders
Even after an FDR and CVR are analyzed, investigators still don’t know for sure how the flight crew interacted with the aircraft systems or what visibility was like inside or outside the cockpit. Even the most modern flight data recorders leave some questions unanswered. That’s where a cockpit image recorder (CIR) can be useful. For more than 20 years, the NTSB has called for CIRs in addition to FDRs and CVRs. The images CIRs provide could quickly reveal a pilot’s actions without ambiguity. Some in the industry claim that it’s an invasion of privacy or that video will be used by the media for sensationalist purposes. Federal law prevents the release of CVR or CIR data except in transcript form and there has never been a breach of that trust! Please note that most other modes of commercial transportation (trucks, busses, railroads and marine) have already installed this equipment and are reaping the benefits.
A  CIR was vital to our investigation of the in-flight breakup of <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/AAR1502.aspx">Scaled Composite’s SpaceShipTwo</a> over California in 2014. Cockpit images show a test pilot inadvertently deploying a feature called the “feather,” (similar to a thrust reverser) which led to the in-flight breakup. Without a CIR, the investigation would have taken months, or years, to evaluate the wreckage and understand if the feather lock mechanism mechanically failed or was deployed as a result of a crew action.
Too many investigations have been hindered by a lack of CIRs. For example, had the <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/AAR2002.aspx">Atlas Air Inc. flight 3591</a>, a Boeing 767-375BCF, that crashed near Houston in 2019 been equipped with a crash-resistant image recording system investigators might have had relevant information about the data available to the flight crew and the flight crew’s actions during the accident flight. This information would have been critical in determining what happened and while there’s a very plausible idea of what happened some uncertainty of precise causal factors remains.
Recorders should be able to survive crash dynamics that include impact, submersion or fire. In the 2019 <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/AAR2101.aspx">Sikorsky helicopter crash</a> in Calabasas, California, visual cues associated with the adverse weather and the pilot’s focus of attention could not be conclusively determined because the helicopter wasn’t equipped with a CIR. A crash-resistant flight recorder system with audio and image functions could have provided valuable information to possibly identify additional safety issues and prevent a similar crash in the future.
Flight Data Recorders and Monitoring Programs
As an investigative agency, NTSB has a vested interest in recorders because they yield essential evidence, that can often be used to prevent future crashes. Required flight data monitors (FDMs) and FDM programs like Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) at the airlines have improved safety through the analysis of data collected by these recorders. Other segments of commercial aviation, like corporate and on-demand charter operations, could similarly benefit from FDMs and FDM programs.
On May 15, 2017, a <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/AAR1902.aspx">Learjet 35A departed controlled flight</a> while on a circling approach to Teterboro Airport in New Jersey impacting a commercial building and parking lot. Both pilots died.  The investigation again identified the need for FDM programs (and supporting recording devices) for 14 CFR Part 135 operators. The operator lacked safety programs that would have enabled it to identify and correct poor performance and procedural noncompliance which was the primary cause of the crash. Without an FDM program, the operator couldn’t identify the flight crew’s prior deviations from policy and procedures and had no way to determine if previous operations were conducted properly.
The NTSB has long recognized the value of FDM programs for Part 135 operators, having first issued a safety recommendation for data recording devices and monitoring programs for helicopter air ambulance operators in 2009. FDM programs typically involve the use of an onboard device capable of recording various flight parameters. Periodic routine review of the recorded data enables an operator to identify deviations from procedures and observe potential safety issues. Data reviews help a company take proactive measures and corrective action BEFORE a crash occurs. FDM should be integrated into safety management systems (SMS), another pillar of safety in modern aviation. Read more about SMSs on our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-as-01.aspx">MWL</a> webpage.
Flight crews are an asset to every operator, who clearly has a vested interest in the safety and performance of the flight crew. Therefore, an FDM program should never be used in a punitive way, but rather to identify and correct safety issues.
Expanding Aviation Lessons for Safety
Through decades of accident investigations, many of which were aided by key evidence gleaned from recorders, airline travel in the United States has become extraordinarily safe. But to keep this strong safety record going, and to make progress elsewhere in aviation through lessons learned, it is essential to install recorders on an even broader scale appropriate to the activity. Devices built to survive a crash and supplemented with FDM programs, will enable operators to identify deviations and safety concerns prior to an accident.
Operators don’t need to wait for government mandates to install them; they can realize the safety benefits of this technology today and just one crash prevented will be highly cost effective for that operator and certainly for the people involved! The fact that an operator, without an FDM program and an effective SMS, hasn’t had a crash as we’ve seen too many times, doesn’t mean that they were good, merely lucky.
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<title>Get it Right: Addressing the Timeliness of NTSB Investigations</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/07/28/get-it-right-addressing-the-timeliness-of-ntsb-investigations/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2021 15:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Aviation Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Aviation]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Inside NTSB]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Recorders]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Bruce Landsberg]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5358</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Acting Chairman Bruce Landsberg There was once a saying in the news media business to “get it first, get it right, but first get it right.” The NTSB strives to get it right above all, but we recognize that timeliness is essential, too. One of my goals even before joining the Board was to … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/07/28/get-it-right-addressing-the-timeliness-of-ntsb-investigations/" class="more-link">Continue reading Get it Right: Addressing the Timeliness of NTSB Investigations →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/BLandsberg/Pages/bio_landsberg.aspx">Acting Chairman Bruce Landsberg</a>
There was once a saying in the news media business to “get it first, get it right, but first get it right.” The NTSB strives to get it right above all, but we recognize that timeliness is essential, too. One of my goals even before joining the Board was to see if aviation crash processing time could be reduced on the less complex events. After all, the whole point of accident investigation is to become educated on what went wrong and get the word out as soon as possible to avoid a similar scenario.
But at the NTSB, it’s not all black and white. I want to take this opportunity to clear up some common misconceptions about how the agency functions and describe our process for those unfamiliar with its intricacies.
Congress requires us to evaluate all aviation accidents in the United States as well as significant accidents in all modes of transportation—rail, pipeline, highway, marine, and hazardous materials (how we determine what’s “significant” is a topic for another blog). Given this mandate, our resources are divided. Out of around 400 NTSB staff, only 45 accident field investigators are assigned to aviation. However, although we are required to investigate every civil aviation accident in the United States, as well as those occurring outside the country when they involve US-made equipment, that doesn’t mean we send an investigator to every crash. Often, it’s sufficient for an investigator to just interview a surviving pilot over the phone. In many cases, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) sends someone from its local office to an incident and shares the on-scene data with us.
Sometimes, though, an accident is more complex, and a deeper dive is required. For example, vital electronic data can be extracted from avionics, phones, or tablets that aren’t too damaged. Often that can be done in the field, but some devices must be sent to the NTSB lab in Washington, DC, for more thorough examination. There, our technicians painstakingly recover what they can, but—remember—they’re receiving devices from accident scenes in all the other transportation modes as well. The backlog can get lengthy. The lab must also decipher information from voice recorders (if any), vehicle monitors, onboard and external cameras, and metallurgical specimens, and conduct sound spectrum analysis, among other things, from every mode.
Sometimes, despite hours or days of lab effort, no data survives, which makes determining probable cause much more difficult. That’s why our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/default.aspx">2021–2022 Most Wanted List</a> of Transportation Safety Improvements includes “<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-as-02.aspx">Install Crash-Resistant Recorders and Establish Flight Data Monitoring Programs</a>.” Unbiased and accurate device readouts speed investigations up tremendously compared to relying solely on eyewitnesses, who are far less reliable.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="819" data-attachment-id="5360" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/as-02-titles-sm/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/as-02-titles-sm.jpg" data-orig-size="1500,1200" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="as-02-titles-sm" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/as-02-titles-sm.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/as-02-titles-sm.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/as-02-titles-sm.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5360" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/as-02-titles-sm.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/as-02-titles-sm.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/as-02-titles-sm.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/as-02-titles-sm.jpg?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/as-02-titles-sm.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
In addition to analyzing all the machine information we can, we also look at the human factors present in an accident. We send toxicology samples to the FAA’s medical lab in Oklahoma City for analysis. Autopsy data must be gathered from local medical examiners, whose schedules don’t always align with ours. In a perfect world all this back-end analysis could be completed quickly, but reality intrudes. Factors such as staffing in other state and local government entities, the sheer number of reports the agency is juggling at a time, and yes, inefficiency, can drag things out. Those situations are not always within NTSB control.
Still, many reports frankly took too long to complete, and the average time to complete reports has increased over the years. Recognizing these delays, in 2019, staff in our Office of Aviation Safety began assessing our report process to see if we could streamline it in any way we can control. The effort produced significant improvements, and the early results are encouraging. From March 2020 to March 2021, about 1,100 investigations were initiated, and about 1,500 were completed. This doesn’t include several hundred foreign investigations in which the NTSB participates every year. This contrasts favorably with the prior year, where from 2019 to March 2020, about 1,320 aviation investigations were initiated, and about 1,150 were completed, not including foreign investigations.
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Naturally, everyone wants everything faster. Going forward, the less complex cases we investigate are being scaled to finish in 6 months or so, while the more complicated ones will continue to take longer—sometimes much longer. Although we recognize the importance of timeliness in our investigations, we strive for a level of accuracy that ensures we’ve left no stone unturned.
As we revamp our investigation report process to get accurate information out more quickly, I think the public will appreciate the result. But, like most things, the process is a work in progress. We will never sacrifice precision for speed, but rest assured that we’re taking a hard look to see how we can get lifesaving information out more efficiently. We all look forward to seeing the progress the agency makes as we implement new strategies.
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<title>Preventing Alcohol-Impaired Driving: We All Are Part of the Solution</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/07/01/preventing-alcohol-impaired-driving-we-all-are-part-of-the-solution/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Jul 2021 14:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Holiday Travel]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impairment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5352</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Leah Walton, NTSB Safety Advocate Twenty years ago, in the summer of 2001, I began my work to end alcohol-impaired driving at the Minnesota State Office of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Over these 20 years, although so much has changed and there’s much to celebrate, we still have so much work to do. What … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/07/01/preventing-alcohol-impaired-driving-we-all-are-part-of-the-solution/" class="more-link">Continue reading Preventing Alcohol-Impaired Driving: We All Are Part of the Solution →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Leah Walton, NTSB Safety Advocate
Twenty years ago, in the summer of 2001, I began my work to end alcohol-impaired driving at the Minnesota State Office of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Over these 20 years, although so much has changed and there’s much to celebrate, we still have so much work to do.
What Can We Celebrate?
In 2001:
<ul><li><a href="https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/809579">17,267 people lost their lives in alcohol-impairment-related crashes.</a></li><li>16 states, DC, and Puerto Rico had a .08 per se blood alcohol concentration (BAC) law.</li><li>ZERO states had all-offender ignition interlock laws (the first state to pass all-offender interlock legislation was New Mexico in 2005).</li></ul>
Today:
<ul><li><a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving">10,142 people lost their lives</a> in alcohol-impairment-related crashes (in 2019, the most recent data on record).</li><li>Every state has a .08 BAC law. And in 2018, Utah became the first state to enact a .05 BAC per se law.</li><li>34 states and DC have ignition interlock laws that apply to all offenders.</li></ul>
I’m no mathematician, but I think that means that, while I’ve been working on all different types of impaired-driving prevention programs, laws, and studies, approximately 200,000 lives have been lost, and millions of people have been injured, as the result of an act that is 100% preventable. 200,000 lives!
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We Must Do More
We have consistently lost around 10,000 people to alcohol-impaired driving crashes every year <a href="https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812864">for the past 10 years</a>.
As I wrote this blog, I became disheartened and frustrated. For 20 years, I’ve worked with colleagues to create messages for 20 Independence Days, New Year’s Eves, St. Patrick’s Days, Memorial Days, Labor Days, and on and on, and we’re still here, asking you not to get behind the wheel after drinking this July 4th, asking you to designate a sober driver before you begin celebrating, asking you to call a ride-share or taxi, or to be the one that takes the keys from a friend, family member, or neighbor so they don’t drive impaired.
Unfortunately, we know that <a href="https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/holidays/independence-day/">more than 400 people will likely die this weekend</a>, many because someone made the choice to drive after drinking.  As long as individuals continue to make the choice to drive after drinking or dosing, and as long as life-saving technology and legislation is delayed, we will continue to push this message. Losing 10,000 lives every year. It must stop.
Solutions Exist
Ignition interlocks for all impaired-driving offenders, lower BAC per se laws, in-vehicle technology to detect alcohol and prevent a driver from starting a vehicle—all of these are possible now and would reduce impaired-driving crashes. However, these solutions wouldn’t even be necessary if people would make the choice to call a cab or a sober friend, or just elect to not drink or take impairing drugs if they know they will be driving.
<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-03.aspx">Preventing alcohol-impaired driving</a> has been on the NTSB Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements (MWL) for over 20 years and, at the rate we’re going, it will be there 20 years from now. But, at the NTSB, we are nothing if not persistent, and we will continue to advocate to prevent impaired driving for another 20 years if that’s what it takes. This July 4th, commit to being part of the solution, and help us retire this MWL safety item once and for all.
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<title>I Lived My Dream: Looking Back on 15 years at NTSB</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/06/30/i-lived-my-dream-looking-back-on-15-years-at-ntsb/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jun 2021 13:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Aviation Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Marine Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Rail Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Transportation Disaster Assistance]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Robert Sumwalt]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5332</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt I guess it all started on an overcast day in 1973, when I found myself on the scene of a fatal aviation crash for the first time. I had heard of the crash on my car radio, and, as a curious 17‑year-old, I decided to find the crash location. Once … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/06/30/i-lived-my-dream-looking-back-on-15-years-at-ntsb/" class="more-link">Continue reading I Lived My Dream: Looking Back on 15 years at NTSB →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By <a href="http://I Lived My Dream: Looking Back on 15 years at NTSB">Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt</a>
I guess it all started on an overcast day in 1973, when I found myself on the scene of a fatal aviation crash for the first time. I had heard of the crash on my car radio, and, as a curious 17‑year-old, I decided to find the crash location. Once there, I saw the remains of a twin-engine airplane lodged in the bases of the surrounding pine trees. Seeing that accident scene sparked an acute interest within me for accident investigation. In college, I spent copious amounts of time in the government documents library reading NTSB aircraft accident reports. It was then, in the mid-1970s, that I began to dream of becoming an NTSB Board member. Today, as I wrap up 15 years with the agency, serving as Board member, vice chairman, and chairman, I can look back and say I have truly lived that dream.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="767" data-attachment-id="5348" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/06/30/i-lived-my-dream-looking-back-on-15-years-at-ntsb/1973-cae-plane-crash-002/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/1973-cae-plane-crash-002.jpg" data-orig-size="3065,2298" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 5s","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1427501861","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.15","iso":"80","shutter_speed":"0.033333333333333","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="1973 CAE plane crash (002)" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/1973-cae-plane-crash-002.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/1973-cae-plane-crash-002.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/1973-cae-plane-crash-002.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5348" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/1973-cae-plane-crash-002.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/1973-cae-plane-crash-002.jpg?w=2046 2046w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/1973-cae-plane-crash-002.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/1973-cae-plane-crash-002.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/1973-cae-plane-crash-002.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Photo of ‘The State’ newspaper article on the 1973 plane crash</figcaption></figure>
I was sworn in as the 37th member of the NTSB in August 2006. Seven days later, I found myself on the scene of another aviation disaster. <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/AAR0705.aspx">Comair flight 5191</a>, a regional jet operated as a Delta Connection, crashed just off the departure end of a runway in Lexington, Kentucky. Forty-nine lives were lost that morning after the pilots inexplicitly attempted to take off on a short, closed, unlighted runway. The investigation found that the pilots’ casual attitude during preflight and during the brief taxi, including their engaging in nonpertinent conversation, enabled the crew’s errors. Quite simply, the crew wasn’t paying attention and lost positional awareness. As a result, we issued and reiterated several recommendations to prevent that same type of accident. Today, flights are safer because airline pilots use enhanced procedures to ensure they are aligned with the proper runway before departure, and pilots have electronic maps that provide real-time position information during taxi.
Since the Comair crash, I’ve been on the NTSB Go-Team and served as the Board member on scene for 35 transportation accidents and crashes, and I’ve been involved in the deliberation and determination of probable cause of over 250 accidents and crashes. I’ve met with grieving family members and friends of victims on the worst day of their lives. Through these interactions, the one thing that really stands out to me is just how precious life really is. I’ve often said that we are here to give a voice to those who don’t have a voice—the victims of transportation accidents and their families. I take great solace knowing our work really does make a difference and keeps others from enduring similar tragedies.
<div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter" data-effect="slide"><div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container"><ul class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper"><li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"><figure><img loading="lazy" width="5124" height="3098" alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-5344" data-id="5344" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/15978107591_c0d0983755_o.jpg" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/15978107591_c0d0983755_o.jpg 5124w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/15978107591_c0d0983755_o.jpg?w=150&h=91 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/15978107591_c0d0983755_o.jpg?w=300&h=181 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/15978107591_c0d0983755_o.jpg?w=768&h=464 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/15978107591_c0d0983755_o.jpg?w=1024&h=619 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 5124px) 100vw, 5124px" /></figure></li><li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"><figure><img loading="lazy" width="4209" height="2544" alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-5343" data-id="5343" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/11677964056_a5fa16b801_o.jpg" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/11677964056_a5fa16b801_o.jpg 4209w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/11677964056_a5fa16b801_o.jpg?w=150&h=91 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/11677964056_a5fa16b801_o.jpg?w=300&h=181 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/11677964056_a5fa16b801_o.jpg?w=768&h=464 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/11677964056_a5fa16b801_o.jpg?w=1024&h=619 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 4209px) 100vw, 4209px" /></figure></li><li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"><figure><img loading="lazy" width="5300" height="3203" alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image 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150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/32531533103_0f02b84b1f_o.jpg?w=300&h=225 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/32531533103_0f02b84b1f_o.jpg?w=768&h=576 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/32531533103_0f02b84b1f_o.jpg?w=1024&h=768 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 4032px) 100vw, 4032px" /></figure></li><li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"><figure><img loading="lazy" width="5760" height="3482" alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-5338" data-id="5338" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/17610780071_abd5bccc15_o.jpg" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/17610780071_abd5bccc15_o.jpg 5760w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/17610780071_abd5bccc15_o.jpg?w=150&h=91 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/17610780071_abd5bccc15_o.jpg?w=300&h=181 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/17610780071_abd5bccc15_o.jpg?w=768&h=464 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/17610780071_abd5bccc15_o.jpg?w=1024&h=619 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 5760px) 100vw, 5760px" /></figure></li><li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"><figure><img loading="lazy" width="1222" height="739" alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-5339" data-id="5339" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/8497827675_0f72de32c6_o.jpg" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/8497827675_0f72de32c6_o.jpg 1222w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/8497827675_0f72de32c6_o.jpg?w=150&h=91 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/8497827675_0f72de32c6_o.jpg?w=300&h=181 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/8497827675_0f72de32c6_o.jpg?w=768&h=464 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/8497827675_0f72de32c6_o.jpg?w=1024&h=619 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1222px) 100vw, 1222px" /></figure></li><li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"><figure><img loading="lazy" width="6000" height="4000" alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-5335" data-id="5335" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/44909080311_5f6a8cd3a5_o.jpg" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/44909080311_5f6a8cd3a5_o.jpg 6000w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/44909080311_5f6a8cd3a5_o.jpg?w=150&h=100 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/44909080311_5f6a8cd3a5_o.jpg?w=300&h=200 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/44909080311_5f6a8cd3a5_o.jpg?w=768&h=512 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/44909080311_5f6a8cd3a5_o.jpg?w=1024&h=683 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 6000px) 100vw, 6000px" /></figure></li><li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"><figure><img loading="lazy" width="5760" height="3482" 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Looking back, I believe there are two things that allow the NTSB to truly be one of the “Best Places to Work in the Federal Government,” as ranked by the Partnership for Public Service: the agency’s mission, and our people.
First, the agency’s mission: Congress charged the NTSB with investigating transportation accidents and crashes, determining their cause, and issuing safety recommendations to prevent similar accidents and crashes, reduce injuries, and save lives. It’s an important calling—taking something tragic and learning from it so others don’t have to endure such a tragedy. Since the NTSB was formed in 1967, we have investigated over 150,000 aviation accidents, along with thousands of highway, marine, rail, pipeline, and hazardous materials accidents and incidents. In that period, we’ve issued over 15,000 safety recommendations, the majority of which have been successfully implemented.
Our people: Even with a respectable mission, you’re nothing without great people. Fortunately, this is where the NTSB really takes the cake. We’re able to attract and retain dedicated, bright employees who love their work. We actively promote diversity and inclusion, and my hope is that the agency will continue to expand this effort. Our investigators’ passion and determination to find the truth is uplifting. Even throughout the pandemic, although working remotely, NTSB employees found ways to continue delivering our high-quality products. For example, before the pandemic, we had never conducted virtual Board meetings, where we deliberate accident findings, determine the probable cause, and adopt safety recommendations. Even with the challenges of 2020, our employees figured a way to get it done. We held 12 virtual Board meetings in a year, which compares favorably to a normal year of in-person meetings. Although I’ve always had high expectations of the NTSB workforce, I can honestly say that, considering the challenges we all faced during the pandemic, NTSB employees surpassed all expectations.
There are several other qualities that allow the NTSB to be a highly respected federal agency. One of our core values is transparency; we are open and honest with the public about our work. We realize that, when a transportation disaster occurs, the public needs to be assured that the government is conducting an open, competent, and thorough investigation. Therefore, we deliver fact-based information as we learn it. We don’t speculate—just the facts, ma’am. All NTSB Board meetings and hearings are open to the public (literally in person when not in pandemic times, and always via webcast). We post all our accident reports and publications on our website, along with the docket for each accident, which provides reams of background information such as interviews, photos, and technical information that may not be in the final accident report.
When I was sworn in for my first term at the agency in 2006, I told the audience something I had read: “Public service is one of the highest callings in the land. You have the opportunity to make a positive impact on families, communities, states, and sometimes the world.”
I followed up by saying, “I truly believe this statement applies so well to the work of the NTSB. When my term expires, I hope we can look back and say, ‘you know, we—Board members, professional staff, industry, labor, government—we all worked together, and we did make a positive impact.”
Indeed, looking back, I truly believe we have made a difference.
I will very much miss working with the incredibly dedicated men and women of the NTSB. It will be hard to stop referring to the NTSB as “we.” Although I will no longer be part of it, the NTSB will always be part of me. For that privilege, I am forever proud and grateful. I have lived my dream.
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<title>Episode 41: Chairman Robert Sumwalt</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/06/24/episode-41-chairman-robert-sumwalt/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/06/24/episode-41-chairman-robert-sumwalt/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 24 Jun 2021 13:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Behind-the-Scene]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Robert Sumwalt]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5323</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt reflects on his time at the NTSB, from his first day on the job, to how he’s feeling about his last day as Chairman. He also shares memorable moments during his 15 years at NTSB and some of the leadership lessons he’s learned along the way. Chairman … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/06/24/episode-41-chairman-robert-sumwalt/" class="more-link">Continue reading Episode 41: Chairman Robert Sumwalt →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt reflects on his time at the NTSB, from his first day on the job, to how he’s feeling about his last day as Chairman. He also shares memorable moments during his 15 years at NTSB and some of the leadership lessons he’s learned along the way.
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Chairman Sumwalt’s full bio is available <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/RSumwalt/Pages/bio_sumwalt.aspx">here</a>.
Previously released podcast episodes featuring Chairman Sumwalt are available <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?s=behind-the-scene+chairman+sumwalt">here</a>.
Get the latest episode on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-scene-ntsb/id1286590741?mt=2">Apple Podcasts</a> , on <a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Ihj2oejp6ut3rrvs3kpej7y3qsu?t=Behind-the-Scene__NTSB">Google Play</a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/behindthescenentsb/behindthescene-ntsb">Stitcher</a>, or your favorite podcast platform. And find more ways to listen here: <a href="https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/">https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/</a>
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<title>Speeding: Comprehensive Changes Needed to Save Lives</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/06/21/speeding-comprehensive-changes-needed-to-save-lives/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/06/21/speeding-comprehensive-changes-needed-to-save-lives/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 21 Jun 2021 14:04:13 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Bicyclists]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Child Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pedestrians]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Speeding]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Robert Sumwalt]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5317</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt Speeding kills about the same number of Americans as drinking and driving, yet garners far less attention. We’ve included “Implement a Comprehensive Strategy to Eliminate Speeding-Related Crashes” on our 2021–2022 Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements because we know that speeding significantly impacts safety on the country’s roads, and … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/06/21/speeding-comprehensive-changes-needed-to-save-lives/" class="more-link">Continue reading Speeding: Comprehensive Changes Needed to Save Lives →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/RSumwalt/Pages/bio_sumwalt.aspx">By Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt</a>
Speeding kills about the same number of Americans as drinking and driving, yet garners far less attention. We’ve included “<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-01.aspx">Implement a Comprehensive Strategy to Eliminate Speeding-Related Crashes</a>” on our <a href="http://www.ntsb.gov/mwl">2021–2022 Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements</a> because we know that speeding significantly impacts safety on the country’s roads, and we think it’s past time for that to change.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="819" data-attachment-id="5320" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/06/21/speeding-comprehensive-changes-needed-to-save-lives/hs-01-titles-sm/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/hs-01-titles-sm.jpg" data-orig-size="1500,1200" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="HS-01 Titles-sm" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/hs-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/hs-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/hs-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5320" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/hs-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/hs-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/hs-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/hs-01-titles-sm.jpg?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/hs-01-titles-sm.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
About 100,000 people died between 2009 and 2018 because someone was driving faster than the speed limit, or faster than road conditions warranted. That’s around 9,000 to10,000 crash deaths per year, or nearly one in three crash deaths in the United States. Preliminary reports suggest that during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, speeding might have been even more prevalent in traffic deaths, despite a drop in vehicle miles traveled.
Speeding can lead to a loss of vehicle control. Faster speeds also increase the severity of injuries once a crash occurs. (If you’re having a hard time imagining this potential destruction, you can watch what happens in a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3RWb-aRhIk">speed-comparison crash test</a> video produced by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.) This relationship holds true for all road users, but when vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists, are involved in a crash with a vehicle, their chances of being severely injured skyrocket as impact speeds increase. For a pedestrian, the risk of being severely injured goes from 10 percent at an impact speed of 16 mph to 25 percent at 23 mph, 50 percent at 31 mph, 75 percent at 39 mph, and 90 percent at 46 mph.
For drivers, passengers, and vulnerable road users alike, speeding kills.
What can be done?
Speeding deserves to be a nationally recognized road safety issue. Regulators must collaborate with traffic safety stakeholders <a href="https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/H-17-025">to develop and implement an ongoing program to increase public awareness of speeding</a> as a national traffic safety issue.
Further, we recognize that posted speed limits aren’t always based on real-world conditions. Present guidance says to set speed limits in speed zones within 5 mph of the 85th percentile speed of free-flowing traffic. But that guidance could lead to higher operating speeds, which would, in turn, result in an even higher 85th percentile speed, and on and on. What’s more, there’s no strong evidence that the 85th percentile speed decreases crash involvement rates; therefore, states should instead adopt an engineering study methodology that places less emphasis on the 85th percentile speed in favor of a more robust approach I that includes additional parameters, such as roadway geometry, crash statistics, and traffic volumes.
We believe that states should amend current laws to remove restrictions on the use of automated speed enforcement. Regulators should update and promote speed enforcement guidelines to reflect the latest enforcement technology and operating practices. For heavy vehicles, including trucks, buses, and motorcoaches, regulators should develop performance standards for advanced speed-limiting technology, such as variable speed limiters and intelligent speed adaptation devices, then require that all newly manufactured heavy vehicles be equipped with them.
At the individual level, drivers should follow the speed limit and slow down during bad weather, when a road is under repair, in poorly lit areas at night, and in other challenging driving conditions.
Finally, we should <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-02.aspx">protect vulnerable road users through a Safe System approach</a>—another Most Wanted List safety improvement. You can <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0XgHY82R0o">watch our May 20 roundtable on the Safe System approach</a> on the NTSB YouTube channel.
We have yet to fully understand how the pandemic changed our driving habits as a nation; we have known for some time, however, that the faster a vehicle is going when it strikes something, the greater the energy expended in the crash, and the greater the resulting damage. Setting logical speed limits—and enforcing them—is something that can be done right now to save lives.
We hope that, as drivers return to the roads, regulators use this opportunity to reevaluate speed‑limit guidance, evaluate the effectiveness of current enforcement programs, and assess new speed-limiting technology that can improve safety for all road users.
Learn More
<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-01.aspx">Implement a Comprehensive Strategy to Eliminate Speeding-Related Crashes</a>
<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Pages/SS1701.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Safety Study: Reducing Speeding-Related Crashes Involving Passenger Vehicles | July 2017</a>
<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/HAR1201.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Motorcoach Run-Off-the-Road and Collision with Vertical Highway Signpost, Interstate 95 Southbound, New York, NY | March 2011</a>
<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-02.aspx">Protect Vulnerable Road Users through a Safe System Approach</a>
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<title>Prevent Alcohol- and Other Drug-Impaired Driving</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/05/28/prevent-alcohol-and-other-drug-impaired-driving/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/05/28/prevent-alcohol-and-other-drug-impaired-driving/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 28 May 2021 13:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impairment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thomas Chapman]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5296</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Member Thomas Chapman Impaired driving, in some form or another, has been on every NTSB Most Wanted List since its inception in 1990. And with more than 10,000 impaired-driving deaths each year, it’s hard to imagine ever removing it. We have made safety recommendations about impaired driving prevention since 1968.Yet the problem persists. Part … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/05/28/prevent-alcohol-and-other-drug-impaired-driving/" class="more-link">Continue reading Prevent Alcohol- and Other Drug-Impaired Driving →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/TChapman/Pages/bio_chapman.aspx">Member Thomas Chapman</a>
Impaired driving, in some form or another, has been on every NTSB Most Wanted List since its inception in 1990. And with more than 10,000 impaired-driving deaths each year, it’s hard to imagine ever removing it. We have made safety recommendations about impaired driving prevention since 1968.Yet the problem persists.
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="819" data-attachment-id="5300" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/05/28/prevent-alcohol-and-other-drug-impaired-driving/hs-03-titles-sm/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/hs-03-titles-sm.jpg" data-orig-size="1500,1200" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="HS-03 Titles-sm" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/hs-03-titles-sm.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/hs-03-titles-sm.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/hs-03-titles-sm.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5300" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/hs-03-titles-sm.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/hs-03-titles-sm.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/hs-03-titles-sm.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/hs-03-titles-sm.jpg?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/hs-03-titles-sm.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>
Part of the challenge we face at the NTSB is that we generally issue safety recommendations to entities, not individuals. If we issued safety recommendations to every individual ever arrested for impaired driving—even excluding those actually involved in impaired-driving crashes—we would be issuing impaired-driving recommendations to <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/impaired_driving/impaired-drv_factsheet.html#:~:text=In%202016%2C%20more%20than%201,influence%20of%20alcohol%20or%20narcotics.&text=That%27s%20one%20percent%20of%20the,each%20year%20(figure%20below).">one million</a> individuals per year.
Instead, we hope individuals will understand their personal responsibility as drivers and make smart and safe choices when they get in their vehicles. Impaired driving is 100 percent preventable. We have investigated many impaired-driving crashes, and for individual drivers, the lessons we have learned always boil down to a single word:
Don’t.
Don’t drive drunk, don’t drive after “a drink or two,” don’t drive after using even one dose of any impairing drug. But experience tells us that some drivers will ignore this message. They will get behind the wheel when they have no business being there, start the engine, and take their chances—with their own lives, their passengers’ lives, and the lives of other road users. Just counting arrests, drivers take that chance and lose a million times a year. About 10,000 times a year, impaired drivers take a chance, and someone loses their life.
While alcohol impairment continues to cause nearly three out of every ten traffic deaths in the United States, other impairing drugs pose a different, but overlapping, challenge. The 2013–2014 Texas Roadside Survey found that one in five drivers surveyed were using one or more impairing drug—licit or illicit, prescribed or over the counter.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Drinking and Driving: a Stubborn Problem</h3>
In our 2013 report, <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Pages/SR1301.aspx">Reaching Zero: Actions to Eliminate Alcohol-Impaired Driving</a>, we recommended that states do the following:
<ul><li>Reduce the per-se blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for all drivers to .05 g/dL or lower</li><li>Conduct high-visibility enforcement of impaired-driving laws and incorporate passive alcohol-sensing technology into enforcement efforts</li><li>Expand the use of in-vehicle devices to prevent operation by impaired drivers</li><li>Use driving while intoxicated (DWI) courts and other programs to reduce recidivism by repeat DWI offenders</li><li>Establish measurable goals to reduce impaired driving and track progress toward those goals</li></ul>
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">.05 percent BAC</h4>
We recommended that states lower the legal per-se BAC limit from .08 percent to .05 percent or lower. We know a BAC of .08 g/dl is simply too high. In 2018, Utah became the first state to lower its legal BAC limit to .05 percent, and other states are considering following suit. This change isn’t only about preventing crashes involving drivers with BACs between .05 percent and .08 percent, though. Research shows that reducing the legal BAC limit from .08 percent to .05 percent serves as a broad deterrent, lowering alcohol-involved crashes and crash deaths across the board.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Interlocks for all Offenders</h4>
According to <a href="https://www.madd.org/the-solution/drunk-driving/ignition-interlocks/">Mothers Against Drunk Driving</a>, one-third of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities are caused by repeat offenders. States need to require drivers convicted of alcohol-impaired driving to use an interlock device. These devices keep a car from starting until a breath sample has been provided, analyzed for ethanol content, and determined to be lower than prescribed limits.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Impairing Drugs Other than Alcohol</h4>
Other impairing drugs present a different problem. Although we have investigated many crashes involving drivers under the influence of drugs other than alcohol, we don’t really know the extent the problem. Many of our recommendations surrounding impairment focus on finding the best ways to spot the problem. However, unlike for alcohol, no <a href="https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/H-12-033">standardized drug-testing protocols</a> exist for other impairing drugs, and there is no established limit or threshold to determine impairment by other drugs. Additionally, evaluating the impact of impairing drugs on drivers is challenging because many drugs impair individuals differently.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Bottom Line</h3>
States, regulators, and industry can take action to reduce deaths and injuries from drunk driving. In terms of alcohol, we know that states and individuals can change the all-too-often grim outcomes. The question is whether they choose to. For drugs other than alcohol, it’s time we improve testing, especially as attitudes and laws change toward these drugs and they become more widely used.
We at NTSB will continue to advocate for our safety recommendations for education, legislation, and technology to end this deadly problem. But ultimately the problem comes down to individual choice. Choose to drive sober or designate a sober driver. You can drink responsibly, you can drive responsibly, but you cannot drink and drive responsibly.
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4785" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/06/29/this-july-4-travel-safely-dont-put-unnecessary-strain-on-first-responders-and-hospital-staff/print-13/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/safetyreminder_chooseone.jpg" data-orig-size="1085,568" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"Print","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Print" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/safetyreminder_chooseone.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/safetyreminder_chooseone.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/safetyreminder_chooseone.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-4785" width="504" height="263" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/safetyreminder_chooseone.jpg?w=502 502w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/safetyreminder_chooseone.jpg?w=1005 1005w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/safetyreminder_chooseone.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/safetyreminder_chooseone.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/safetyreminder_chooseone.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 504px) 100vw, 504px" /></figure></div>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Learn More</h3>
<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-03.aspx">NTSB Most Wanted List: Prevent Alcohol- and Other Drug-Impaired Driving</a>
<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/HAR1802.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pickup Truck Centerline Crossover Collision with Medium-Size Bus, Concan, TX, March 2017</a>
<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/HAR1601.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Multivehicle Work Zone Crash on Interstate 75. Chattanooga, TN, June 2015</a>
<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Pages/SR1301.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Safety Study: Reaching Zero: Actions to Eliminate Alcohol-Impaired Driving. May 2013</a>
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<title>Episode 40: Motorcycle safety month</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/05/27/episode-40-motorcycle-safety-month/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/05/27/episode-40-motorcycle-safety-month/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 27 May 2021 15:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Behind-the-Scene]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impairment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Motorcycles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5286</guid>
<description><![CDATA[May has been designated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, to help motorists understand standard motorcycle driving behaviors and learn how to drive safely around motorcycles on our roadways. In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @ NTSB, NTSB Highway Crash Investigators Kenny Bragg and Mike Fox discuss our investigation of … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/05/27/episode-40-motorcycle-safety-month/" class="more-link">Continue reading Episode 40: Motorcycle safety month →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
May has been designated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, to help motorists understand standard motorcycle driving behaviors and learn how to drive safely around motorcycles on our roadways.
In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @ NTSB, NTSB Highway Crash Investigators Kenny Bragg and Mike Fox discuss our investigation of the June 2019 collision between a pickup truck with a trailer and a group of motorcycles in Randolph, New Hampshire, its safety recommendations, motorcycle safety tips, and other considerations that drivers should take when sharing the roadway.
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1024" data-attachment-id="5291" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/05/27/episode-40-motorcycle-safety-month/episode-40_alt/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/episode-40_alt.jpg" data-orig-size="1500,1500" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Episode 40_alt" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/episode-40_alt.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/episode-40_alt.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/episode-40_alt.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5291" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/episode-40_alt.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/episode-40_alt.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/episode-40_alt.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/episode-40_alt.jpg?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/episode-40_alt.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>
<figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls src="http://media.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/episode-40.mp3"></audio><figcaption>Behind-the-Scene @NTSB podcast Motorcycle Safety episode</figcaption></figure>
The NTSB final <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/HAR2004.pdf">report</a> for the Randolph, New Hampshire, crash mentioned in this episode is available on our website.
To learn more about the NTSB Most Wanted List and the <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-02.aspx">Protect Vulnerable Road Users Through a Safe System Approach</a> and <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-03.aspx">Prevent Alcohol- and Other Drug-Impaired Driving</a> safety items, visit our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/default.aspx">Most Wanted List web page</a>.
The previously released podcast <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2018/12/20/episode-21-concan-texas-investigation/">episode</a> featuring Kenny Bragg is available on our website.
The previously released podcast <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2019/12/05/episode-29-tempe-arizona-uber-vehicle-and-pedestrian-crash/">episode</a> featuring Mike Fox is available on our website.
Get the latest episode on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-scene-ntsb/id1286590741?mt=2">Apple Podcasts</a> , on <a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Ihj2oejp6ut3rrvs3kpej7y3qsu?t=Behind-the-Scene__NTSB">Google Play</a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/behindthescenentsb/behindthescene-ntsb">Stitcher</a>, or your favorite podcast platform.
And find more ways to listen here: <a href="https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/">https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/</a>
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<title>Episode 39: Marine Safety</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/05/25/episode-39-marine-safety/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/05/25/episode-39-marine-safety/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 25 May 2021 18:12:09 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Behind-the-Scene]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impairment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Marine Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5271</guid>
<description><![CDATA[May 22-28, 2021, has been designated as National Safe Boating Week, which kicks off a yearlong campaign promoting the importance of wearing a life jacket. In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @ NTSB, we talk with Morgan Turrell, Director, NTSB Office of Marine Safety, about the 2021-2022 Most Wanted List safety item Improve Passenger and Fishing Vessel … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/05/25/episode-39-marine-safety/" class="more-link">Continue reading Episode 39: Marine Safety →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
May 22-28, 2021, has been designated as National Safe Boating Week, which kicks off a yearlong campaign promoting the importance of wearing a life jacket.
In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @ NTSB, we talk with Morgan Turrell, Director, NTSB Office of Marine Safety, about the <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/default.aspx">2021-2022 Most Wanted List</a> safety item <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-ms-01.aspx">Improve Passenger and Fishing Vessel Safety</a>, the NTSB Safer Seas Digest and recent marine investigations. Morgan also shares boating safety tips, including the importance of wearing a life jacket, as we approach the Memorial Day Holiday weekend.
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="5274" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/5274/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/episode-39-mp3-image.jpg" data-orig-size="800,800" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/episode-39-mp3-image.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/episode-39-mp3-image.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/episode-39-mp3-image.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-5274" width="264" height="264" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/episode-39-mp3-image.jpg?w=264 264w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/episode-39-mp3-image.jpg?w=528 528w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/episode-39-mp3-image.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/episode-39-mp3-image.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 264px) 100vw, 264px" /></figure></div>
<figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls src="http://media.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/episode-39-1-1.mp3"></audio><figcaption>Behind-the-Scene @NTSB podcast Marine Safety episode</figcaption></figure>
The NTSB Safer Seas Digest mentioned in this episode is available on the <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/SPC2004.aspx">Safer Seas Digest 2019 Lessons Learned from Marine Accident Investigations</a> web page.
The full report for the investigation into the fire aboard the small passenger vessel <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/MAR2003.aspx">Conception</a> is available on our web site.
For information about the upcoming NTSB Board meeting on the 2019 sinking of the fishing vessel Scandies Rose read the <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/NR20210513.aspx">media advisory</a>.
Get the latest episode on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-scene-ntsb/id1286590741?mt=2">Apple Podcasts</a> , on <a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Ihj2oejp6ut3rrvs3kpej7y3qsu?t=Behind-the-Scene__NTSB">Google Play</a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/behindthescenentsb/behindthescene-ntsb">Stitcher</a>, or your favorite podcast platform.
And find more ways to listen here: <a href="https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/">https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/</a>
]]></content:encoded>
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<item>
<title>Improving Passenger and Fishing Vessel Safety</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/05/24/improving-passenger-and-fishing-vessel-safety/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/05/24/improving-passenger-and-fishing-vessel-safety/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 24 May 2021 15:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Marine Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Robert Sumwalt]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5264</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt May 22–28 is National Safe Boating Week, calling to mind well known campaigns against boating while intoxicated, distracted operations, and promoting proper use of life jackets on watercraft. But the present NTSB Most Wanted List puts a special emphasis on a lesser-known issue: the safety of passenger vessels and commercial … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/05/24/improving-passenger-and-fishing-vessel-safety/" class="more-link">Continue reading Improving Passenger and Fishing Vessel Safety →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/RSumwalt/Pages/bio_sumwalt.aspx">Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt</a>
May 22–28 is National Safe Boating Week, calling to mind well known campaigns against boating while intoxicated, distracted operations, and promoting proper use of life jackets on watercraft. But the present NTSB <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/default.aspx">Most Wanted List </a>puts a special emphasis on a lesser-known issue: <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-ms-01.aspx">the safety of passenger vessels and commercial fishing vessels</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="819" data-attachment-id="5268" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/ms-01-titles/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/ms-01-titles.jpg" data-orig-size="3000,2400" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="ms-01-titles" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/ms-01-titles.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/ms-01-titles.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/ms-01-titles.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5268" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/ms-01-titles.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/ms-01-titles.jpg?w=2048 2048w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/ms-01-titles.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/ms-01-titles.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/ms-01-titles.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
It’s critical to watch out for your own safety and that of your guests on board personal watercraft, but when you step aboard a passenger vessel or go to work on a fishing vessel, somebody else is responsible for the whole range of safety concerns, from having appropriate fire-detection devices to well-maintained lifesaving equipment. We’re working to ensure that marine operators have your safety in mind, in part, by asking the country’s marine transportation regulating authority, the US Coast Guard, to implement our safety recommendations.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Passenger Vessels</h2>
Passenger vessels range in size from small charter vessels, such as dive boats and amphibious passenger vessels (DUKW boats or “duck boats”) to large cruise ships operating in international waters. The number of passengers and crew on these types of vessels varies.
Fires can pose a catastrophic threat to passenger vessels, as we saw in the 2019 <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/MAR2003.aspx">Conception</a> dive boat accident off the coast of California, in which 34 people died. Our investigations have revealed that crew training and safety regulations for these vessels vary, increasing the risk to passengers and crew. We have investigated 74 fire-related marine accidents since 2010.
To prevent needless deaths and mitigate injuries, passenger vessels should:
<ul><li>have safety management systems,</li><li>use voyage data recorders, and</li><li>provide adequate fire-detection, extinguishing systems, and available emergency egress options.</li></ul>
Operators should ensure their crews have enhanced training that includes practicing fire drills and learning firefighting techniques. We also need to see existing requirements for roving patrols enforced to ensure passengers are being transported safely.
Additionally, amphibious passenger vehicle operators should instruct passengers that seat belts must not be worn while the vessel/vehicle is operated in the water. Each passenger should visually check to ensure they have unbuckled their belt when the vessel enters the water.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Commercial Fishing</h2>
The commercial fishing industry, which remains largely uninspected, is another marine sector of concern. Fishing consistently tops the list of most deadly occupations due, in large part, to challenging work environments, such as poor weather and rough waters. These conditions threaten vessel stability and integrity, which, as we’ve seen in our investigations, can lead to catastrophic results. More than 800 people have died on fishing vessels in the past two decades.
We need new standards to address—and periodically reassess—intact stability, subdivision, and watertight integrity in commercial fishing vessels up to 79 feet long. Many fishing crews aren’t trained in stability management techniques or emergency response, and we have found that many vessels do not have proper life-saving equipment, such as flotation devices and operational search-and-rescue locator devices.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Back on the Water</h2>
As more and more people get vaccinated against COVID-19, many Americans are considering travel again, including on personal craft, passenger, and fishing vessels. The NTSB will continue to investigate accidents such as allisions, groundings, sinkings, and vessel fires in which people are injured or lose their lives, vessels are damaged or destroyed, or there is a threat to the environment. These cases are rare, and we hope to make them rarer, but as traffic on our waterways begins to return to pre-pandemic levels, the likelihood of an accident increases.
The dedicated men and women of the US Coast Guard work to improve safety on both passenger and fishing vessels by implementing recommendations that come out of our investigations and studies. We continue to urge the US Coast Guard to act on our passenger and fishing vessel recommendations to make these marine sectors as safe as possible for crews and passengers.
Learn more
<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-ms-01.aspx">Improve Passenger and Fishing Vessel Safety</a>
<a href="https://safeboatingcampaign.com/">National Safe Boating Week</a>
<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/MAR2003.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fire Aboard Small Passenger Vessel Conception Santa Barbara, CA | September 2019</a>
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<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/MAR2001.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sinking of Amphibious Passenger Vessel Stretch Duck 7 Branson, MO | July 2018</a>
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<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/MAB1814.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Capsizing and sinking of fishing vessel Destination George’s Island, AK | February 2017</a>
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<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/MAR1801.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fire aboard Roll-on/Roll-off Passenger Vessel Caribbean Fantasy Atlantic Ocean, 2 Miles Northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico | August 2016</a>
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<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/MAB1509.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Capsizing and sinking of fishing vessel Christopher’s Joy Southwest Pass, LA | September 2014</a>
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<title>A Safe System Approach to Traffic Safety Roundtable</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/05/12/a-safe-system-approach-to-traffic-safety-roundtable/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/05/12/a-safe-system-approach-to-traffic-safety-roundtable/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 12 May 2021 18:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Global Road Safety Week]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Motorcycles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pedestrians]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Speeding]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thomas Chapman]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[By Member Thomas Chapman An estimated 42,000 traffic deaths occurred in 2020. This is an alarming number. From 2014 to 2019, overall traffic fatalities increased by 10 percent.  Over the same period, however, annual traffic deaths among vulnerable road users (pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists) jumped from 9,935 to 12,062— a 21 percent increase. If you … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/05/12/a-safe-system-approach-to-traffic-safety-roundtable/" class="more-link">Continue reading A Safe System Approach to Traffic Safety Roundtable →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/TChapman/Pages/bio_chapman.aspx">Member Thomas Chapman</a>
An estimated 42,000 traffic deaths occurred in 2020. This is an alarming number.
From 2014 to 2019, overall traffic fatalities increased by 10 percent.  Over the same period, however, annual traffic deaths among vulnerable road users (pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists) jumped from 9,935 to 12,062— a 21 percent increase. If you only look at pedestrian and bicyclist deaths, there was a 25 percent increase in fatalities from 2014 to 2019. So, disproportionately, increasing numbers of vulnerable road users are being killed on our roadways. We must do more to reverse this upward trend.
In April, we adopted our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/default.aspx">2021–2022 Most Wanted List</a>. The list includes a new safety item, <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-02.aspx">Protect Vulnerable Road Users Through a Safe System Approach</a>. With traffic fatalities trending in the wrong direction, it’s appropriate to evaluate how we approach roadway safety. At the NTSB, we’re focusing our attention on a Safe System approach.
How is a Safe System approach different?
Traditionally, as we have tried to mitigate and prevent crashes by changing individual human behavior, we’ve sought to convert everyone into perfect drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists. We try to reduce injury severity by increasing occupant protection and improving crashworthiness. We tend to put roadway safety in the hands of each individual road user, rather than taking a holistic approach. We’ve seen tremendous safety improvements through the years, such as developing safer vehicles, and we have seen a significant decline in motor vehicle occupant deaths over decades. But the overall trend is not downward, especially not for those outside of motor vehicles.
A Safe System approach focuses on injury severity by seeking to eliminate death and serious injury. In exchange, some less severe crashes are more tolerable. Instead of trying to make us all perfect drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists, a Safe System approach assumes that we all make mistakes and emphasizes methods to prevent these mistakes from causing deaths or serious injuries. Human vulnerabilities are accommodated by managing kinetic energy through engineering, design, and policy. We also acknowledge that road safety is a shared responsibility among road users, designers, planners, engineers, corporations, and policy makers.
That’s why, next week, we’re hosting an <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/Pages/2021-ssa-mwl-rt.aspx">NTSB MWL Roundtable: A Safe System Approach to Traffic Safety</a>. We recognize the need to educate others about what the Safe System approach is and to emphasize that Safe System—which underpins Vision Zero policies and initiatives—can’t be merely a slogan; it must integrate all proven safety countermeasures. Our virtual roundtable will highlight the key elements of the Safe System approach and will kick off our safety advocacy actions on this issue for the next two years.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" data-attachment-id="5260" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/print-25/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/2021_safesystemapproach.jpg" data-orig-size="1085,568" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"Print","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Print" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/2021_safesystemapproach.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/2021_safesystemapproach.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/2021_safesystemapproach.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5260" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/2021_safesystemapproach.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/2021_safesystemapproach.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/2021_safesystemapproach.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/2021_safesystemapproach.jpg?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/2021_safesystemapproach.jpg 1085w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
What should you expect from the roundtable?
We have a very strong lineup of panelists planned for the event. An expert from Sweden— the birthplace of Vision Zero—will discuss the origin, history, and principles of a Safe System approach. Other panelists will provide national, state, and local perspectives on implementing a Safe System approach, and we’ll discuss the elements of such an approach—safe roads, vehicles, road users, and speed, as well as post-crash care. <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/JHomendy/Pages/bio_homendy.aspx">Member Jennifer Homendy</a>, along with NTSB staff from the offices of Highway Safety and Research and Engineering, will also share their perspectives.
Want to learn more about the roundtable?
Visit our event page, <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/Pages/2021-ssa-mwl-rt.aspx">A Safe System Approach to Traffic Safety (ntsb.gov)</a>. The event is open to the public. <a href="http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=qoqy5luab&oeidk=a07ehvfvnnj07c4b3c9">Register for the roundtable</a>. You can also submit a question for the panelists by writing to <a href="/Users/chat/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/JXLXDGPB/NTSBSafeSystemRoundtable@ntsb.gov">NTSBSafeSystemRoundtable@ntsb.gov</a>.
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<title>Eliminate Distracted Driving</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/04/22/eliminate-distracted-driving/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 22 Apr 2021 17:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Bruce Landsberg]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5250</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and we launched our 2021–2022 Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements on April 6. It seemed only natural that we begin our Most Wanted List blog series with the item, “Eliminate Distracted Driving.” Crashes involving distracted drivers killed 3,142 people in 2019—up … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/04/22/eliminate-distracted-driving/" class="more-link">Continue reading Eliminate Distracted Driving →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/BLandsberg/Pages/bio_landsberg.aspx">Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg</a>
April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and we launched our 2021–2022 <a href="http://www.ntsb.gov/mwl">Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements</a> on April 6. It seemed only natural that we begin our Most Wanted List blog series with the item, “<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwl-21-22/mwl-hs-05.aspx">Eliminate Distracted Driving</a>.”
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="819" data-attachment-id="5253" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/hs-05-titles-sm/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/hs-05-titles-sm.jpg" data-orig-size="1500,1200" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="hs-05-titles-sm" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/hs-05-titles-sm.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/hs-05-titles-sm.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/hs-05-titles-sm.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5253" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/hs-05-titles-sm.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/hs-05-titles-sm.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/hs-05-titles-sm.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/hs-05-titles-sm.jpg?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/hs-05-titles-sm.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Crashes involving distracted drivers killed 3,142 people in 2019—up nearly 10 percent from the year before. A staggering 400,000 people were injured, some seriously and permanently. These numbers are certainly significantly under-reported, given police don’t always examine phone records after a crash and, although the problem of distraction is not new, the potential for distracted driving has increased exponentially with the introduction of personal electronic devices (PEDs). With an estimated 294 million smartphone users in the United States, our phones and other PEDs are a constant temptation for nearly all drivers. Our PEDs continually demand our attention, and our brains reward us for responding to their demands.
Although awareness is the first step in avoiding your own distracted-driving crash, we don’t believe awareness alone is enough to eliminate the problem. In many respects, driving distracted is the same as driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol—each is a behavioral choice that can result in death and life-altering injuries, not only to the perpetrators, but to many innocent people, as well. Solving the problem will require not only raising awareness and educating the public, but also enacting laws and implementing high-visibility enforcement.
We have investigated numerous distracted-driving crashes where PED use and distraction, in general, had tragic consequences. For example, on August 5, 2010, in <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/HAR1103.aspx">Gray Summit, Missouri</a>, a truck-tractor was traveling slowly or had stopped behind traffic on Interstate 44. A pickup truck merged from the left to the right lane and struck the rear of the tractor, initiating the first in a series of three collisions. The pickup truck driver was texting and driving.
Two school buses approached the collision site: a lead bus carrying 23 passengers and a following bus with 31 passengers. The driver of the lead bus became excessively focused on a motorcoach that had pulled over onto the shoulder, and the lead bus struck the rear of the pickup truck, pushing it forward and overturning it onto the back of the tractor. Moments later, the second school bus struck the right rear of the lead bus.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="682" data-attachment-id="5255" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/gray_summit_presentations-1-2/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/gray_summit_presentations-1-2.jpg" data-orig-size="1205,803" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="gray_summit_presentations-1-2" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/gray_summit_presentations-1-2.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/gray_summit_presentations-1-2.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/gray_summit_presentations-1-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5255" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/gray_summit_presentations-1-2.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/gray_summit_presentations-1-2.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/gray_summit_presentations-1-2.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/gray_summit_presentations-1-2.jpg?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/gray_summit_presentations-1-2.jpg 1205w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Gray Summit crash scene, showing Volvo tractor and lead school bus. GMC pickup is located between the two vehicles. The following school bus is located at right rear of photo. (Courtesy of Boles Fire Protection District)</figcaption></figure>
As a result of this crash, the driver of the pickup and one passenger seated in the rear of the lead school bus were killed. A total of 35 passengers from both buses, the two bus drivers, and the driver of the tractor sustained injuries ranging from minor to serious.
Education is critical to prevent distracted driving, particularly because there are still many myths out there about it. For example, drivers—and legislators—must understand that hands-free is notrisk free. People who would not dream of texting and driving or talking on a handheld phone while driving still take their chances when it comes to hands-free conversations. This purely mental aspect of distraction is called “<a href="https://appliedcognition.psych.utah.edu/publications/distractionmultitasking.pdf">cognitive distraction</a>.” Additionally, many drivers believe they are good “multitaskers” and exempt from the dangers of distracted driving. The truth is humans can only focus on one task at a time. You can drive or you can use a PED, but you can’t do both safely. Look at this way: your brain is only a single-core processor, and there are no upgrades available.
There’s a big disconnect between the facts and many drivers’ actions. Drivers need to disconnect from devices while driving, except when using them for navigation. All phones have a do-not-disturb feature that can be enabled while you drive—use it!
It can take some drivers a long time to change their minds about risky driving behavior, despite mountains of evidence that a driving behavior is unsafe. In fact, some never do. And what about when drivers do change their behavior and choose not to drive distracted? All other drivers must make the same choice for the issue to totally disappear, because, unfortunately, even the most conscientious driver has limited ability to respond to the risks careless drivers expose them to. Passengers, and even people outside a vehicle, are relatively powerless against “the other guy.”
That’s why, in addition to awareness and education, we also need the right laws and enforcement to make real progress, just like we’ve done to address other risky driving behaviors in the past.
That’s why, in addition to education, we need legislation to combat this problem. Our recommendations, if acted upon, can further protect all road users—whether inside a vehicle or out—against distracted drivers by building attentive driving into the law. Banning texting while driving is a start. Texting is manually, visually, and cognitively distracting. We also support bans on handheld phone use while driving. Although we strive for bans on all nonemergency PED use that don’t support the driving task, and, as mentioned, even though hands-free isn’t risk-free, banning handheld phone use is a step in the right direction. We also believe that distracted driving should be the target of high-visibility enforcement, like impaired driving and seat belt use are.
There are those who believe it’s their right to use their phones whenever, however. But consider the risk-reward tradeoff—death, permanent injury to you or someone else, massive legal struggles, and for what? To tell someone what you had for lunch? To discuss a business deal? To text your spouse a reminder to pick up the dry cleaning? Think about it. Maybe you think you’re immune to the dangers of distracted driving. Maybe you think this message is geared toward all the other drivers on the road. Maybe you think the science doesn’t apply to you. Tens of thousands of similarly self-assured distracted drivers have thought the same and gotten it horribly—and irrevocably—wrong!
“Eliminate Distracted Driving” is on our 2021–2022 Most Wanted List because insisting on attentive driving will reduce injuries and save lives, pure and simple. Make the choice to drive attentively and encourage others to do the same. If that doesn’t feel like enough, consider supporting one of the many distracted driving advocacy groups that are working to eliminate this problem. When driving, no distraction is worth the risk.
NTSB Investigations involving Distracted Drivers
<ul><li><a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/HAR2001.aspx">Collision Between a Sport Utility Vehicle Operating with Partial Driving Automation and a Crash Attenuator, Mountain View, CA (March 2018)</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/HAR1401.aspx">Collapse of the Interstate 5 Skagit River Bridge Following a Strike by an Oversize Combination Vehicle, Mt. Vernon, WA (May 2013)</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/HAR1103.aspx">Multivehicle Collision Interstate 44 Eastbound, Gray Summit, MO (August 2010)</a>    </li></ul>
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<title>Let’s Stop Going the Wrong Way</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/03/23/lets-stop-going-the-wrong-way/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 23 Mar 2021 18:52:54 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5245</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Robert Molloy, PhD, Director, NTSB Office of Highway Safety If you’re driving down a divided highway and see headlights coming right at you, or hear screeching tires and see cars and trucks swerving to get out of your way, it’s probably an indication you’re heading in the wrong direction. Another indicator may be the … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/03/23/lets-stop-going-the-wrong-way/" class="more-link">Continue reading Let’s Stop Going the Wrong Way →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Robert Molloy, PhD, Director, NTSB Office of Highway Safety
If you’re driving down a divided highway and see headlights coming right at you, or hear screeching tires and see cars and trucks swerving to get out of your way, it’s probably an indication you’re heading in the wrong direction. Another indicator may be the large signs that read “Wrong Way” and “Do Not Enter.” The signs are always there, yet, unfortunately, they can go unnoticed, with catastrophic results.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="440" data-attachment-id="5247" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/wwd-image/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/03/wwd-image.jpg" data-orig-size="1351,581" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="wwd-image" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/03/wwd-image.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/03/wwd-image.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/03/wwd-image.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5247" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/03/wwd-image.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/03/wwd-image.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/03/wwd-image.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/03/wwd-image.jpg?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/03/wwd-image.jpg 1351w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>“Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signs posted on an exit ramp (Source: New York State DOT)</figcaption></figure>
The NTSB has a long history of investigating collisions involving vehicles traveling the wrong way on high-speed divided highways. Wrong-way crashes occur relatively infrequently, but they are much more likely to result in fatal and serious injuries than any other type of highway crash.
In December 2012, we released a <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Documents/SIR1201.pdf">special investigation report</a> looking at the causal factors involved in wrong-way crashes. In that report, we issued 16 safety recommendations aimed at prevention, many of which are still open, awaiting action by highway safety regulatory agencies, automotive industry groups, and states.
As we strive toward safety, we must look at what the trends and data are telling us. Are we heading in the right direction regarding wrong-way crashes? Today, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety<a href="https://aaafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/20-1347-AAAFTS-Wrong-Way-Driving-Brief-FNL-CX.pdf"> released a research brief</a> examining fatal wrong-way crashes. It contained alarming statistics that should be a flashing “Wrong Way” warning sign to all of us. The trendline for these crashes is clearly moving in the wrong direction.
The AAA’s analysis shows that, between 2010 and 2018, there were 3,885 deaths resulting from wrong-way driving crashes—an average of 430 deaths per year. This is a 19-percent increase over the 360 fatalities per year found in our analysis of 2004 to 2009 crash data. In total, we have lost a staggering 6,024 precious lives in wrong-way crashes in just 15 years—an unacceptable loss of life, especially when these types of crashes are preventable.
Like our earlier report, AAA’s research found that alcohol impairment plays a large role in wrong‑way crashes. Over 60 percent of wrong-way drivers in fatal crashes are impaired. In May 2013, we published <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Documents/SR1301.pdf">Reaching Zero: Actions to Eliminate Alcohol-Impaired Driving</a>, which includes a comprehensive list of safety recommendations to help eliminate alcohol‑impaired driving. Specific prevention strategies needed to reduce wrong-way crashes include the following:
<ul><li>Increase high-visibility impaired-driving enforcement, including sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols, in areas where wrong-way driving movements are most prevalent.</li><li>Accelerate the development of in-vehicle alcohol-detection technologies.</li><li>Require the use of alcohol ignition interlock devices for all individuals convicted of driving-while-impaired offenses.</li><li>Reduce the per-se blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit to 0.05 or lower for all drivers. Lowering the BAC has been shown to provide a broad deterrent effect.</li></ul>
AAA research also found that older drivers are more at risk of wrong-way driving than their younger counterparts. The NTSB has open recommendations to the states calling on them to develop a comprehensive highway safety program for older drivers that incorporates, at a minimum, the elements of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s <a href="https://tntrafficsafety.org/sites/default/files/11.%20NHTSA%20Guideline%2013.%20OlderDriverSafety.pdf">Highway Safety Program Guideline No. 13—Older Driver Safety.</a> A successful program includes driver licensing and medical review of at-risk drivers, education for the medical and law enforcement community, and improved roadway design for older driver safety.
The NTSB, AAA, and others have developed a roadmap for preventing wrong-way crashes. It’s about time we do a U-turn and start heading in the right direction. I applaud the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety for this recent research. We can’t ignore the flashing warning sign that we are going the wrong way toward preventing deadly wrong-way crashes on our highways.
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<title>Twelve Years After Colgan 3407, FAA Still Hasn’t Implemented Pilot Records Database</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/02/12/twelve-years-after-colgan-3407-faa-still-hasnt-implemented-pilot-records-database/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 12 Feb 2021 19:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Aviation Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Transportation History]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Robert Sumwalt]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5242</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Chairman Robert Sumwalt I grew up in the South, and people sometimes say we do things slowly in that part of the country. Whether there’s any validity to that claim, I can’t say with certainty. What I can say with great certainty, however, is that speed isn’t an attribute commonly associated with the Federal … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/02/12/twelve-years-after-colgan-3407-faa-still-hasnt-implemented-pilot-records-database/" class="more-link">Continue reading Twelve Years After Colgan 3407, FAA Still Hasn’t Implemented Pilot Records Database →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/RSumwalt/Pages/bio_sumwalt.aspx">Chairman Robert Sumwalt</a>
I grew up in the South, and people sometimes say we do things slowly in that part of the country. Whether there’s any validity to that claim, I can’t say with certainty. What I can say with great certainty, however, is that speed isn’t an attribute commonly associated with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), an agency within the US Department of Transportation. Below is a sad, but true, example of the glacial pace of the FAA’s rulemaking processes—even in the wake of a congressional mandate to get something done. Perhaps the new secretary of transportation can give a needed boost to this untenable situation.
On this date 12 years ago—February 12, 2009—while on approach to the Buffalo‑Niagara International Airport in New York, Colgan Air flight 3407, a Bombardier Q-400 turboprop, plunged from the sky. Fifty lives were lost, including that of a man who died when the turboprop crashed into his home.
The NTSB’s year-long investigation revealed that, as the airplane slowed on approach, the captain became startled by the activation of the aircraft’s stall warning system. In response to something that should have been easily dealt with, the captain inappropriately manipulated the elevator controls, forcing the aircraft into its fateful dive. Our investigation found that the captain had a history of piloting performance deficiencies, including having failed several flight tests. Possibly more troubling, he concealed these performance deficiencies from Colgan when he applied for employment.
The <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/AAR1001.aspx">Colgan crash</a> was the deadliest US airline disaster in the past 19 years.
In response to this tragedy, the NTSB issued safety recommendations to the FAA to strengthen the way airlines ascertain a pilot applicant’s background, including requiring previous employers to disclose training records and records of any previous failures.
Congress took note of these recommendations and included them in a bill signed into law in August 2010. This law required the FAA to establish a pilot records database (PRD), and stipulated that “before allowing an individual to begin service as a pilot, an air carrier shall access and evaluate . . .  information pertaining to the individual from the pilot records database.” Items required to be entered into the PRD, and considered by hiring airlines, included “training, qualifications, proficiency, or professional competence of the individual, including comments and evaluations made by a check airman . . . any disciplinary action taken with respect to the individual that was not subsequently overturned; and any release from employment or resignation, termination, or disqualification with respect to employment.” Congress appropriated $6 million per year for the next 4 years to help facilitate creation of the PRD—a total of $24 million.
The FAA’s response reminds me of my college’s football team—they get off to a good start, but after scoring on the opening drive, they have difficulty executing for the rest of the game.
In early 2011, the FAA established an aviation rulemaking committee (ARC) to develop recommendations on the best way to implement the PRD. Despite the ARC completing its work and issuing a report to the FAA in July 2011—just 6 months after being tasked with developing recommendations—it wasn’t until September 2015 that the FAA began a phased approach to implementing the PRD.
By July 2016, Congress had become impatient with the FAA’s lack of progress. After all, it had been 6 years since the FAA was required to create the PRD, and there was still no appreciable progress. Congress gave the FAA a new deadline: it mandated the PRD be in place by April 30, 2017.
Unfortunately, April 30, 2017, came and went. Still no PRD. Meanwhile, 40 days after that deadline, a young pilot applied for employment at Atlas Air and was hired shortly thereafter. As with the Colgan Air captain, this pilot concealed his history of performance deficiencies, which deprived Atlas Air the opportunity to fully evaluate his aptitude and competency as a pilot. He struggled with training at Atlas, but after failing his check ride, he was retrained and passed. Tragically, on February 23, 2019, on what should have been a routine cargo flight from Miami to Houston, this pilot, like the Colgan Air captain, encountered something that startled him. He overreacted and put the Boeing 767 into a fatal dive. The commonalities between the Colgan Air crash and the <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/AAR2002.aspx">Atlas Air crash</a> are striking: Both pilots had a record of poor performance prior to their employment, both pilots concealed that information when applying for airline employment, and both pilots misapplied the flight controls following events they weren’t expecting. Events that should have been easily corrected. Events that, tragically, led to their aircraft plunging to the ground.
Neither of these sad events was an isolated case. Including these two crashes, the NTSB has investigated 11 air carrier accidents over 3 decades in which pilots with a history of unsatisfactory performance were hired by an airline and then were later involved in an accident attributed to their poor piloting performance.
After years of foot dragging, last March, the FAA provided its first visible indication of moving forward with the PRD, publishing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to give the public a glimpse of what the proposed rule may look like—10 years after Congress initially mandated it, and 3 years after the April 2017 deadline that Congress eventually imposed.
The NPRM indicated that the PRD should be implemented sometime this year; however, the NPRM also proposes allowing a 2-year phase-in period. This puts complete implementation somewhere around a 2023 timeframe, assuming this proposed timeline holds. If that’s the case, we will finally have the PRD 14 years after the Colgan Air disaster, 13 years after Congress mandated it, 5 years after the deadline imposed by Congress, and 4 years after the Atlas Air crash.
A crash is a tragedy. It’s even more tragic to see a similar crash happen again and again and not have the regulatory agency responsible for safeguarding the skies take corrective action in a reasonable timeframe. We’re past the point of reasonable, and the traveling public deserves better.
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<title>We Can Do Big Things. Just Look at Positive Train Control</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/01/26/we-can-do-big-things-just-look-at-positive-train-control/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/01/26/we-can-do-big-things-just-look-at-positive-train-control/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 26 Jan 2021 15:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Family Assistance]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Inside NTSB]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Rail Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Transportation History]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Jennifer Homendy]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5235</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Member Jennifer Homendy After 50 years of investigation, advocacy, and persistence by the NTSB, positive train control (PTC) is now a reality across the country! PTC systems use GPS and other technology to prevent certain train collisions and derailments. It could have been lifesaving in the 154 rail accidents that have killed more than … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2021/01/26/we-can-do-big-things-just-look-at-positive-train-control/" class="more-link">Continue reading We Can Do Big Things. Just Look at Positive Train Control →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/JHomendy/Pages/bio_homendy.aspx">Member Jennifer Homendy</a>
After 50 years of investigation, advocacy, and persistence by the NTSB, <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwlfs-19-20/mwl4.aspx">positive train control</a> (PTC) is now a reality across the country!
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe class="youtube-player" width="474" height="267" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IK0qNiqOWiI?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&start=5&wmode=transparent" allowfullscreen="true" style="border:0;" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox"></iframe>
</div><figcaption>This video highlights the NTSB’s more than 50 year effort in investigating PTC-preventable accidents and advocacy for this life-saving technology.</figcaption></figure>
PTC systems use GPS and other technology to prevent certain train collisions and derailments. It could have been lifesaving in the 154 rail accidents that have killed more than 300 people, and injured more than 6,800 passengers, crewmembers, and track workers in major accidents stretching across the nation, from Darien, Connecticut, in 1969, to Chatsworth, California, in 2008, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 2015, and DuPont, Washington, in 2017. But let’s step back and marvel at this real achievement—and the effort it took. Safety improvements are never easy or quick. It took more than 50 years of advocacy by the NTSB and historic action by Congress to make PTC a reality. For many of these years, the NTSB was a lonely voice for safety, pushing for PTC despite opposition from railroads over the price tag and technological hurdles. I know how tough the battle was because I was there. As staff director for the House subcommittee charged with overseeing rail safety, I played a role in ensuring that any effort to move legislation forward to improve rail safety included the NTSB’s recommendation to implement PTC. When I got to the NTSB, one of my priorities was to ensure that mandate was implemented.
It truly is remarkable in Washington to keep such clear focus on PTC across so many administrations, through so many changes in Congress and at the NTSB.
Earlier this month, I had the honor of <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/Pages/2021-ptc-mwl-webinar.aspx">moderating a panel</a> of current and former NTSB leaders and staff who recalled the long, bumpy road to PTC implementation. NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt and former agency heads Chris Hart, Debbie Hersman, and Jim Hall recalled their own contributions and noted how remarkable the agency’s sheer persistence was in a time of short attention spans and quickly changing priorities. It was so uplifting to hear their personal reflections of their time on the Board fighting for PTC, and their continued commitment to the agency and its critical safety mission. But it was the staff panel that really defined persistence. Generations of rail investigators and other staff worked every one of the 154 PTC-preventable accidents over the decades, launching to horrific crash scenes only to discover similarities pointing to the same solution: PTC. They spent holidays working. Missed birthdays and anniversaries. Completed their important jobs regardless of on-scene obstacles and personal priorities.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe class="youtube-player" width="474" height="267" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zMgs-IgSSF4?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&wmode=transparent" allowfullscreen="true" style="border:0;" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox"></iframe>
</div><figcaption>Recording of the January 14, 2021, NTSB live‑streamed discussion about Positive Train Control implementation.</figcaption></figure>
The public doesn’t often see what goes on behind the scenes at accident investigations, after investigations are completed when recommendations need to be implemented, and the tremendous work required to keep those recommendations at the forefront of discussions to improve safety. As stated in the first panel, board members come and go, but it’s the staff that keep these critical safety issues alive. It was truly remarkable and heartwarming to hear their reflections of the agency’s work and how that work has impacted public safety, as well as how it affected them personally. I hope it gave the public a sense of what it takes to stay focused on an issue for five full decades.
Was it worth it? You bet. PTC will save lives. Other safety improvements have also taken many years to implement. Midair collisions were dramatically reduced by the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS). That took decades to put in place. Airliner fuel-tank inerting systems, which addressed fuel tank explosions like the one that brought down TWA Flight 800 in 1996, also took years. And let’s not forget about the long fight for airbags and seat belts in passenger vehicles. All these transportation safety improvements were strongly and relentlessly advocated for by the NTSB.
We can do big things in America. We can save more lives on our rails, in the sky, in communities where pipelines are located, on the water, and on the highway. But major safety improvements like PTC take time, money and, perhaps most of all, incredible perseverance.
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<title>Drive Sober And Save Lives This Holiday Season</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/12/22/drive-sober-and-save-lives-this-holiday-season/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/12/22/drive-sober-and-save-lives-this-holiday-season/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 22 Dec 2020 16:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Holiday Travel]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impairment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thomas Chapman]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5184</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Member Tom Chapman The holiday season is a time of increased impaired-driving crashes. Accordingly, December has been designated National Impaired Driving Prevention Month to draw attention to the 100-percent preventable traffic fatalities and injuries attributed to impaired driving. In 2018, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 10,511 people were killed in … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/12/22/drive-sober-and-save-lives-this-holiday-season/" class="more-link">Continue reading Drive Sober And Save Lives This Holiday Season →</a>]]></description>
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By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/TChapman/Pages/bio_chapman.aspx">Member Tom Chapman</a>
The holiday season is a time of increased impaired-driving crashes. Accordingly, December has been designated <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-national-impaired-driving-prevention-month-2020/">National Impaired Driving Prevention Month</a> to draw attention to the 100-percent preventable traffic fatalities and injuries attributed to impaired driving.
In 2018, <a href="https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812864">according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration</a> (NHTSA), 10,511 people were killed in vehicle crashes in which at least one driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of 0.08 g/dL or higher. That number comprises 29 percent of the 36,560 traffic fatalities that year. In other words, those 10,511 deaths equal about 29 deaths per day, or one death every 50 minutes. These weren’t just numbers, though. They were mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, children, friends, and other loved ones.
Alcohol isn’t the only impairing substance that can increase the risk of a crash; illegal drugs and prescription and over-the-counter medications can be as dangerous as alcohol for a driver. Unlike alcohol impairment, however, the extent to which drugged driving contributes to fatalities and injuries is less well established, but one fact is certain: the prevalence of drug use—and, even more troubling, the use of multiple drugs—while driving is on the rise. Just this month (December 1, 2020), the NTSB held a Board meeting to consider the June 21, 2019, fatal crash involving a pickup truck and a group of motorcyclists in Randolph, New Hampshire. We determined that the <a href="https://go.usa.gov/x76Jk">probable cause of the crash</a> was the pickup truck driver crossing the centerline and encroaching into the oncoming lane of travel, which occurred because of his impairment from use of multiple drugs. Of the 22 individuals in the motorcycle group (riders and passengers), 7 were killed. An additional 7 were injured.
In October, <a href="https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/50941/dot_50941_DS1.pdf">NHTSA published a report</a> looking at drug and alcohol prevalence in seriously and fatally injured road users before and during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Based on data collected at trauma centers and medical examiners’ offices in five cities, before mid‑March 2020, 51 percent of seriously or fatally injured road users tested positive for at least one of the following: alcohol, cannabinoids (active THC), stimulants, sedatives, opioids, antidepressants, over-the-counter medication, or other drugs. Eighteen percent tested positive in multiple categories. Stay-at-home orders and reduced travel resulting from the pandemic did not, as you might assume, reduce the prevalence of drug use among drivers. According to the same NHTSA study, the proportion of drivers who tested positive for single and multiple substances jumped to 64 percent and 24 percent, respectively, after mid-March 2020.
The NTSB has issued specific recommendations that, if implemented, would save lives, such as requiring <a href="https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/H-12-045">all-offender ignition interlocks</a>, <a href="https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/H-13-005">.05 (or below) BAC limits</a>, and a <a href="https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/H-12-033">national drug testing standard</a>. Our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/default.aspx">Most Wanted List</a> includes the issue area “End Alcohol and Other Drug Impairment in Transportation,” and several <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Documents/2019-20/2019-20-MWL-SafetyRecs.pdf">additional recommendations</a> addressing the issue remain open.
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During this holiday season more than in years past, we should strive to keep ourselves and our friends and family as safe as possible. Wear a mask. Practice social distancing. Wash your hands. But also, abstain from drinking and driving. Designate a sober driver. Call a taxi or ride-share service. These simple steps can save our lives, as well as the lives of those we love, so we can enjoy many more holiday seasons to come.
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<title>Episode 38: Positive Train Control</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/12/21/episode-38-positive-train-control/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 21 Dec 2020 16:23:41 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Behind-the-Scene]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Jennifer Homendy]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5175</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, we talk with Member Jennifer Homendy and Tim DePaepe, Railroad Accident Investigator, Office of Railroad, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Investigations, about Positive Train Control (PTC), NTSB PTC-related investigations and recommendations and other rail safety issues. Fully Implement Positive Train Control is on the NTSB 2019-2020 Most Wanted List. Member Homendy’s full bio … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/12/21/episode-38-positive-train-control/" class="more-link">Continue reading Episode 38: Positive Train Control →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, we talk with <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/JHomendy/Pages/bio_homendy.aspx">Member Jennifer Homendy </a>and Tim DePaepe, Railroad Accident Investigator, Office of Railroad, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Investigations, about Positive Train Control (PTC), NTSB PTC-related investigations and recommendations and other rail safety issues.
<figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls src="http://media.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/episode-38-1.mp3" loop></audio></figure>
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<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwlfs-19-20/mwl4.aspx">Fully Implement Positive Train Control </a>is on the NTSB 2019-2020 Most Wanted List. 
Member Homendy’s full bio is available on our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/JHomendy/Pages/bio_homendy.aspx">website</a>.
For previous podcasts featuring Member Homendy and her blogs related to PTC visit our <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/jennifer-homendy/">website</a>. 
The full Railroad Accident Reports mentioned during the podcast are also available on our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/railroad.aspx">website</a>. 
Get the latest episode on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-scene-ntsb/id1286590741?mt=2">Apple Podcasts</a> , on <a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Ihj2oejp6ut3rrvs3kpej7y3qsu?t=Behind-the-Scene__NTSB">Google Play</a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/behindthescenentsb/behindthescene-ntsb">Stitcher</a>, or your favorite podcast platform.
And find more ways to listen here: <a href="https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/">https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/</a>
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<title>Resilience in a Time of Crisis: NTSB Employees Shine Despite Uncertainty</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/12/16/resilience-in-a-time-of-crisis-ntsb-employees-shine-despite-uncertainty/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 16 Dec 2020 18:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Robert Sumwalt]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[By Chairman Robert Sumwalt It’s been quite a year! This time last year, none of us had heard of COVID-19. It’s still difficult to process the profound effect that this crisis has had, and continues to have, on people’s lives and on society. At the NTSB, we understand all too well the duality of a … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/12/16/resilience-in-a-time-of-crisis-ntsb-employees-shine-despite-uncertainty/" class="more-link">Continue reading Resilience in a Time of Crisis: NTSB Employees Shine Despite Uncertainty →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/RSumwalt/Pages/bio_sumwalt.aspx">Chairman Robert Sumwalt</a>
It’s been quite a year! This time last year, none of us had heard of COVID-19. It’s still difficult to process the profound effect that this crisis has had, and continues to have, on people’s lives and on society.
At the NTSB, we understand all too well the duality of a crisis: difficult challenges bringing out the best in people. And this year, our people shined during an unpredictable and stressful time. By putting people first in 2020, we were able to grow, stay engaged, and thrive. From our hastily scrambled-together makeshift home offices and virtual board rooms, we managed, nonetheless, to get the job done.
As expected, our employees showed great resilience and agility, adapting to significant operational change in an uncertain and fast-changing landscape. Following the start of our max telework operations in March, NTSB employees found ways to continue delivering our high-quality products from home. Although I’ve always had high expectations of the NTSB workforce, I can honestly say that, considering the challenges we’ve all faced over the past 9 months, NTSB employees have surpassed all expectations.
The creativity and resilience of our employees working in the virtual environment has led to some unexpected efficiencies, too—in both time and resources. Through our employees’ hard work, the agency has been able to catch up on backlogs, follow up on and close several open recommendations, and publish more <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/AccidentReports.aspx">reports</a> and products than in years past, putting us in a stronger position moving forward.
Since the beginning of March, our investigative staff across each of the transportation modes have completed 1,293 <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/default.aspx">investigations</a>—a 21‑percent increase over the same period last year.
The employees in our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/organization/RE/Pages/office_re.aspx">Office of Research and Engineering</a> (RE), who support all our investigations by reading out recorders, providing medical expertise, analyzing materials to determine failure modes, and conducting statistical analyses and data requests, completed 760 reports and fulfilled 240 data requests. Within RE, the vehicle recorders investigative staff completed 361 reports, decreasing their backlog by 60 percent. The materials lab staff reduced their backlog to the lowest it’s been in 12 years.
Since the beginning of the year, our Freedom of Information Act backlog decreased by 85 percent, thanks to the hard work of the employees in our records management division. With a backlog now in the double digits, we have the lowest level of open cases in 8 years. These employees are committed to eliminating the backlog entirely.
NTSB <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/Pages/Previous_Events.aspx">Board meetings</a>, which are essentially hearings where the full Board deliberates accident findings, probable cause, and recommendations, are always conducted in open, publicly attended meetings. Thanks to the efforts of many, we successfully conducted seven virtual Board meetings. Although Board meetings have been webcast for years, these virtual meetings have had some of the highest ever attendance by remote viewers. Three of the seven had over 1,000 remote viewers, and one was the highest ever attended by remote viewers, with nearly 2,500 viewers.
Our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/organization/ALJ/Pages/office_alj.aspx">Administrative Law Judges </a>conducted 10 virtual hearings, with two more scheduled for next week. Meanwhile, the employees in the Office of the <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/organization/CFO/Pages/office_cfo.aspx">Chief Financial Officer</a> worked with outside auditors to obtain the agency’s 18th consecutive clean audit opinion. This involved working in the virtual space to supply auditors with over 300 documents.
The employees of the <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/Training_Center/Pages/TrainingCenter.aspx">NTSB Training Center</a> quickly adopted to the virtual environment, offering eight courses that typically would be taught in person at our training center in Ashburn, Virginia. This is in addition to producing over 40 training courses that are typically administered online for NTSB employees.
Our chief data scientist collaborated with the NTSB’s enterprise architect, our various modal offices, and employees in our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/organization/OC/Pages/office_comms.aspx">Office of Safety Recommendations and Communications</a> (SRC) to develop and roll out a new multimodal database known as SAFTI—System for Analysis of Transportation Investigations. Concurrent with this project, NTSB staff developed a new online database search tool known as <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/NR20201013.aspx">CAROL</a>—Case Analysis and Reporting Online query tool, which provides the public with advanced search capability when seeking investigative information. SAFTI and CAROL were mandated by Congress and, through the tireless efforts of our employees, the project was completed on time.
There are several other important functions that our employees performed behind the scenes, such as recruiting and onboarding new employees, working to procure contracts, writing legal opinions and providing legal counsel, along with other administrative tasks. Our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/organization/MD/Pages/md_md.aspx">managing director </a>and her staff, along with other senior agency leaders, run the NTSB’s day-to-day operations. All of these employees are so vital to keeping the wheels of the agency turning, whether it’s through clear skies or through the dark overcast of a pandemic.
None of this could have been possible without a robust IT network. Many of us, myself included, had never heard of Microsoft Teams or Zoom at the beginning of 2020. Thankfully, all throughout 2019, NTSB’s IT team was busily implementing a highly available, resilient network with state-of-the-art virtual collaboration tools. When the pandemic hit, these IT enhancements allowed us to continue to fulfill our mission, virtually and without delay.
Additionally, employees were able to stay informed and connected during 100 percent max telework thanks to the launch of our internal intranet platform, InsideNTSB. The SRC team deployed the new site at the end of February. It has become a daily hub for communications where employees can find fresh news and event announcements, work resources, and articles spotlighting staff and office achievements. 
Fundamental to accomplishing our mission was the commitment to keep our people safe. We assembled a COVID team consisting of our in-house medical professionals and representatives from other offices, including our managing director’s office, human resources division, and our workplace safety experts. The team was tasked with determining the safest and most appropriate way for us to resume investigative travel, including launching to investigations and investigative follow-up activities. Working in close collaboration, our RE and <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/organization/CIO/Pages/office_cio.aspx">CIO</a> staff developed a COVID dashboard, which shows the COVID rate in near real time for each county in the country. This information is fed into an extensive risk assessment that we use to determine how to proceed with travel.
All of this is to say how much I appreciate the resilience and commitment of the great employees of the NTSB, including the agency’s leadership team. While faced with a crisis of unimagined proportion, these employees have shown great resolve. It’s our employees that make the NTSB one of the best places to work in the federal government.
I wish all a safe and healthy holiday season, and a very good new year!
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<title>The Safety of ‘Part 135’ Flights—Why Should You Care?</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/12/14/the-safety-of-part-135-flights-why-should-you-care/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Dec 2020 14:50:39 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Aviation Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Aviation]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[Shaun Williams, Senior Aviation Accident Investigator, and Amy Terrone, Safety Advocate Ever paid for a helicopter tour over a scenic spot, like the islands of Hawaii or the Grand Canyon? Ever needed an emergency medical flight to a hospital or known someone who has? Ever joined the company CEO on a chartered flight to visit … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/12/14/the-safety-of-part-135-flights-why-should-you-care/" class="more-link">Continue reading The Safety of ‘Part 135’ Flights—Why Should You Care? →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
Shaun Williams, Senior Aviation Accident Investigator, and Amy Terrone, Safety Advocate
Ever paid for a helicopter tour over a scenic spot, like the islands of Hawaii or the Grand Canyon? Ever needed an emergency medical flight to a hospital or known someone who has? Ever joined the company CEO on a chartered flight to visit a client, or pitched in with friends to charter an airplane as part of a hunting trip or wedding party?
Part 135 certificated flights—more specifically, commuter and on-demand operations—include a variety of aircraft types and segments, many subject to different requirements. Although Part 135 operations are generally very safe, what you may not know is that these operations aren’t required to have all the same safety systems as commercial airlines. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) doesn’t mandate all air medical service, air taxi, or on-demand flights to have safety management systems (SMSs), flight data recorders and systems, and some other key safety critical training practices required of passenger-carrying commercial operations (or “Part 121”).
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="750" height="600" data-attachment-id="4308" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2019/02/06/2019-2020-most-wanted-list/mwl06s_part135/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl06s_part135.jpg" data-orig-size="750,600" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="MWL06s_Part135" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl06s_part135.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl06s_part135.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl06s_part135.jpg?w=750" alt="" class="wp-image-4308" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl06s_part135.jpg 750w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl06s_part135.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl06s_part135.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /></figure>
Unfortunately, our recent accident investigations have highlighted this safety gap. We have investigated too many Part 135 accidents since 2000, resulting in dozens of fatalities, that may have been prevented if operators had implemented important safety processes, whether as a result of FAA regulations or their own initiative. Because of our concerns, the NTSB added “Improve the Safety of Part 135 Aircraft Flight Operations” to our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwlfs-19-20/mwl3.aspx">Most Wanted List of transportation safety improvements</a> for 2019–2020.
The number of commercial flights this year has decreased dramatically due to the COVID‑19 pandemic, and there are indications that customers are turning to the Part 135 segment for some of their flying needs. This only increases our concern for the safety of these operations. According to a recent New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/30/travel/private-jets-coronavirus.html">article</a>, for example, many more travelers are considering Part 135 operations for leisure and business travel due to the limited availability of commercial flights as well as the desire to avoid crowded airports and airplanes.
So, what specific regulations are we asking the FAA to implement that are already required of commercial airliners but not of Part 135 operators? We want the FAA to:  
<ul><li>require SMSs—a formal, top-down, organization-wide approach to managing and tracking safety that also helps instill a strong safety culture in operations, and</li><li>require flight data monitoring programs (FDMs)—that is, use technology that records airplane flight data, then make adjustments based on operational data to improve safety going forward.</li></ul>
Although most executive-style Part 135 jets and turboprop aircraft chartered for business purposes are quite safe and even sometimes operate above and beyond what commercial airlines implement, we have seen a few cases in this segment in recent years that raise concern and prompted the bulk of our recommendations in this area. For example, in November 2015, we investigated an accident involving a chartered business jet, Execuflight flight 1526, that crashed into an apartment building on approach to the Akron Fulton International airport in Akron, Ohio. The flight was carrying seven employees of a Florida-based company, all of whom, as well as the captain and first officer, died. Fortunately, no one on the ground was injured. As an on‑demand flight, Execuflight flight 1526 was operating under Part 135 regulations. Our investigation revealed that the operator did not have a SMS or FDM program, either voluntarily or by regulation, that may have prevented the accident. As a result of this crash, we recommended that the FAA require that Part 135 operators like Execuflight have SMS and FDM programs, just as commercial airlines have had for years.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="550" height="413" data-attachment-id="5165" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/picture1-4/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/picture1.jpg" data-orig-size="550,413" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="picture1" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/picture1.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/picture1.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/picture1.jpg?w=550" alt="" class="wp-image-5165" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/picture1.jpg 550w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/picture1.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/picture1.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px" /><figcaption>Image from November 2015 Execuflight crash on approach to the Akron Fulton International airport in Akron, Ohio.</figcaption></figure>
Even if the FAA doesn’t require these programs, Part 135 operators should voluntarily adopt them, scalable to their operations, to ensure the highest level of safety for their aircraft and passengers. But, without regulatory requirements, some operators may not implement these safety policies to ensure that their flights are as safe as possible.
It’s important to remember that aviation in the United States is the safest form of transportation. As a customer, you can play a role in keeping it the safest and in improving the safety of on-demand operations. Before you book a flight, do a bit of research and ask a few questions. The following are a few examples of questions you might ask air charter operators directly or the broker if that’s who made your flight arrangements:
<ul><li>Does the operator hold its own FAA Air Carrier Certificate? Request copies.</li><li>Does the operator have a history of any accidents or recordable incidents?</li><li>Does the operator have an SMS program?</li><li>Does the operator use flight data recorders and FDM programs?</li><li>Does the operator belong to any safety organizations? Do these organizations audit or provide some sort of safety review for their members, which could possibly give an insight into their safety program?</li></ul>
You can visit the websites of organizations such as the <a href="https://www.acsf.aero/">Air Charter Safety Foundation</a> and its sister organization, the <a href="https://www.nata.aero/">National Air Transportation Association (NATA)</a> for information on these types of operations. The NATA also fulfills the important role of educating the flying public about <a href="http://www.avoidillegalcharter.com/">illegal charters</a>, an increasing safety concern for the industry and for the NTSB.  The FAA also has a helpful website to identify <a href="https://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/safe_charter_operations/">safe air charter operations</a> and how consumers can identify safe and unsafe operators. Illegal or unlicensed air charter operations—those who avoid FAA regulations and compromise safety for a buck or to meet a customer’s unrealistic demands—pose a serious safety hazard. You should look for charter operators who at least comply with current regulations—if not those that do more, such as have an SMS program in place—and reward them with your business.
By doing a little homework in advance, you can make an informed—and important—decision about boarding a Part 135 flight. You might also be making these flights safer for other passengers by making operators aware that their customers are watching and demanding safer operations.
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<title>Screening Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Can Save Lives</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/11/30/screening-commercial-motor-vehicle-drivers-for-obstructive-sleep-apnea-can-save-lives/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov 2020 15:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Drowsy Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Fatigue]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impairment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Medical Fitness]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thomas Chapman]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[By Member Tom Chapman Is it possible to have a sleep disorder and not know it? From personal experience, I can tell you the answer is yes. A few years ago, my doctor told me that I was at risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is a sleep disorder involving episodes of airway obstruction … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/11/30/screening-commercial-motor-vehicle-drivers-for-obstructive-sleep-apnea-can-save-lives/" class="more-link">Continue reading Screening Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Can Save Lives →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Member <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/TChapman/Pages/bio_chapman.aspx">Tom Chapman</a>
Is it possible to have a sleep disorder and not know it? From personal experience, I can tell you the answer is yes. A few years ago, my doctor told me that I was at risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is a sleep disorder involving episodes of airway obstruction and periods of not breathing while sleeping. OSA is not “just snoring”—it can result in fragmented sleep and subsequent daytime sleepiness. My doctor suggested I undergo a sleep study, which showed that I did indeed have OSA. The treatment I receive has made a major difference in the quality of my sleep and my overall wellness.
OSA is more common than many people think. Recent <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Garun_Hamilton/publication/305415857_Prevalence_of_Obstructive_Sleep_Apnea_in_the_general_population_A_systematic_review/links/57fc21ba08ae329c3d49811b/Prevalence-of-Obstructive-Sleep-Apnea-in-the-general-population-A-systematic-review.pdf">research</a> has shown that between 6 percent and 17 percent of adults have moderate to severe OSA, and it’s particularly common among males, older individuals, and those who are overweight. Untreated OSA can lead to health problems like diabetes and heart disease, and it increases a driver’s risk of being in a crash. However, with screening and, if needed, proper treatment, that risk can be significantly reduced. A 2020 Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) <a href="https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/49620">study on commercial driver safety risk factors</a> found that drivers aged 34 to 51 with treated OSA were significantly less likely to be involved in carrier-defined preventable crashes than drivers with untreated OSA.
Treating OSA improves safety, which is why “<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwlfs-19-20/mwl8.aspx">Require Medical Fitness—Screen and Treat for OSA</a>” is on our Most Wanted List of transportation safety improvements. For more than a decade, the NTSB has <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/H09_15_16.pdf">recommended</a> that the FMCSA implement a program to help identify and document treatment for commercial drivers with OSA. We also recommended that the FMCSA disseminate guidance for drivers, employers, and physicians about OSA, emphasizing that when OSA is effectively treated, drivers are routinely approved for continued medical certification.
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="750" height="600" data-attachment-id="4311" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2019/02/06/2019-2020-most-wanted-list/mwl09s_medicalfitness/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl09s_medicalfitness.jpg" data-orig-size="750,600" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="MWL09s_MedicalFitness" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl09s_medicalfitness.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl09s_medicalfitness.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl09s_medicalfitness.jpg?w=750" alt="" class="wp-image-4311" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl09s_medicalfitness.jpg 750w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl09s_medicalfitness.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl09s_medicalfitness.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /></figure></div>

Unfortunately, the FMCSA has not yet implemented these recommendations, and we continue to investigate crashes that could have been prevented with a more robust medical certification system. For example, we recently determined that a March 1, 2018, <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/HAB2003.pdf">crash in Elmhurst, Illinois</a>, was due to fatigue from a driver’s OSA-related sleep disorder. In that case, a large truck struck a car that had slowed due to traffic congestion. The rear-end collision initiated a chain of crashes involving two other large trucks and three more cars, killing one person and injuring five others.
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="716" height="411" data-attachment-id="5151" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/elmhurst-crash-scene/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/elmhurst-crash-scene.jpg" data-orig-size="716,411" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="March 1, 2018, Elmhurst, Illinois, crash scene" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="This image, taken on the day of the crash, show six of the seven vehicles involved in the March 1, 2018, Elmhurst, Illinois, multivehicle collision. (Source: WFLD-TV)
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/elmhurst-crash-scene.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/elmhurst-crash-scene.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/elmhurst-crash-scene.jpg?w=716" alt="" class="wp-image-5151" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/elmhurst-crash-scene.jpg 716w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/elmhurst-crash-scene.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/elmhurst-crash-scene.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 716px) 100vw, 716px" /><figcaption>This image, taken on the day of the crash, show six of the seven vehicles involved in the March 1, 2018, Elmhurst, Illinois, multivehicle collision. (Source: WFLD-TV)</figcaption></figure></div>

The driver of the striking truck in Elmhurst had a history of OSA and other health issues; however, he didn’t report his health history accurately to the certified medical examiner (CME) and was thus able to obtain a medical certificate. He later told investigators he believed he had recovered from OSA, but a postcrash sleep study showed that he still had a sleep disorder. Did this driver know his sleep disorder was not resolved? Regardless of what he believed, he should have accurately reported his health history, but, as we have seen in multiple investigations, drivers sometimes omit key health information during their medical review. In the Elmhurst report, the lack of a robust medical certification evaluation process to identify and screen commercial drivers at high risk for OSA contributed to the crash.
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="788" data-attachment-id="5152" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/ntsb-investigators-elmhurst-crash/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/ntsb-investigators-elmhurst-crash.jpg" data-orig-size="1638,1262" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 6s","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1520006038","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.15","iso":"25","shutter_speed":"0.00085763293310463","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="NTSB Highway Crash Investigators" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="NTSB investigators examining the damaged and burnt 2016 Kenworth truck-tractor (the Pioneer truck) involved in the March 1, 2018, Elmhurst, Illinois, multivehicle collision (Source: NTSB)
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/ntsb-investigators-elmhurst-crash.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/ntsb-investigators-elmhurst-crash.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/ntsb-investigators-elmhurst-crash.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5152" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/ntsb-investigators-elmhurst-crash.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/ntsb-investigators-elmhurst-crash.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/ntsb-investigators-elmhurst-crash.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/ntsb-investigators-elmhurst-crash.jpg?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/ntsb-investigators-elmhurst-crash.jpg 1638w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>NTSB investigators examining the damaged and burnt 2016 Kenworth truck-tractor (the Pioneer truck) involved in the March 1, 2018, Elmhurst, Illinois, multivehicle collision (Source: NTSB)</figcaption></figure></div>

The FMCSA has not taken the steps we believe are necessary to effectively address the safety risks of OSA for all drivers. In 2016, the agency tasked its <a href="https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/mrb">Medical Review Board</a> (MRB) with identifying factors the agency should consider with respect to potential future rulemaking concerning OSA. In November of that year, the MRB and the FMCSA’s <a href="https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/advisory-committees/mcsac/welcome-fmcsa-mcsac">Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee</a> (MCSAC) issued several joint <a href="https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/advisory-committees/mrb/final-mrb-task-16-01-letter-report-mcsac-and-mrb">recommendations </a>that provide authoritative and useful guidance for screening commercial drivers for OSA. These recommendations also demonstrate that the large majority of drivers being screened or tested for OSA can continue to work during their evaluation (and treatment, if needed).
 Some of the conditions that the group felt merited a referral for OSA diagnostic testing included the following:
<ul><li>reporting excessive sleepiness while driving or having a crash associated with falling asleep</li><li>having a <a href="https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/BMI/bmicalc.htm">body mass index</a> (BMI) greater than or equal to 40</li><li>having a BMI between 33 and 40 as well as 3 or more additional risk factors, such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, loud snoring, large neck circumference, age 42 and above, or being a male or a postmenopausal female.</li></ul>
CMEs need to know how to access MRB/MCSAC recommendations on OSA screening. Why? Because screening drivers for OSA—and following up with diagnostic testing and treatment, as needed—is a win-win for drivers, carriers, and the public. In 2017, we recommended that the FMCSA make the MRB/MCSAC recommendations easily accessible to CMEs to be used as guidance when evaluating commercial drivers for OSA risk. We will continue to encourage the FMCSA to implement all our open recommendations involving OSA. Until then, the MRB/MCSAC recommendations can serve as useful guidance for carriers and for the medical community.
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<title>It’s Past Time to Think About Cognitive Distraction</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/11/23/its-past-time-to-think-about-cognitive-distraction/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 23 Nov 2020 15:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Holiday Travel]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Jennifer Homendy]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5142</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Member Jennifer Homendy When you think of common ways drivers are distracted on the road, you probably think of talking or texting on mobile devices, eating, reading, or perhaps even putting on makeup or shaving. It’s easy to recognize that these risky behaviors are distractions. There are even laws on the books in several … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/11/23/its-past-time-to-think-about-cognitive-distraction/" class="more-link">Continue reading It’s Past Time to Think About Cognitive Distraction →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/JHomendy/Pages/bio_homendy.aspx">Member Jennifer Homendy</a>
When you think of common ways drivers are distracted on the road, you probably think of talking or texting on mobile devices, eating, reading, or perhaps even putting on makeup or shaving. It’s easy to recognize that these risky behaviors are distractions. There are even <a href="https://www.ghsa.org/index.php/state-laws/issues/distracted%20driving">laws</a> on the books in several states that ban these sorts of distractions—particularly hand-held mobile phone use—so drivers know better than to do these things while driving (even if they do them on occasion anyway). Hands-free mobile phone use, on the other hand . . . that’s okay, right?
Not so fast.
Distracted driving causes an alarming number of deaths and injuries on America’s roads each year, and it has proven to be a hard problem to solve. <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving">Data</a> from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say that 2,800 people died because of distracted driving in 2018 alone. And distraction is particularly dangerous for vulnerable road users; 400 pedestrians and 77 bicyclists were killed that year.
The United States has made huge improvements in reducing the number of deaths seen on our roadways since the 1960s and 1970s, but, over the past decade, we’ve stagnated in lowering the number of fatalities even further. We’ve greatly improved vehicle and road safety as well as seatbelt law adherence, and we’ve cut drunk driving deaths in half. But distracted driving continues to be an ever-problematic issue on our nation’s roadways. Even my very own friends—knowing what I do for a living—have recently tried to have calls or video chats with me while they were driving!
Although, like all safety issues, we need to address distracted driving awareness and prevention year round, for 1 month each year, advocates turn up the focus. That’s how critical it is to saving lives. Vice Chairman Landsberg recently wrote a <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/10/05/perform-a-death-defying-act-without-lifting-a-finger/">blog</a> in recognition of Distracted Driving Awareness Month. A few months ago, I wrote a <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/07/06/fatal-distraction-the-dangers-when-our-eyes-arent-faithful-to-the-road/">blog</a> about my own story of being in a crash caused by a distracted driver. I pointed out that, short of full cell phone bans, drivers can make hands-free calls through Bluetooth, which is still a cognitive distraction.
Why is that important?
A 2011 <a href="https://aaafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/CognitiveDistractionReport.pdf">study</a> detailed three types of distraction:
<ul><li>Visual (taking your eyes off the road),</li><li>Manual (taking your hands off the wheel to hold something, like food or a mobile device), and</li><li>Cognitive (those distractions that cause a driver to take his or her mind off the primary task of driving safely, like making hands-free calls or even stressing about an important meeting).</li></ul>
Even when your eyes are on the road, simple cognitive distractions can impair your driving performance and diminish your reaction time. Many people don’t realize that cognitive distractions while driving can be like driving while impaired—both reduce your ability to react.
Nearly a decade ago, the NTSB issued a <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=H-11-039">recommendation</a> to all 50 states and the District of Columbia, calling for a ban on all nonemergency use of portable electronic devices for all drivers, which would include prohibiting hands-free cell phone use. Ever since then, we have been advocating for states to ban cell phones while driving, and “Eliminate Distractions” has rightfully been on our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/default.aspx">Most Wanted List </a>of transportation safety improvements since 2013. Although 48 states have banned texting while driving, no state has banned hands-free cell phone use.
The <a href="https://www.nsc.org/road-safety/tools-resources/infographics/hands-free-is-not-risk-free">National Safety Council</a> and <a href="https://media.acg.aaa.com/aaa-warns-motorists-hands-free-isnt-risk-free.htm">AAA</a>, along with others, remind us that hands-free isn’t risk free. We need to think about and address cognitive distraction and its harmful consequences. When we’re behind the wheel, let’s make sure we keep our families and our roads safe by focusing on the primary task at hand—driving safely.
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="600" height="600" data-attachment-id="5146" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/driving-fast-with-a-sport-car-9/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/distracted4.jpg" data-orig-size="600,600" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"4.5","credit":"oneinchpunch - Fotolia","camera":"NIKON D610","caption":"Man driving the car on the freeway in Los Angeles, California. concept about traffic jam,transportation and travels","created_timestamp":"1442411238","copyright":"oneinchpunch - Fotolia","focal_length":"12","iso":"250","shutter_speed":"0.008","title":"Driving fast with a sport car","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Driving fast with a sport car" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="Man driving the car on the freeway in Los Angeles, California. concept about traffic jam,transportation and travels
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/distracted4.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/distracted4.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/distracted4.jpg?w=600" alt="" class="wp-image-5146" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/distracted4.jpg 600w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/distracted4.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/distracted4.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></figure></div>
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<title>Joining Forces on Distracted Driving</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/11/16/joining-forces-on-distracted-driving/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/11/16/joining-forces-on-distracted-driving/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2020 16:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Bruce Landsberg]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5136</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The blog was co-authored by: Bruce Landsberg, Vice-Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board Lorraine Martin, President & CEO, National Safety Council By now, we all should be aware of the deadly consequences of distracted driving. Yet, driving while distracted by cell phone use has become too common an occurrence on the nation’s roads. This must stop. … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/11/16/joining-forces-on-distracted-driving/" class="more-link">Continue reading Joining Forces on Distracted Driving →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
The blog was co-authored by:
<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/BLandsberg/Pages/bio_landsberg.aspx">Bruce Landsberg</a>, Vice-Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board
<a href="https://www.nsc.org/company/executives/lorraine-martin">Lorraine Martin</a>, President & CEO, National Safety Council
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="599" height="399" data-attachment-id="5139" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/picture1-3/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/picture1.jpg" data-orig-size="599,399" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="picture1" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/picture1.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/picture1.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/picture1.jpg?w=599" alt="" class="wp-image-5139" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/picture1.jpg 599w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/picture1.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/picture1.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 599px) 100vw, 599px" /></figure></div>

By now, we all should be aware of the deadly consequences of <a href="https://nsc.org/road/safety-topics/distracted-driving/distracted-driving-home">distracted driving</a>. Yet, driving while distracted by cell phone use has become too common an occurrence on the nation’s roads. This must stop.
It has been nearly a decade since the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) called on the states and the District of Columbia to enact laws that <a href="https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/H-11-039">prohibit the non-emergency use of cell phones</a> by all drivers. It has been more than a decade since the National Safety Council (NSC) became the first nongovernment organization to call for a total cell phone use ban for all drivers. Yet, tragically, no state has implemented this life-saving measure.
Between 2011 and 2018, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that 25,926 people were killed and an estimated 2.4 million more were injured in distraction-affected crashes. While these numbers are staggering, we know that they don’t accurately reflect how big a problem distracted driving is because distracted driving-related crashes are, in fact, <a href="https://www.nsc.org/road/safety-topics/distracted-driving/crash-report">greatly underreported</a>.
“Eliminate Distractions” is on the NTSB’s <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwlfs-19-20/mwl1-fsh.aspx">2019-2020 Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements</a>. We are calling on states, operators and industry, vehicle manufacturers, and the driving public to take action.
Together, NTSB and NSC have joined forces to urge the following immediate actions:
States: Enact laws that prohibit all cell phone use while driving—yes, even hands free. Laws must send a clear message to drivers that there is no safe way to use a phone while driving.
Employers: Establish strong transportation and driving policies that prohibit cell phone use by employees – no calls, no social media, no texts, no email while driving. The most effective safe driving policies go beyond merely prohibiting all cell phone use to include activities such as using infotainment systems while driving. Policies should also prohibit employees from contacting other employees when you know they will be driving. (Employers don’t have to wait for a state law to tell you to do this; be a leader in safe practices.)
Drivers (you and me!): Use your phone’s “do not disturb” feature. Place your phone out of reach or simply turn your phone off until you reach your destination. No call, no text, no update is <a href="https://nsc.org/safety-first/distracted-driving-is-dangerous-driving">worth your life or the life of someone else</a>.
Manufacturers of portable electronic devices: Develop a distracted driving lock-out mechanism or application for portable electronic devices that will automatically disable any driver-distracting functions when a vehicle is in motion, but allows the device to be used in an emergency.
The NTSB and NSC are committed to eliminating preventable crashes caused by cell phone use. The research is clear: <a href="https://nsc.org/road/safety-topics/distracted-driving/distracted-driving-research">we cannot safely multitask</a> behind the wheel. So, when you choose to drive distracted, you don’t just pose a risk to yourself, you are a risk to the safety of the others you share the road with.
October was National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, but we need to focus on this issue all year. We will continue in our fight and efforts to end the preventable crashes, injuries and fatalities caused by distracted driving. Join us in this commitment by acting responsibly and making attentive, <a href="https://nsc.org/road/distracted-driving-awareness-month">distraction-free driving</a> your goal when behind the wheel. We are aware of the problem; now let’s take action to prevent any more needless tragedies.
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<title>World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/11/13/world-day-of-remembrance-for-road-traffic-victims/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 13 Nov 2020 15:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Child Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Drowsy Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Fatigue]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impairment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Medical Fitness]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Motorcoach]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Motorcycles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pedestrians]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Speeding]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Teen Driving]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[By Nicholas Worrell, Chief, NTSB Safety Advocacy Division Sunday, November 15, is the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. I’ve known many of you who have lost loved ones this way, and I’ve worked alongside many survivor advocates for years. Along with the courage and strength I’ve seen among these survivors, it’s plain to me that … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/11/13/world-day-of-remembrance-for-road-traffic-victims/" class="more-link">Continue reading World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Nicholas Worrell, Chief, NTSB Safety Advocacy Division
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" data-attachment-id="5132" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/print-23/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/2020-world-remembrance.jpg" data-orig-size="1085,568" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"Print","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Print" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/2020-world-remembrance.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/2020-world-remembrance.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/2020-world-remembrance.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-5132" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/2020-world-remembrance.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/2020-world-remembrance.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/2020-world-remembrance.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/2020-world-remembrance.jpg?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/2020-world-remembrance.jpg 1085w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Sunday, November 15, is the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. I’ve known many of you who have lost loved ones this way, and I’ve worked alongside many survivor advocates for years. Along with the courage and strength I’ve seen among these survivors, it’s plain to me that nobody who loses a loved one in a traffic crash needs a day of remembrance. For them, that remembrance is always there, no matter what day. The World Day of Remembrance is for the rest of us. It’s a time to reflect on these often preventable losses and work to prevent future ones from occurring. In 2020, it feels like we need this commemoration day more than ever. With the uncertainty of a global pandemic, far too many people are forgetting—or becoming numb to—the year-in, year-out toll that traffic crashes take on our country.
I was recently invited to speak on an International Road Federation panel on the topic, “Crashes: The Forgotten Pandemic.” I reminded participants of Dr. Anthony Fauci’s statement earlier this year when asked about the annual 40,000 US road deaths in America. He said that the COVID pandemic is emergent, but road crash deaths are a chronic condition.
However, although the condition is chronic, it’s not untreatable.
My talk touched on some of the ways that the road safety community is working to protect the most vulnerable road users: bicyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians. I also pointed out that, unlike COVID-19, the road crash pandemic strikes the young disproportionately. In fact, in the United States, from early in childhood to well into middle age, a young person is more likely to die in a motor vehicle crash than any other way.
The impact on young peoples’ lives from our acute COVID pandemic is incalculable. Students whipsaw between learning in person and on-line, with little certainty of what style comes next, and face restrictions on seeing friends. Yet, the far more pressing danger to a young person comes from the risks of speeding and of distracted, drowsy, or impaired driving. In fact, speeding crashes have increased markedly this year as the volume of traffic has decreased.
Remembrance is about honoring those we’ve lost. It’s also respecting those who, thankfully, are still with us. This World Day of Remembrance, we can respect the living and honor those lost by recommitting ourselves to practicing safe driving habits—some of which we may not have had the opportunity to use for a while. Before you get behind the wheel, make sure you’re rested and sober. Put the phone away. Don’t speed. With all the younger generations are doing to protect high‑risk loved ones from COVID, let’s do the same to lower their risk of dying in a motor vehicle crash. Let’s finally put both pandemics behind us.
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<title>Drowsy Driving Prevention Week</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/11/09/drowsy-driving-prevention-week/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 09 Nov 2020 14:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Drowsy Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Fatigue]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impairment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Medical Fitness]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5085</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Robert Molloy, PhD, Director, NTSB Office of Highway Safety As we wrap up Drowsy Driving Prevention week, I want to remind drivers about the importance of getting adequate rest before operating their car, truck, or bus. Drowsy Driving Prevention Week (November 1–8) was established by the National Sleep Foundation to draw attention to the … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/11/09/drowsy-driving-prevention-week/" class="more-link">Continue reading Drowsy Driving Prevention Week →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Robert Molloy, PhD, Director, NTSB Office of Highway Safety
As we wrap up Drowsy Driving Prevention week, I want to remind drivers about the importance of getting adequate rest before operating their car, truck, or bus. Drowsy Driving Prevention Week (November 1–8) was established by the National Sleep Foundation to draw attention to the hazards associated with operating a motor vehicle while fatigued. The NTSB, regulators, industry, and individual drivers all play a role in reducing fatigue-related crashes.
Drowsy and fatigued driving are not new problems. According to research conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, every year, about one in ten crashes on our roadways involves a drowsy driver, and one in five of those crashes is fatal. “<a href="https://go.usa.gov/x784m">Reducing fatigue-related accidents</a>” is on our NTSB’s Most Wanted List of transportation safety improvements because our many investigations have shown that fatigue is a significant factor in highway crashes. For example, we recently completed two investigations of commercial truck crashes, one in <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/HAB2002.pdf">Boise, ID</a>, and the second in <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/HAB2003.pdf">Elmhurst, IL</a>, in which we found that the drivers failed to stop for slowed traffic as a result of fatigue. In the Boise crash, the driver’s fatigue was related to inadequate sleep duration; in Elmhurst, it resulted from a sleeping disorder related to sleep apnea.
In preparation for Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, we hosted a webinar on <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/Pages/2020-MWL-fatigue-webinar.aspx">Managing Commercial Motor Vehicle Driver Fatigue Risks</a>. This joint effort between NTSB staff and industry experts from trucking and busing looked at programs companies can implement to reduce the risk of fatigued driving, and we discussed how the North American Fatigue Management Program, guidelines and materials that enable motor carriers to implement a comprehensive fatigue management program, can be an effective tool to prevent driver fatigue. You can watch <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOHKV3XANYc&t=8s">the webinar</a> online.
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From an individual perspective, we all need to take responsibility for our fitness to get behind the wheel, not only to protect ourselves and our passengers, but to keep other road users safe. Commercial drivers have provided heroic services to our nation during the COVID-19 pandemic; the least we can do is ensure that we aren’t putting them at risk by getting behind the wheel drowsy or fatigued.
Drowsy and fatigued driving have real-life—and death—consequences. As this week of special attention comes to an end, don’t let alert driving take a back seat.
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<title>EPISODE 37: PEDESTRIAN SAFETY</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/10/29/episode-37-pedestrian-safety/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 29 Oct 2020 16:47:13 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Behind-the-Scene]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thomas Chapman]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5067</guid>
<description><![CDATA[October has been designated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as National Pedestrian Safety Month, with the goal of increasing awareness about pedestrian safety, and reminding drivers and walkers that staying safe is a shared responsibility. In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @ NTSB, Member Tom Chapman, his Special Assistant Ivan Cheung, and Senior Highway … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/10/29/episode-37-pedestrian-safety/" class="more-link">Continue reading EPISODE 37: PEDESTRIAN SAFETY →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
October has been designated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as National Pedestrian Safety Month, with the goal of increasing awareness about <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/pedestrian-safety">pedestrian safety</a>, and reminding drivers and walkers that staying safe is a shared responsibility.
In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @ NTSB, <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/TChapman/Pages/bio_chapman.aspx">Member Tom Chapman</a>, his Special Assistant Ivan Cheung, and Senior Highway Crash Investigator Rafael Marshall discuss our pedestrian Special Investigation Report, its safety recommendations, pedestrian safety tips, and other considerations that both drivers and pedestrians should take when sharing the roadway.
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="5074" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/5074/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/episode-37-mp3-image.jpg" data-orig-size="800,800" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/episode-37-mp3-image.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/episode-37-mp3-image.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/episode-37-mp3-image.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-5074" width="321" height="321" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/episode-37-mp3-image.jpg?w=321 321w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/episode-37-mp3-image.jpg?w=642 642w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/episode-37-mp3-image.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/episode-37-mp3-image.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 321px) 100vw, 321px" /></figure></div>
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The NTSB Special Investigation Report: Pedestrian Safety mentioned in this episode is available <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Pages/SIR1803.aspx">here</a>.
The NTSB final report for the Tempe, AZ, crash mentioned in this episode is available <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/HAR1903.aspx">here</a>.
The previously released podcast featuring <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/TChapman/Pages/bio_chapman.aspx">Member Tom Chapman</a>, is available <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/05/14/episode-32-member-thomas-chapman/">here</a>.
The previously released podcast featuring Ivan Cheung is available <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2017/11/30/episode-5-nathan-doble-and-ivan-cheung/">here</a>.
The previously released podcast featuring Rafael Marshall is available <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2018/12/20/episode-21-concan-texas-investigation/">here</a>.
Get the latest episode on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-scene-ntsb/id1286590741?mt=2">Apple Podcasts</a> , on <a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Ihj2oejp6ut3rrvs3kpej7y3qsu?t=Behind-the-Scene__NTSB">Google Play</a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/behindthescenentsb/behindthescene-ntsb">Stitcher</a>, or your favorite podcast platform.
And find more ways to listen here: <a href="https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/">https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/</a>
]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Episode 36: DISTRACTED DRIVING AWARENESS MONTH</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/10/08/episode-36-distracted-driving-awareness-month/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 08 Oct 2020 15:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Behind-the-Scene]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Bruce Landsberg]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5031</guid>
<description><![CDATA[October 2020 has been designated Distracted Driving Awareness Month. This national effort focuses on ways to change driver behavior through legislation, enforcement and education. In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @ NTSB, we have a conversation with Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg and Senior Highway Safety Investigator Don Karol talk about NTSB crash investigations involving distraction, the decisions … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/10/08/episode-36-distracted-driving-awareness-month/" class="more-link">Continue reading Episode 36: DISTRACTED DRIVING AWARENESS MONTH →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
October 2020 has been designated Distracted Driving Awareness Month. This national effort focuses on ways to change driver behavior through legislation, enforcement and education.
In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @ NTSB, we have a conversation with <a href="https://ntsb.gov/news/speeches/BLandsberg/Pages/bio_landsberg.aspx">Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg</a> and Senior Highway Safety Investigator Don Karol talk about NTSB crash investigations involving distraction, the decisions that led to the NTSB issuing a safety recommendation calling on states to prohibit the use of personal electronic devices while driving, and why it’s time to move past awareness and into action to prevent distracted driving.
<figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/episode-36-3.mp3" loop preload="auto"></audio><figcaption>Behind-the-Scene @NTSB podcast episode 36</figcaption></figure>
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="5037" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/5037/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/episode-36-mp3-image.jpg" data-orig-size="800,800" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/episode-36-mp3-image.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/episode-36-mp3-image.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/episode-36-mp3-image.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-5037" width="331" height="331" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/episode-36-mp3-image.jpg?w=331 331w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/episode-36-mp3-image.jpg?w=662 662w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/episode-36-mp3-image.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/episode-36-mp3-image.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 331px) 100vw, 331px" /></figure></div>

The NTSB final reports for the investigations mentioned in this episode are available <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/highway.aspx">here</a>.
The previously released podcast featuring Vice Chairman Landsberg, is available <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2019/03/07/episode-23-vice-chairman-bruce-landsberg/">here</a>.
Get the latest episode on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-scene-ntsb/id1286590741?mt=2">Apple Podcasts</a> , on <a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Ihj2oejp6ut3rrvs3kpej7y3qsu?t=Behind-the-Scene__NTSB">Google Play</a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/behindthescenentsb/behindthescene-ntsb">Stitcher</a>, or your favorite podcast platform.
And find more ways to listen here: <a href="https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/">https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/</a>
]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Perform a Death-Defying Act Without Lifting a Finger!</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/10/05/perform-a-death-defying-act-without-lifting-a-finger/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 05 Oct 2020 18:24:40 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Bruce Landsberg]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=5022</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg This blog will be short and, to some, a bit brutal. To mark the start of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, let’s have a talk. You’ve heard all this before but stay with me for just a moment. Can we just stop? Can we just stop killing and seriously injuring innocent … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/10/05/perform-a-death-defying-act-without-lifting-a-finger/" class="more-link">Continue reading Perform a Death-Defying Act Without Lifting a Finger! →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/BLandsberg/Pages/bio_landsberg.aspx">Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg</a>
This blog will be short and, to some, a bit brutal. To mark the start of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, let’s have a talk. You’ve heard all this before but stay with me for just a moment.
Can we just stop?
Can we just stop killing and seriously injuring innocent people every day because we aren’t paying attention to the task at hand? A lot of innocent people. Let’s start with the statistics, then move to the human cost.
Every state—except Montana and Missouri—now <a href="https://www.iihs.org/topics/distracted-driving/cellphone-use-laws">bans texting</a> while behind the wheel. Despite the many laws aimed at reducing distracted driving, people still do it. The carnage is significant. In 2018, nearly 3,000 people were killed and thousands more suffered life-altering injuries in distracted-driving–related crashes. And those are just the ones that we know about—there are lots of situations in which the police know what happened but not why, and the drivers don’t admit to having been distracted.
The science is clear: humans don’t multitask well. Take your eyes off the road for 3 seconds, and the odds of a crash go up significantly. A naturalistic driving study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that texting behind the wheel increases the risk of a crash or near crash by as much as 23 times. Don’t believe me? Take a moment and type “be home soon” on your phone. For most of us, it took about 3 seconds to key in that message. With each additional second, the odds of a crash go up exponentially. At 55 mph, a vehicle covers about the length of a football field in 3 seconds and is exposed to multiple hazards: trucks, cars, trees, light poles, bridge abutments, bicyclists, pedestrians. You’re also a threat to everyone nearby. We’ve got the data to back that up.
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="600" height="600" data-attachment-id="4522" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2019/11/18/distracted-driving/driving-fast-with-a-sport-car-7/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/distracted4.jpg" data-orig-size="600,600" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"4.5","credit":"oneinchpunch - Fotolia","camera":"NIKON D610","caption":"Man driving the car on the freeway in Los Angeles, California. concept about traffic jam,transportation and travels","created_timestamp":"1442411238","copyright":"oneinchpunch - Fotolia","focal_length":"12","iso":"250","shutter_speed":"0.008","title":"Driving fast with a sport car","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Driving fast with a sport car" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="Man driving the car on the freeway in Los Angeles, California. concept about traffic jam,transportation and travels
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/distracted4.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/distracted4.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/distracted4.jpg?w=600" alt="" class="wp-image-4522" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/distracted4.jpg 600w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/distracted4.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/distracted4.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></figure></div>
What’s that? You’ve been texting and calling while driving for years and haven’t had a crash? As Clint Eastwood asks in the movie Dirty Harry, “Do you feel lucky?” Your single datapoint means the fates have been kind so far. Consider this: every single driver (and there were thousands just last year!) who has had a distracted driving crash was 100% certain that it wouldn’t happen to them. Luck can only last so long.
There was another useful bit of advice from Eastwood in Dirty Harry, “A man’s got to know his limitations.” So do drivers! Every one of those distracted drivers last year would opt for a do-over if they could. Unfortunately, there are no do-overs. If you’re lucky enough not to be injured or killed because you were driving distracted, you might still be responsible for killing or maiming others. That selfish moment could mean serious jail time or a devastating lawsuit. Is that call or text message so important that it makes sense to risk another person’s life? How about your own life or freedom?
Distracted driving falls into the same category as driving under the influence. Many people used to drive a bit buzzed and think it was OK. Nowadays, the potential for jail time, license suspension, and a lot of cash out of pocket has deterred many from driving after drinking. The thing is, whether it’s impaired or distracted driving, the risks and results are the same. This selfish, voluntary, and unnecessary act can have preventable, deadly consequences.
So, can we just stop? Don’t take the risk; it’s not worth it. It can wait.

<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwlfs-19-20/mwl1.aspx">Eliminate Distractions </a>is on the NTSB 2019-2020 <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/default.aspx">Most Wanted List</a>. 
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<title>Where the Action is in Safety</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/09/24/where-the-action-is-in-safety/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 2020 19:20:35 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Inside NTSB]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4928</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Dolline Hatchett, Director, Office of Safety Recommendations and Communications As the Director of the NTSB’s Office of Safety Recommendations and Communications (SRC), I lead a group that is focused on getting the whole story of accident investigations to the public. When there is a transportation disaster, my group is on scene alongside the frontline … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/09/24/where-the-action-is-in-safety/" class="more-link">Continue reading Where the Action is in Safety →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Dolline Hatchett, Director, Office of Safety Recommendations and Communications
As the Director of the NTSB’s Office of Safety Recommendations and Communications (SRC), I lead a group that is focused on getting the whole story of accident investigations to the public. When there is a transportation disaster, my group is on scene alongside the frontline investigators, recording <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5aVmmm4Qt9GzSakUG-2XHIUTw-tt-ERf">B-roll</a> (video imagery of the accident site), and helping prepare NTSB spokespeople for on-scene <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5aVmmm4Qt9EVPCJUGy0WgDP2rjTkB05P">press conferences</a>.
But that’s just the leading edge of the investigation—and of our communications responsibility. For major investigations, we also focus attention on the public <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5aVmmm4Qt9FKstKggWfQbPtynySAAUeB">Board meeting</a>. And, equally important but often overlooked, we help craft <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/RecTabs.aspx">safety recommendations</a> and advocate for them to be enacted, following up with recipients—sometimes for years—to see the job through.
My division’s mission runs the gamut, from fine points of grammar and usage to getting the right information out so that the people who need it have access to it. And lately, I’ve been thinking about how our language affects how we think—and what we do—about safety.
The <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/RSumwalt/Pages/bio_sumwalt.aspx">Chairman</a> of the NTSB has said that safety is not something that you can get or own, it’s something that you do, day after day. How does that relate to how we talk and write about safety? Well, if safety is something that we do, it’s not safety the noun (or the modifiers safe or safely). At heart, safety is a verb: to save.
To save lives. To save people from injury, and to save property and the environment from damage. How do we do this? By identifying hazards and mitigating risk (more action words—things we do to save ourselves, others, and our world!).
Why is this important? I notice too often that things that we do “for safety” are easily waved off. They’re thought of as things we do just in case something unlikely happens, but that cost time and money for the usual case when those measures aren’t needed. But the unlikely occurrence is out there, ready to happen, if that procedure isn’t followed or that safe design fails. We can’t be lax about safety, even if the likelihood of something going wrong is very low.
Those who are not deeply passionate about safety might dismissively explain that a feature is “for safety.” Think about the last automobile commercial you saw. I’m certain you heard something like “safety features” mentioned as flashy footage of that new car raced around coastline curves. I bet you weren’t thinking at all about what that term—safety features—even meant. It wasn’t made out to be as important as the car’s horsepower or built-in infotainment system. But what if the commercial narrator used a different term? Would you pay more attention if the narrator said, “To save your life, this vehicle is equipped with . . .” before summarizing the car’s safety features?
As you may have concluded, I truly appreciate the power of verbs—as far as language goes, they’re where the action is, where the rubber meets the road. By the same token, safety recommendations are where the rubber meets the road in the NTSB’s mission to improve safety. They’re about actions that can be taken to save people from death or injury, or to save property or the environment.
For example, although we recommend and advocate for transportation operators to use safety management systems (SMSs), implementing an SMS means starting and continuing a process. Although this process does include documents (safety policy), it does not begin and end there. A company must also do safety every day. Complying with rules is a good foundation, but to move ahead in a safety journey, we need the verb to save, which means making an ongoing, active effort. What does it mean to continually save in all that we do? It means following all the safety rules, of course, as a first step. But it also means continually scanning the horizon for the next hazard, to save lives, save others or ourselves from injuries, and save property and the environment from damage. This continual vigilance aligns with the proactive, recurring feedback necessary for a successful SMS.
We can all take a page from the safety professional’s book and forget safety the noun. Especially in today’s environment, safety is not something that we get or own. It’s something that we do, and continue to do, every day.
Safety is, by all rights, a verb. It calls for action. Make safety something you do, and keep doing it.
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<title>General Aviation’s Silent Killer in the Sky</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/09/23/general-aviations-silent-killer-in-the-sky/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 23 Sep 2020 16:37:05 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Aviation Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Aviation]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4877</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Michelle Watters, MD, PhD, MPH As the weather gets colder and using your aircraft’s cabin heater becomes more of a necessity than a luxury, there’s no better time to start thinking about a plan for handling carbon monoxide. Commonly called the “silent killer,” carbon monoxide is best known as the cause of household poisonings … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/09/23/general-aviations-silent-killer-in-the-sky/" class="more-link">Continue reading General Aviation’s Silent Killer in the Sky →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[By Michelle Watters, MD, PhD, MPH
As the weather gets colder and using your aircraft’s cabin heater becomes more of a necessity than a luxury, there’s no better time to start thinking about a plan for handling carbon monoxide. Commonly called the “silent killer,” carbon monoxide is best known as the cause of household poisonings from oil or gas furnaces, stoves, water heaters, or portable generators or fireplaces. For general aviation pilots, carbon monoxide exposure poses a particularly concerning threat because impairing levels can build quickly in an enclosed cabin, and even nonfatal levels can lead to tragic consequences in flight.
For example, <a href="https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/ReportGeneratorFile.ashx?EventID=20170601X41223&Akey=1&Rtype=Final&Itype=FA">in 2017, a private pilot was flying his newly purchased Varga 2150A airplane</a> on a visual flight rules cross-country flight. After flying for about 80 minutes, the airplane suddenly entered a spiraling descent from cruise flight. Witnesses observed the airplane flying erratically at low altitude before it impacted an open field near Bowling Green, Ohio; they stated that the engine was running until impact. Toxicological testing of the pilot’s blood found 55% carbon monoxide saturation (toxic level is 20 percent).
<img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4899" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/621866-1/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/621866-1.jpg" data-orig-size="936,673" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Image from June 1, 2017, airplane crash near Bowling Green, OH" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/621866-1.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/621866-1.jpg?w=474" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4899" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/621866-1.jpg" alt="Image from June 1, 2017, airplane crash near Bowling Green, OH" width="936" height="673" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/621866-1.jpg 936w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/621866-1.jpg?w=150&h=108 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/621866-1.jpg?w=300&h=216 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/621866-1.jpg?w=768&h=552 768w" sizes="(max-width: 936px) 100vw, 936px" />
Carbon Monoxide and the Danger of Exposure
So, what is carbon monoxide and why is it dangerous? Carbon monoxide is a simple chemical formed from the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing compounds, such as aviation fuel. It’s odorless, tasteless, and colorless, so your senses don’t provide much of a warning if you’re exposed! (Although, if you do smell exhaust fumes, always assume they contain carbon monoxide.) Carbon monoxide is harmful to people because it competes with oxygen to bind to hemoglobin, an iron-containing protein in your red blood cells. Not only does it outcompete oxygen—which means there’s less oxygen circulating in your blood—but it prevents the blood from unloading oxygen to the tissues and vital organs that need it—including your brain.
What happens when you’re exposed? At low concentrations, symptoms of exposure are mild and vague, and include headache, nausea, and fatigue. You might think you’re just feeling a bit off that day. As the concentration of carbon monoxide in your blood increases, so does impairment, and you’ll start experiencing dizziness, confusion, and disorientation. For longer exposures or high enough concentration levels in your blood, symptoms can be incapacitating and include unconsciousness, coma, and even death.
In the case of the Varga pilot, exposure to carbon monoxide explains his loss of control—he likely suffered confusion, disorientation, and loss of consciousness. But how was he exposed to carbon monoxide in the first place? Examination of the Varga’s heat exchanger showed that the outside casing had either previously been repaired or had been originally constructed of metals with different properties. About half the casing was discolored and exhibited varying signs of corrosion. Small holes from corrosion were found in the casing material, which provided a means for carbon monoxide to enter the cockpit from the exhaust system.
Internal Combustion Engines and Carbon Monoxide Exposure
Wherever there’s an operating internal combustion engine, carbon monoxide is likely being produced. Many airplanes with internal combustion engines are heated by air warmed from circulating around the exhaust system using a heater shroud. As in the case of the Varga pilot, a defect or leak in the exhaust pipes or muffler can introduce carbon monoxide into the cockpit. Although piston engines produce the highest concentrations of carbon monoxide, exhaust from turbine engines can also cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
Our accident investigations show that there are one or two fatal or serious aircraft accidents each year in which carbon monoxide is a finding, contributing factor, or probable cause. Although these accidents are more prevalent in colder months, carbon-monoxide-related accidents happen throughout the year (for instance, the Varga accident occurred in June).
Maintenance and Inspection Issues
Maintenance logbooks indicated that the Varga’s most recent annual inspection was completed less than a month before the accident, and the logbooks didn’t contain any record of heat exchanger repair or replacement. The heat exchanger’s condition at the time of the accident indicates an insufficient annual inspection.
A <a href="http://www.tc.faa.gov/its/worldpac/techrpt/ar0949.pdf">Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) report</a> found that inadequate maintenance and inspection has contributed to many carbon-monoxide–related accidents. Deficiencies included poor welds, unapproved modifications, and missed holes or cracks on visual inspection. The FAA also found that, for carbon-monoxide–related accidents involving mufflers, there was a strong relationship between the muffler’s lifespan and its failure—the mufflers in the majority of these accidents had more than 1,000 hours of use.
Preventing Carbon Monoxide Exposure
So, how do you prevent carbon monoxide exposure? The first key step is preventing exposure—make sure to routinely inspect your aircraft’s exhaust system and replace when warranted. During each 100‑hour or annual aircraft inspection, ensure your mechanic thoroughly inspects the exhaust systems, air ducting firewalls, and door and window seals. During preflight inspections, look for cracking at the ends of your muffler and evidence of soot, which might indicate cracking in the muffler. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for the lifetime limit on your muffler and schedule for replacement parts.
Even with best efforts, leaks may happen. Secondary prevention involves being alerted to the danger before it becomes a problem. Don’t rely solely on knowing the symptoms of carbon monoxide as your warning system—they’re not specific enough to be recognized as exposure before impairment sets in. You might have heard that your skin, lips, or fingernails turn red when you’re exposed to carbon monoxide, but discoloration only happens sometimes, and only at very high levels of exposure. If you do turn red, you’re probably already too impaired to realize it, and it’s probably too late to recover.
So how can you be alerted to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide? Just like for your home, multiple types of carbon monoxide detectors are available for your aircraft and can be placed on your instrument panel. Detectors that only change color when carbon monoxide reaches a certain level are undesirable. The color change may be subtle in some lighting, and these detectors require that you regularly scan the device. Also, color-change devices need to be replaced regularly, and their useful lives may be shortened by exposure to direct sunlight—there’s often no way to tell when they’ve stopped working. Detectors mounted on the instrument panel with audible alerts or flash notifications provide the best warning. The FAA report mentioned earlier in this article found that electrochemical sensors were most suitable for use in general aviation due to their relatively high accuracy, quick response time, and low power consumption.
The next thing to consider is what you’ll do if your carbon monoxide detector goes off, you feel symptoms, or you suspect carbon monoxide in your aircraft. Unlike other medical emergencies where your crew may be able to assist, carbon monoxide exposure affects everyone on your aircraft. Communicate with air traffic control immediately and tell them you suspect carbon monoxide leak and exposure. When flying to the nearest airfield, descend to the lowest safe altitude, as carbon monoxide binds hemoglobin more readily and strongly at higher altitudes. Turn off the heater. Maximally increase cabin fresh air ventilation, open windows if permissible. Consider supplemental oxygen if it’s safe to use. Once on the ground, seek medical attention and do not continue your flight until the aircraft is inspected and repaired.
The NTSB determined that the probable cause of the Varga aircraft accident was the pilot’s loss of control due to impairment from carbon monoxide poisoning. Contributing to the accident was the corrosion of the heat exchanger and the failure of maintenance personnel to adequately inspect and repair or replace the exchanger during the most recent annual inspection. These factors were all avoidable with a little extra care. Inspect your aircraft. Know the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, but don’t rely on them for warning. Install a carbon monoxide detector. Take immediate action.
Interested in more information?
You can learn more by viewing these NTSB and FAA resources:
<ul>
<li>NTSB Safety Alert—<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-alerts/Documents/SA-069.pdf">Pilots: Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning</a></li>
<li>NTSB Safety Alert companion video—<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2q7TISBFbc&feature=youtu.be">Pilots: Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning</a> features a pilot who shares his personal story on carbon monoxide poisoning and prevent it from happening to you.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_20-32B.pdf">Carbon Monoxide (CO) Contamination in Aircraft – Detection and Prevention </a>(Advisory Circular [AC] 20-32B) contains information on the potential dangers of CO exposure from faulty engine exhaust systems or cabin heaters, means of detecting CO, and procedures to follow when exposure is suspected.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_43.13-1B_w-chg1.pdf">Acceptable Methods, Techniques, and Practices—Aircraft Inspection and Repair</a> (AC 43-13-1B) contains inspection methods and repair techniques in chapter 8 to prevent exhaust system failures that could lead to CO exposure.</li>
<li><a href="https://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgSAIB.nsf/0/0e14cab5c5c72df7862576e900511da6/$FILE/CE-10-19%20R1.pdf">Engine Exhaust and Carbon Monoxide Detectors</a> (Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-10-19R1) informs owners and operators of the importance of installing CO detectors.</li>
<li>FAA brochure <a href="https://www.faa.gov/pilots/safety/pilotsafetybrochures/media/CObroforweb.pdf">Carbon Monoxide: A Deadly Menace</a><span style="font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;white-space:pre-wrap;widows:2;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;word-spacing:0;"> contains medical information concerning the symptoms of CO exposure and methods of avoiding exposure. </li>
</ul>

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<media:title type="html">Image from June 1, 2017, airplane crash near Bowling Green, OH</media:title>
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<title>Rail Safety Week 2020</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/09/21/rail-safety-week-2020/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2020 16:58:08 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Rail Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Jennifer Homendy]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[By Member Jennifer Homendy Today kicks off Operation Lifesaver’s 2020 Rail Safety Week in North America. In normal years, Operation Lifesaver and its partners hold events across the country to educate the public on rail safety issues and promote safe actions around railroad tracks. Those efforts will be focused on virtual outreach this year. This … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/09/21/rail-safety-week-2020/" class="more-link">Continue reading Rail Safety Week 2020 →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/JHomendy/Pages/bio_homendy.aspx">Member Jennifer Homendy</a>
Today kicks off <a href="https://oli.org/about-us/public-awareness-campaigns/rail-safety-week">Operation Lifesaver’s 2020 Rail Safety Week</a> in North America. In normal years, Operation Lifesaver and its partners hold events across the country to educate the public on rail safety issues and promote safe actions around railroad tracks. Those efforts will be focused on virtual outreach this year. This is important work because, tragically, hundreds of people are fatally struck by trains in incidents that could have been avoided, and there are far too many close calls. Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) <a href="https://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/OfficeofSafety/publicsite/graphs.aspx">data</a> shows there were 422 total fatalities on US railroads last year, the majority of which were trespassing or highway–rail grade crossing incidents.
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It isn’t uncommon to witness risky behavior on or near railroad tracks. Have you ever seen a car, pedestrian, or cyclist ignore warnings that a train is approaching and cross tracks anyway? How about those family photos taken on train tracks? In May, I wrote a <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/05/28/when-it-comes-down-to-you-and-a-train-you-wont-win/">blog</a> about the dangers of trespassing and risky behavior at rail grade crossings—behavior I witnessed myself on a recent visit to Alaska.
Railroad tracks are private property, and trespassing is not only unlawful, it’s dangerous. In 2014, the NTSB investigated an <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/rab1501.aspx">accident</a> involving a film crew trespassing on CSX tracks near Jesup, Georgia. The actions of the film crew, who were not authorized to film on CSX right‑of-way, resulted in the death of one crewmember and caused injuries to six others when a freight train passed on the bridge where the crew was filming.
Trains have the right of way to pass through highway–rail grade crossings without stopping for road traffic. In fact, it’s our responsibility—the road users—to stop for train traffic. There are both passive and active highway–rail grade crossings. At passive crossings, signage will warn road users to be vigilant when crossing tracks and to look for oncoming trains. At active crossings, often found in more populated areas, flashing lights, audible alarms, and automatic gates will warn of an approaching train. If you are a Waze user, <a href="https://media.amtrak.com/2020/08/amtrak-partners-with-waze-to-announce-global-rollout-of-railroad-crossing-alerts/">the app will now alert drivers</a> that they are approaching railroad crossings.
Have you ever noticed the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=30&v=e_aoLar4GlA&feature=emb_title">blue and white signs</a> posted near grade crossings? The Emergency Notification System (ENS) signs include a phone number and the crossing’s USDOT number so the railroads can be notified of an emergency or warning device malfunction. If, for some reason, you become stuck on the tracks at a grade crossing, immediately get out of your vehicle and move to safety. Then, find this sign to alert the railroad. If you do not see a sign, call 911.
I think it’s also important to mention that September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. This year has been challenging for all of us and paying attention to our mental health is more important than ever. There are resources that can help: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) is available 24/7 for English or Spanish speakers, and for those who are hard of hearing. There is absolutely nothing wrong with seeking support when we’re feeling vulnerable.
Let’s take care of ourselves—and each other—and take rail safety seriously. Remember: trains are heavy, moving fast, and take over a mile to come to a stop. It’s up to us to obey warnings, be vigilant, and stay off the tracks.
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" data-attachment-id="4871" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/print-22/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/safetyreminder_seetrackthinktrain-flip-1.jpg" data-orig-size="1085,568" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"Print","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Print" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/safetyreminder_seetrackthinktrain-flip-1.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/safetyreminder_seetrackthinktrain-flip-1.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/safetyreminder_seetrackthinktrain-flip-1.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-4871" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/safetyreminder_seetrackthinktrain-flip-1.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/safetyreminder_seetrackthinktrain-flip-1.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/safetyreminder_seetrackthinktrain-flip-1.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/safetyreminder_seetrackthinktrain-flip-1.jpg?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/safetyreminder_seetrackthinktrain-flip-1.jpg 1085w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>
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<title>Episode 35: School Transportation Safety</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/09/10/episode-35-school-transportation-safety/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2020 15:59:23 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Behind-the-Scene]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael Graham]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4852</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, Member Michael Graham and Highway Investigators Michele Beckjord and Meg Sweeney share lessons learned from our school-transportation-related crash investigations and discuss why school buses are the safest form of transportation for students. For more information about NTSB school transportation-related investigations, safety recommendations and presentations, visit the NTSB School Bus … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/09/10/episode-35-school-transportation-safety/" class="more-link">Continue reading Episode 35: School Transportation Safety →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, Member Michael Graham and Highway Investigators Michele Beckjord and Meg Sweeney share lessons learned from our school-transportation-related crash investigations and discuss why school buses are the safest form of transportation for students.
<figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls src="http://media.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/episode-35.mp3"></audio></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4857" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/09/10/episode-35-school-transportation-safety/episode-35-2/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/episode-35.jpg" data-orig-size="1500,1500" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Episode 35" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/episode-35.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/episode-35.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/episode-35.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-4857" width="512" height="512" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/episode-35.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/episode-35.jpg?w=512 512w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/episode-35.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/episode-35.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/episode-35.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></figure>
For more information about NTSB school transportation-related investigations, safety recommendations and presentations, visit the NTSB School Bus Safety <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/Pages/schoolbuses.aspx">page</a>.
The NTSB final reports for the investigations mentioned in this episode are available <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/highway.aspx">here</a>.
The previously released podcast featuring Member Graham, is available <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/04/30/episode-31-member-michael-graham/">here</a>.
Get the latest episode on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-scene-ntsb/id1286590741?mt=2">Apple Podcasts</a> , on <a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Ihj2oejp6ut3rrvs3kpej7y3qsu?t=Behind-the-Scene__NTSB">Google Play</a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/behindthescenentsb/behindthescene-ntsb">Stitcher</a>, or your favorite podcast platform.
And find more ways to listen here: <a href="https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/">https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/</a>
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<title>San Bruno Victims and Their Families Deserve Long-Overdue Action</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/09/09/san-bruno-victims-and-their-families-deserve-long-overdue-action/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 09 Sep 2020 17:05:37 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Infrastructure]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pipeline]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Transportation History]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Jennifer Homendy]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4844</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Member Jennifer Homendy Today marks 10 years since the devastating natural gas pipeline rupture that shattered a residential neighborhood in San Bruno, California. The September 9, 2010, explosion destroyed 38 homes and damaged 70 others. Even worse, 8 people were killed, 10 people sustained serious injuries, and many others suffered minor injuries. The Accident … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/09/09/san-bruno-victims-and-their-families-deserve-long-overdue-action/" class="more-link">Continue reading San Bruno Victims and Their Families Deserve Long-Overdue Action →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/JHomendy/Pages/bio_homendy.aspx">Member Jennifer Homendy</a>
Today marks 10 years since the devastating natural gas pipeline rupture that shattered a residential neighborhood in San Bruno, California. The September 9, 2010, explosion destroyed 38 homes and damaged 70 others. Even worse, 8 people were killed, 10 people sustained serious injuries, and many others suffered minor injuries.
The Accident
When I think of San Bruno, I struggle with the ‘right’ words to describe the horrific events that unfolded shortly after 6:00 p.m.—a time when many families across our nation are just sitting down for dinner.
In the moments after the rupture, calls flooded into 911, with reports of what many thought was a plane crash, a gas station explosion, or some combination of the two. One caller said it felt like an earthquake, and a fire captain who was on scene said, “It looked like Armageddon.” In fact, the rupture was so explosive that it produced a crater about 72 feet long by 26 feet wide and launched a 28-foot section of failed pipe about 100 feet south of the crater. The released gas almost immediately ignited. Emergency responders arrived within minutes to battle the ensuing inferno, yet it took Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) an astonishing 95 minutes to shut off the flow of gas that was intensifying the destruction. Firefighting efforts continued for 2 days, with 600 firefighters and 325 law enforcement personnel on scene.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="600" height="446" data-attachment-id="4846" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/accident-scene-with-the-crater-in-the-foreground-and-the-rupture/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/san-bruno.jpg" data-orig-size="600,446" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"National Transportation Safety B","camera":"","caption":"Photograph, San Bruno, CA","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"Accident scene with the crater in the foreground and the rupture","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Accident scene with the crater in the foreground and the rupture" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="Photograph, San Bruno, CA
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/san-bruno.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/san-bruno.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/san-bruno.jpg?w=600" alt="San Bruno, CA, accident scene with the crater in the foreground and the ruptured pipe section in the background" class="wp-image-4846" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/san-bruno.jpg 600w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/san-bruno.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/san-bruno.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /><figcaption>San Bruno, CA, accident scene with the crater in the foreground and the ruptured pipe section in the background</figcaption></figure>
NTSB Warnings
I’m not going to get into the numerous failures at PG&E that led to the rupture. I want to focus on those 95 minutes. In December 1970, the NTSB released a <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Documents/PSS7101.pdf">Special Study of Effects of Delay in Shutting Down Failed Pipeline Systems and Methods of Providing Rapid Shutdown</a>. You read that right—1970. We found that delays in shutting down pipelines increase the magnitude of catastrophe, and that, when the flow of gas or hazardous liquid is stopped soon after an initial rupture, the effects of many accidents would have been minimized or eliminated. In other words, numerous lives could’ve been saved, and injuries prevented.
Our report highlighted the 1968 rupture of a medium-pressure gas line in front of a daycare in Hapeville, Georgia. Construction crews on scene were unable to locate the buried valve to shut off the gas flow. A few minutes later, an explosion occurred inside the daycare. The ensuing fire engulfed the building and nine people were killed, including seven children. Three other children were seriously injured.
Nine other incidents—all involving failures to shut down pipelines—were cited in the report, and many more have occurred since it was published. The common theme? What we said in 1970 held true in San Bruno and holds true today: “For every one of the accidents cited, there are devices or equipment currently available which probably could have prevented the accident or greatly minimized its effect.”
We’ve been urging federal regulators to require those devices for 50 years! In fact, they’re still on our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Documents/2019-20/2019-20-MWL-SafetyRecs.pdf">Most Wanted List</a> of transportation safety improvements.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="750" height="600" data-attachment-id="4305" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2019/02/06/2019-2020-most-wanted-list/mwl03s_hazmat/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl03s_hazmat.jpg" data-orig-size="750,600" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="MWL03s_HazMat" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl03s_hazmat.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl03s_hazmat.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl03s_hazmat.jpg?w=750" alt="" class="wp-image-4305" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl03s_hazmat.jpg 750w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl03s_hazmat.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl03s_hazmat.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /></figure>
The San Bruno Investigation
Getting back to San Bruno. In those crucial 95 minutes during which the gas continued to flow, PG&E control center staff knew there had been a rupture along the pipeline, but never once called 911. The three PG&E employees who first arrived on scene, two of whom were supervisors, had no idea how to operate mainline valves. They had to call people who were qualified to operate them, and by the time those mechanics located the valves and got to the first one, it was 7:20 p.m., over an hour after the rupture occurred. Meanwhile, the fire, described by NTSB investigators as a massive blowtorch, was still raging.
Because gas was being supplied to the break from both the north and the south, the shutoff valves closest to the break had to be closed to shut down and isolate the rupture. The shutoff valves were located about 1.5 miles apart, on either end of the break, and they had to be shut manually. Had PG&E installed readily available technology—valves with remote closure capability or ones that would automatically shut off the gas flow in response to pressure changes in the line—the amount of time the fire burned, and thus, the severity of the accident, could’ve been significantly reduced. In fact, this technology could’ve stopped the flow of gas the moment the rupture was detected.
In our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/PAR1101.pdf">final report</a> on the accident, we recommended that federal regulators—the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)—require  pipeline companies to install automatic shutoff valves or remote shutoff valves in High Consequence Areas (defined as populated areas, drinking water sources, and unusually sensitive ecological areas).
PHMSA’s Response
On February 6, 2020, PHMSA published a <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/02/06/2020-01459/pipeline-safety-valve-installation-and-minimum-rupture-detection-standards">notice of proposed rulemaking</a> (NPRM), “Pipeline Safety: Valve Installation and Minimum Rupture Detection Standards,” claiming the NPRM responds to recommendations from the NTSB. It doesn’t. It requires automatic shutoff valves, remote-control valves, or equivalent technology to be installed only on newly constructed or entirely replaced onshore natural gas transmission and hazardous liquid pipelines that are larger than 6 inches in diameter.
Remember the daycare accident I mentioned? The pipeline that ruptured in that tragedy was only 1 inch in diameter. Existing gas transmission lines (like the PG&E line that ruptured in San Bruno), newly constructed or entirely replaced lines that are less than 6 inches in diameter, gas distribution systems, and offshore transmission lines are completely excluded from the NPRM’s requirements.
In other words, PHMSA’s solution won’t prevent another San Bruno disaster. Given that there are 2.6 million miles of gas pipelines in the United States, most of which date back to the 1950s and the NPRM doesn’t address any of them. With those numbers, another tragic accident is destined to occur, and if I’m the member on scene—or even if I’m not—I’ll remind PHMSA and industry, yet again, of all the ruptures we’ve investigated and all the opportunities they had to save lives.
To all those who lost loved ones in San Bruno or in another pipeline tragedy, you remain in our hearts. We are still fighting for you.
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<media:content url="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/san-bruno.jpg?w=600" medium="image">
<media:title type="html">San Bruno, CA, accident scene with the crater in the foreground and the ruptured pipe section in the background</media:title>
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<title>A Labor Day #SafetyReminder</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/09/03/a-labor-day-safetyreminder/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/09/03/a-labor-day-safetyreminder/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 03 Sep 2020 15:29:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Holiday Travel]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impairment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4834</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Leah Walton, NTSB Safety Advocate Labor Day, the annual celebration of U.S. workforce achievements, will be unique in many ways for Americans workers this year. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many establishments have significantly reduced their workforces or even closed entirely. At the same time, workers deemed essential have put their lives on the … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/09/03/a-labor-day-safetyreminder/" class="more-link">Continue reading A Labor Day #SafetyReminder →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
By Leah Walton, NTSB Safety Advocate
Labor Day, the annual celebration of U.S. workforce achievements, will be unique in many ways for Americans workers this year. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many establishments have significantly reduced their workforces or even closed entirely. At the same time, workers deemed essential have put their lives on the line to serve their communities. Like Memorial Day and the 4th of July this year, Labor Day won’t be marked with large gatherings or parades; however, unfortunately, it will likely still look very similar to years past in terms of impaired driving and speeding-related car crashes, even with fewer people on the roads. The number of fatalities resulting from these crashes will likely look a lot like the 2018 figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which reports that, during the 2018 Labor Day holiday period (6 pm August 31 through 5:59 am September 4), there were 166 alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities, alone.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" data-attachment-id="4839" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/print-19/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/laborday2020.jpg" data-orig-size="1085,568" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"Print","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Print" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/laborday2020.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/laborday2020.jpg?w=474" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/laborday2020.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-4839" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/laborday2020.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/laborday2020.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/laborday2020.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/laborday2020.jpg?w=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/laborday2020.jpg 1085w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Back in April, we posted an <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/04/13/flatten-the-curve-beyond-covid-19/">impaired-driving blog</a> reminding readers that we shouldn’t let the stress of COVID-19 allow us to lower our guard when it comes to safe driving, whether on a holiday weekend or during everyday transportation. In May, we kicked off the summer season with a <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/05/12/returning-to-travel-with-safety-on-the-mind/">safety reminder campaign</a> (#safetyreminder) to highlight ways that we can all stay safe in the air and on the roads, rails, and water. The <a href="https://www.nsc.org/in-the-newsroom/national-safety-council-390-fatalities-may-occur-on-roadways-during-labor-day-weekend">National Safety Council</a> estimates 44,000 serious injuries and 390 deaths will occur as the result of all traffic crashes on our roadways during the Labor Day holiday. While we wrap up this #safetyreminder campaign this weekend, we hope that the safety reminders we shared will stay top of mind, and that they’ll stay there for the coming months.
This year, let’s celebrate the resiliency of the American workforce and honor all those who have endured employment hardships over the past several months. But remember: if your celebration involves alcohol or other impairing drugs, arrange for a sober ride home before you partake. Choose to be impaired or choose to drive, but never both. Some risks this year are harder to avoid than others, but impaired driving isn’t one of them. As always, it’s 100-percent preventable.

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<title>Arriving Soon: Fully Implemented Positive Train Control</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/07/31/arriving-soon-fully-implemented-positive-train-control/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 31 Jul 2020 14:10:15 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Rail Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Transportation History]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Jennifer Homendy]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4827</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Member Jennifer Homendy December 31, 2020—not only will it be the last day of an incredibly challenging year that I think we’ll all be happy to put behind us, it’s also a significant day for railroad safety. It’s the final deadline for all 41 railroads to fully implement Positive Train Control (PTC). It’s been … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/07/31/arriving-soon-fully-implemented-positive-train-control/" class="more-link">Continue reading Arriving Soon: Fully Implemented Positive Train Control →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/JHomendy/Pages/bio_homendy.aspx">Member Jennifer Homendy</a>
December 31, 2020—not only will it be the last day of an incredibly challenging year that I think we’ll all be happy to put behind us, it’s also a significant day for railroad safety. It’s the final deadline for all 41 railroads to fully implement <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwlfs-19-20/mwl4.aspx">Positive Train Control</a> (PTC). It’s been a long journey to get to this point and I’m thrilled to see the great progress that’s been made over the years. There were times no one believed we’d get to where we are today, so how did we get here?
PTC is a communications-based system designed to automatically stop a train before certain accidents occur. It won’t prevent all train accidents, like vehicle-train accidents at grade crossings or those caused by track and equipment failures, but it is designed to prevent train-to-train collisions, overspeed derailments, incursions into established work zones, and train movement through switches left in the wrong position.
The concept of PTC isn’t new. In fact, the NTSB has been urging railroads to implement PTC in some form—and federal regulators to mandate it—for over 50 years. Our first recommendation related to PTC (Safety Recommendation <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=R-70-020">R‑70‑20</a>) was issued following a deadly train collision in Darien, Connecticut, in August 1969, when two Penn Central commuter trains collided head on, killing 3 crew members and 1 passenger, and injuring 43 others. Twenty years later, the NTSB included PTC on its first <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/default.aspx">Most Wanted List of transportation safety improvements</a> (MWL), and, with the exception of 4 years following enactment of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (RSIA; <a href="https://www.congress.gov/110/plaws/publ432/PLAW-110publ432.pdf">Public Law 110-432, Division A</a>), it’s remained on the list to this day.
<img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4306" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2019/02/06/2019-2020-most-wanted-list/mwl04s_ptc/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl04s_ptc.jpg" data-orig-size="750,600" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="MWL04s_PTC" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl04s_ptc.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl04s_ptc.jpg?w=474" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4306" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl04s_ptc.jpg" alt="MWL04s_PTC" width="750" height="600" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl04s_ptc.jpg 750w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl04s_ptc.jpg?w=150&h=120 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl04s_ptc.jpg?w=300&h=240 300w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px">
Before the passage of the RSIA, we had been recommending this lifesaving technology for decades, yet little action had been taken to implement its use. Even the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), which is the federal agency charged by Congress with ensuring “the assignment and maintenance of safety as the highest priority,” had rebuffed repeated NTSB calls for implementing PTC, asserting that the technology was too expensive and that it would provide little safety benefit—a claim that was seemingly inconsistent with the August 1999 Railroad Safety Advisory Committee report, Implementation of Positive Train Control Systems, which found that, out of a select group of 6,400 rail accidents that occurred from 1988 to 1997, 2,659 could have been prevented if some form of PTC had been implemented.
Most people who follow the history of PTC will say it was the 2008 Metrolink crash in <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/RAR1001.aspx">Chatsworth, California</a>, that really brought PTC to the attention of Congress, but that’s not entirely true. In fact, it was a string of PTC‑preventable accidents that occurred in the early to mid-2000s that finally caused the issue to make headway. Six of these accidents were accidents that we investigated in 2004 and 2005. They occurred in <a href="https://ntsb.gov/Investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/RAR0603.aspx">Macdona, Texas</a>; <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/RAR0504.pdf">Graniteville, South Carolina</a>; <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/RAR0701.pdf">Anding, Mississippi</a>; <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/RAB0601.pdf">Shepherd, Texas</a>; <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/RAB0607.pdf">Chicago, Illinois</a>; and <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/RAB0604.pdf">Texarkana, Arkansas.</a>
The ones I remember most were Macdona and Graniteville; they were, in part, the reason the PTC mandate applies, not just to main lines over which passengers are transported, but also to main lines over which poisonous or toxic-by-inhalation hazardous materials are transported.
On June 28, 2004, a Union Pacific (UP) freight train struck the midpoint of a BNSF freight train traveling on the same main line track as the BNSF train was entering a siding. Chlorine escaping from a punctured tank car immediately vaporized into a cloud of chlorine gas that engulfed the area. The conductor of the UP train and two Macdona residents died as a result of chlorine gas inhalation. About 30 others were treated for respiratory distress or other injuries related to the collision and derailment.
Just 6 months later, on January 6, 2005, a Norfolk Southern train transporting chlorine encountered a misaligned switch that diverted the train from the main line onto an industry track, where it struck an unoccupied, parked Norfolk Southern train, killing the 28-year-old train engineer, Chris Seeling, and eight others as a result of chlorine gas inhalation. About 554 people suffering from respiratory difficulties were taken to local hospitals; 5,400 others within a 1-mile radius of the derailment site were evacuated for several days.
Both accidents were preventable with PTC.
I wasn’t at the NTSB at the time. I was serving as staff director of the US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials. Congressman James Oberstar (D-MN) had just been named chairman of the committee, and one of his first acts as chair was to launch a series of hearings focused on rail safety. (Coincidentally, the subcommittee’s first hearing on the topic was the first time <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/RSumwalt/Pages/bio_sumwalt.aspx">Chairman Sumwalt</a>, then an NTSB board member, testified before Congress.)
One of those was a field hearing held in March 2007 in San Antonio, Texas, where Ralph Velasquez, a resident of Macdona, described his family’s escape from “the cloud of chlorine” and the tremendous physical, mental, and emotional toll the accident had taken on his family and the entire community. Mr. Velasquez’s words were similar to those of Chris Seeling’s parents, who had visited me and Chairman Oberstar months earlier. Both families wanted action, including implementation of NTSB recommendations.
Two months later, Chairman Oberstar delivered on his promises. The House approved legislation that mandated longstanding NTSB recommendations and established a deadline for PTC implementation. The Senate passed its bill in 2008, and we were in the process of finalizing a bipartisan, bicameral bill to include PTC when a Metrolink commuter train collided head-on with a Union Pacific freight train, killing 25 people in Chatsworth, California.
The tragedy in Chatsworth—which the NTSB later determined was preventable with PTC—gave the legislation its final push, and in October, the RSIA was signed into law, mandating PTC implementation by December 31, 2015. This deadline was later extended by Congress to 2018, and then again by the FRA on a case-by-case basis to 2020.
Since the RSIA was signed into law in 2008, the NTSB has investigated 25 accidents that would’ve been prevented had PTC been implemented, including the overspeed derailments of Amtrak passenger train 188 in <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/RAR1602.aspx">Philadelphia, Pennsylvania</a>, which killed eight people onboard, and Amtrak passenger train 501 near <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/RRD18MR001.aspx">DuPont, Washington</a>, which took three lives and injured more than 50 others. In all, since that first accident investigation in 1969, over 300 people have been killed and almost 7,000 others have been injured in 154 accidents that the NTSB determined could have been prevented if PTC had been operational. When people think about the 2008 mandate and how long it’s taken the railroads to implement that mandate, they get frustrated with Congress for extending the deadline, but what they fail to remember is, if it weren’t for congressional action, we wouldn’t be where we are today. The railroads wouldn’t have implemented PTC voluntarily.
Today, <a href="https://explore.dot.gov/t/FRA/views/PTCImplementationStatusReport/Industry?iframeSizedToWindow=true&%3Aembed=y&%3AshowAppBanner=false&%3Adisplay_count=no&%3AshowVizHome=no">PTC data</a> submitted to the FRA is looking far more positive than in the past. Since I joined the Board in 2018, I’ve visited or spoken to a majority of the 41 railroads regarding their PTC status, and they’re mostly reporting good progress. Most railroads are expected to meet the end-of-year deadline, and I’m cautiously optimistic that all 41 will succeed.
Because of the NTSB’s tireless advocacy, beginning long before I joined the Board, and the hard work of our investigators, the finish line is at last in sight. Our investigators work diligently to prevent tragedies like Macdona and Graniteville from recurring. If Chairman Oberstar was alive today, he would call them heroes for their dedication and for all they’ve done to save lives.
Today marks 154 days until the latest deadline for PTC implementation. That’s also the number of PTC-related accidents we’ve investigated over the years. For the rest of this year, stay tuned to our social media channels, where we’ll share information daily about each of the accidents (look for #PTCdeadline). These accidents are a reminder of how much we’ve lost while waiting for the implementation of PTC.
<img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4828" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/07/31/arriving-soon-fully-implemented-positive-train-control/2020_countdown_ptcdeadline-ig/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/2020_countdown_ptcdeadline-ig.png" data-orig-size="1080,1080" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="2020_Countdown_PTCdeadline–IG" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/2020_countdown_ptcdeadline-ig.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/2020_countdown_ptcdeadline-ig.png?w=474" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4828" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/2020_countdown_ptcdeadline-ig.png" alt="2020_Countdown_PTCdeadline--IG" width="1080" height="1080" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/2020_countdown_ptcdeadline-ig.png 1080w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/2020_countdown_ptcdeadline-ig.png?w=150&h=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/2020_countdown_ptcdeadline-ig.png?w=300&h=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/2020_countdown_ptcdeadline-ig.png?w=768&h=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/2020_countdown_ptcdeadline-ig.png?w=1024&h=1024 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px">
 
 
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<title>Remembering Marshall, Michigan</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/07/24/remembering-marshall-michigan/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/07/24/remembering-marshall-michigan/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2020 17:33:05 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pipeline]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Transportation History]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Jennifer Homendy]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4819</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Member Jennifer Homendy This Saturday marks the 10th anniversary of one of the largest and most expensive inland oil spills in our nation’s history. At 5:58 p.m. on July 25, 2010, a 30-inch diameter pipeline owned and operated by Enbridge ruptured, releasing nearly a million gallons of heavy crude oil into Talmadge Creek, which … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/07/24/remembering-marshall-michigan/" class="more-link">Continue reading Remembering Marshall, Michigan →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/JHomendy/Pages/bio_homendy.aspx">Member Jennifer Homendy</a>
This Saturday marks the 10th anniversary of one of the largest and most expensive inland oil spills in our nation’s history.
At 5:58 p.m. on July 25, 2010, a 30-inch diameter pipeline owned and operated by Enbridge ruptured, releasing nearly a million gallons of heavy crude oil into Talmadge Creek, which feeds into the Kalamazoo River – a tributary of Lake Michigan – and flowed about 35 miles downstream before it was contained.
<figure data-shortcode="caption" id="attachment_4820" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4820" style="width: 977px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4820" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/07/24/remembering-marshall-michigan/par1201/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/par1201.jpg" data-orig-size="977,673" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Rupture and Release, Marshall, Michigan, July 25, 2010" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="The ruptured segment of Line 6B in the trench following the July 25, 2010, rupture. The fracture face measured about 6 feet 8.25 inches long and was 5.32 inches wide at the widest opening. The fracture ran just below the seam weld that was oriented just below the 3 o’clock position. A red circle shows a location where the coating was wrinkled and had separated from the pipe surface.
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/par1201.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/par1201.jpg?w=474" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4820" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/par1201.jpg" alt="Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Rupture and Release, Marshall, Michigan, July 25, 2010" width="977" height="673" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/par1201.jpg 977w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/par1201.jpg?w=150&h=103 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/par1201.jpg?w=300&h=207 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/par1201.jpg?w=768&h=529 768w" sizes="(max-width: 977px) 100vw, 977px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4820" class="wp-caption-text">The ruptured segment of Line 6B in the trench following the July 25, 2010, rupture. The fracture face measured about 6 feet 8.25 inches long and was 5.32 inches wide at the widest opening. The fracture ran just below the seam weld that was oriented just below the 3 o’clock position. A red circle shows a location where the coating was wrinkled and had separated from the pipe surface.</figcaption></figure>
Although numerous alarms were triggered in Enbridge’s control center, located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, control center staff failed to recognize a rupture occurred for well over 17 hours, until an outside caller contacted the control center. Enbridge attributed the alarms to an earlier planned shutdown and column separation (a vapor-liquid void), and instead re-started the line twice for a period of 1.5 hours, pumping massive amounts of oil (81 percent of the total release, or over 600,000 additional gallons) into the pipeline. Once Enbridge realized there was a release, it was too little too late. Enbridge had only four maintenance personnel on scene; the closest trained responders – their oil spill response contractors – were 10 hours away.
At the time, I served as the Democratic Staff Director of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials for the U.S. House of Representatives, which had jurisdiction over the safety of oil and gas pipelines in the United States. About 24 hours after the rupture, the Chairman of the Committee, Congressman Jim Oberstar, and Congressman Mark Schauer who represented Marshall, Michigan, asked that I travel to Marshall and lead the Committee’s oversight investigation of the spill, which is different than an NTSB investigation (for example, we looked at claims and HIPAA violations).
I wish I had the right words to describe what it was like when we arrived in Marshall. Utter devastation doesn’t seem to do it justice. Oil blanketed the creek and river, the river’s banks, and flood plains, severely impacting the environment. Rescue and rehabilitation efforts for oiled birds and wildlife continued for months; river restoration went on for years. Clean-up costs totaled $1.2 billion, and Enbridge received the largest civil penalty for a Clean Water Act violation in U.S. history, and the second-largest penalty overall, after Deepwater Horizon.
<figure data-shortcode="caption" id="attachment_4822" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4822" style="width: 1430px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4822" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/07/24/remembering-marshall-michigan/marshall-mi/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/marshall-mi.jpg" data-orig-size="1430,1069" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="July 25, 2010, Marshall, Michigan pipeline rupture" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="Cleanup efforts in an oil-soaked wetland near the rupture site. Saturated soil complicated the cleanup and excavation efforts. An excavator with a vacuum attachment is shown situated on wooden matting near the rupture site.
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/marshall-mi.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/marshall-mi.jpg?w=474" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4822" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/marshall-mi.jpg" alt="July 25, 2010, Marshall, Michigan pipeline rupture" width="1430" height="1069" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/marshall-mi.jpg 1430w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/marshall-mi.jpg?w=150&h=112 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/marshall-mi.jpg?w=300&h=224 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/marshall-mi.jpg?w=768&h=574 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/marshall-mi.jpg?w=1024&h=765 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1430px) 100vw, 1430px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4822" class="wp-caption-text">Cleanup efforts in an oil-soaked wetland near the rupture site. Saturated soil complicated the cleanup and excavation efforts. An excavator with a vacuum attachment is shown situated on wooden matting near the rupture site.</figcaption></figure>
While, thankfully, no lives were lost, people lost homes and businesses, as well as income, and about 320 residents suffered symptoms consistent with exposure to crude oil.
Perhaps the most memorable moments for me were with the residents in Baker Estates in Battle Creek, Michigan, a community of about 70 mobile homes right along the river. I walked the oil-saturated river banks with them and was invited into their homes to hear about financial and medical impacts of the spill. See, no one evacuated the mobile home park. In fact, no one evacuated anyone along the river. County health officials issued a voluntary notice for homeowners to self-evacuate, which was noted in the NTSB accident <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/PAR1201.aspx">report</a>.
Meanwhile, NTSB’s investigation focused on the cause of the rupture and the oil spill response. NTSB’s former chairman Debbie Hersman was on scene. I ran into her and Peter Knudson, who is still a crucial part of NTSB’s media relations team, eating dinner one night in Marshall. Who knew we’d one day work together at the agency?
Through the investigation, the NTSB identified numerous gaps in Enbridge’s integrity management program, control room operations, training, and leak detection. To address the multitude of deficiencies, NTSB recommended that the pipeline industry develop an industry standard for a comprehensive safety management system (SMS) specific to pipelines.
Years later, I’m pleased to say that the industry didn’t just meet the intent of our recommendation; they exceeded it with the development of API Recommended Practice 1173, which also focused on safety culture and other safety-related issues. Since then, many pipeline operators have adopted and implemented the standard. The NTSB is working to encourage others, from the largest pipeline operators to the smallest municipalities, to implement SMS.
NTSB’s oil spill response investigation identified issues with the advance preparation and execution of the response that could be traced to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) regulations implementing the Oil Spill Prevention Act of 1990.
The PHMSA-approved Enbridge facility response plan did not provide for sufficient resources to deal with an oil spill of this magnitude. Furthermore, the NTSB investigation found that the severity of the oil spill could have been minimized had Enbridge focused more on source control and used oil containment methods that were appropriate for the environmental conditions. In response to NTSB recommendations, PHMSA undertook an effort to update the regulations and harmonize them with U.S. Coast Guard regulations for oil spills in navigable waterways.
Overall, there were a lot of safety gaps identified because of the Marshall spill. The NTSB’s work and the Committee’s oversight investigation led to a series of hearings that culminated in passage of sweeping legislation in 2011, which is still being implemented, albeit slowly, a decade later.
But looking back, a decade later, well after our investigators have left the scene, our final report has been issued, and recommendations are being acted upon, I think about the residents of Baker Estates and the other communities and business owners that suffered tremendous losses. For them, the work is just beginning, and Marshall will never be forgotten.
And it shouldn’t be forgotten because when the industry fails to learn from previous accident <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/pipeline.aspx">investigations</a> and fails to make necessary changes, those accidents and the underlying issues that caused them are destined to repeat themselves.
In fact, as I sat down to write this blog, I recalled our 2005 safety <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Documents/SS0502.pdf">study</a> on Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) in pipelines. SCADA systems are essentially a computer system that allows control center staff to monitor and control the pipeline from a remote location. The study was prompted by 12 hazardous liquid accidents investigated by the NTSB in which leaks went undetected after indications of a leak were provided on the SCADA system: <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/PAR9301.pdf">Brenham, Texas</a> (1992), <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/PAB9801.pdf">Gramercy, Louisiana</a> (1996), <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/PAR9801.aspx">Fork Shoals, South Carolina</a> (1996), <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/PAB9903.pdf">Murfreesboro, Tennessee</a> (1996), <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/PAB0101.aspx">Knoxville, Tennessee</a> (1999), <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/PAR0202.aspx">Bellingham, Washington</a> (1999), <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/PAB0102.pdf">Winchester, Kentucky</a> (2000), <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/PAB0103.pdf">Greenville, Texas</a> (2000), <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/PAR0201.aspx">Chalk Point, Maryland</a> (2000), and <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/PAB0702.pdf">Kingman, Kansas</a> (2004).
Fork Shoals was eerily similar to Marshall. The pipeline owned and operated by Colonial Pipeline ruptured, releasing nearly one million gallons of fuel oil into the Reedy River and surrounding areas at Fork Shoals. Like Marshall, the SCADA alarms and alarm messages had activated, and the controller acknowledged them, but he failed to recognize that a rupture had occurred and continued pumping more and more fuel oil into the line after several shutdowns and re-starts. And like Enbridge, Colonial knew of the corrosion in the line in the months leading up to the rupture.
If you’re on the fence on SMS, I hope this prompts you to take heed and not wait for a rupture to occur to act.
 
NTSB Office of Rail, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Investigations Director, Rob Hall, contributed to the writing of this blog.
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<media:title type="html">Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Rupture and Release, Marshall, Michigan, July 25, 2010</media:title>
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<media:title type="html">July 25, 2010, Marshall, Michigan pipeline rupture</media:title>
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<title>EAA AirVenture is Off, but Our Focus on Summer Flying Safety Remains</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/07/20/eaa-airventure-is-off-but-our-focus-on-summer-flying-safety-remains/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 20 Jul 2020 13:31:46 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Aviation Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Aviation]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[By Aaron Sauer and Michael Folkerts, NTSB Air Safety Investigators In normal times, many NTSB staff—including investigators and Board members—would be participating at the world’s largest general aviation (GA) event this week: Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA’s) AirVenture 2020. The event is held annually in late July in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and features hundreds of seminars, presentations, … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/07/20/eaa-airventure-is-off-but-our-focus-on-summer-flying-safety-remains/" class="more-link">Continue reading EAA AirVenture is Off, but Our Focus on Summer Flying Safety Remains →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[By Aaron Sauer and Michael Folkerts, NTSB Air Safety Investigators
In normal times, many NTSB staff—including investigators and <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/about/board/Pages/default.aspx">Board members</a>—would be participating at the world’s largest general aviation (GA) event this week: Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA’s) <a href="https://www.eaa.org/airventure">AirVenture 2020</a>. The event is held annually in late July in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and features hundreds of seminars, presentations, and workshops—including many delivered by NTSB investigators—focused on safety and current flying trends. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the in-person event was canceled this year, and that means we aren’t able to share our NTSB safety messages in person with the throngs of AirVenture eventgoers. So, we’re turning to this platform to highlight some of the lessons learned and safety messages we planned to discuss at AirVenture 2020.
<img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4815" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/07/20/eaa-airventure-is-off-but-our-focus-on-summer-flying-safety-remains/eaa-image/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/eaa-image.jpg" data-orig-size="400,400" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="EAA Image" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/eaa-image.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/eaa-image.jpg?w=400" class=" wp-image-4815 alignleft" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/eaa-image.jpg" alt="EAA Image" width="282" height="282" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/eaa-image.jpg?w=282&h=282 282w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/eaa-image.jpg?w=150&h=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/eaa-image.jpg?w=300&h=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/eaa-image.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 282px) 100vw, 282px" />One speaker slated to join us in a panel discussion was Mike Patey, the pilot of the famous “Draco,” a Pzl Okecie PZL104, that experienced a <a href="https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/ReportGeneratorFile.ashx?EventID=20190916X74851&AKey=1&RType=Final&IType=CA">loss-of-control accident</a> in Reno, Nevada. We determined the probable cause of the accident to be a failure to maintain bank control during takeoff in gusting crosswind conditions, resulting in a loss of control in flight and subsequent impact with terrain. Fortunately, Patey had built a very rugged airplane and took extraordinary steps to make a potential crash survivable, and neither he nor his two passengers were injured. We were pleased that Patey was willing to share his story during our panel discussion, and, even though that panel won’t be taking place, you can head to his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfctWAoDXvs">YouTube channel</a> to hear him share it. His accident serves as a reminder that, as we take to the air this summer, we need to ensure we’re prepared to mitigate loss-of-control scenarios, especially in the event of stall recovery.
Loss of control in flight in which weather is a key factor remains a significant safety concern for the GA flying community. This safety issue has been featured on the past three iterations of our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwl5-2017-18.aspx">Most Wanted List</a> of transportation safety improvements (MWL). To mitigate any potential loss-of-control incidents, GA pilots should ask themselves the following before taking to the air:
<ul>
<li style="list-style-type:none;">
<ul>
<li>Have I thought about and trained for possible loss-of-control scenarios?</li>
<li>Am I proficient and up to date on all aspects of my airplane?</li>
<li>Am I aware of risks so I can avoid ending up in a loss-of-control situation?</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
Flight instructors should also ensure they practice stalls in a variety of scenarios with their students.
Another reason for loss of control involves distractions. Personal electronic devices in the cockpit have become a real and growing threat to safety. <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwlfs-19-20/mwl1-fsa.aspx">Eliminating distractions</a>, not just in aviation, but in all transportation modes, is another issue on our current MWL. We know that pilots involved in GA operations are more susceptible to distraction-related accidents because they are subject to minimal federal regulations, such as the “sterile cockpit” rules seen in commercial airline operations. We believe that all pilots should keep distractions to a minimum, regardless of FAA requirements.
<figure data-shortcode="caption" id="attachment_4816" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4816" style="width: 5472px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4816" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/07/20/eaa-airventure-is-off-but-our-focus-on-summer-flying-safety-remains/mike-folkerts-and-aaron-sauer-talk-with-guest-speaker-and-acrobatic-pilot-patty-wagstaff/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/mike-folkerts-and-aaron-sauer-talk-with-guest-speaker-and-acrobatic-pilot-patty-wagstaff.jpg" data-orig-size="5472,3648" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"7.1","credit":"","camera":"Canon EOS 70D","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1563798918","copyright":"","focal_length":"32","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.004","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Mike Folkerts and Aaron Sauer talk with guest speaker and acrobatic pilot Patty Wagstaff" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="Mike Folkerts and Aaron Sauer at EAA AirVenture in 2019 talking to Patty Wagstaff, an NTSB panelist.
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/mike-folkerts-and-aaron-sauer-talk-with-guest-speaker-and-acrobatic-pilot-patty-wagstaff.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/mike-folkerts-and-aaron-sauer-talk-with-guest-speaker-and-acrobatic-pilot-patty-wagstaff.jpg?w=474" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4816" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/mike-folkerts-and-aaron-sauer-talk-with-guest-speaker-and-acrobatic-pilot-patty-wagstaff.jpg" alt="Mike Folkerts and Aaron Sauer talk with guest speaker and acrobatic pilot Patty Wagstaff" width="5472" height="3648" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/mike-folkerts-and-aaron-sauer-talk-with-guest-speaker-and-acrobatic-pilot-patty-wagstaff.jpg 5472w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/mike-folkerts-and-aaron-sauer-talk-with-guest-speaker-and-acrobatic-pilot-patty-wagstaff.jpg?w=150&h=100 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/mike-folkerts-and-aaron-sauer-talk-with-guest-speaker-and-acrobatic-pilot-patty-wagstaff.jpg?w=300&h=200 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/mike-folkerts-and-aaron-sauer-talk-with-guest-speaker-and-acrobatic-pilot-patty-wagstaff.jpg?w=768&h=512 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/mike-folkerts-and-aaron-sauer-talk-with-guest-speaker-and-acrobatic-pilot-patty-wagstaff.jpg?w=1024&h=683 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 5472px) 100vw, 5472px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4816" class="wp-caption-text">Mike Folkerts and Aaron Sauer at EAA AirVenture in 2019 talking to Patty Wagstaff, an NTSB panelist.</figcaption></figure>
Although we could not participate in AirVenture this year to share our safety concerns in person, we urge all pilots to consider the following important safety tips to prevent in-flight loss of control and other avoidable tragedies:
<ul>
<li style="list-style-type:none;">
<ul>
<li>Properly train and maintain currency in the aircraft you operate.</li>
<li>Maintain proficiency on how to avoid stalls and consider adopting available technologies that provide you with greater awareness, such as angle-of-attack indicators.</li>
<li>Take advantage of available commercial trainers, type clubs, and transition training opportunities, as they are an excellent way to improve your knowledge and abilities.</li>
<li>Don’t forget about the risks associated with unaddressed maintenance issues. Staying vigilant regarding your aircraft’s airworthiness could be the difference between life and death.</li>
<li>Safety restraints can make a difference in the event of an accident. Have your restraints examined by a mechanic or manufacturer to verify that they meet required specifications. Replace the restraint systems if the examination deems it necessary. If your airplane is not equipped with shoulder harnesses, install them if possible. (Note: “<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwlfs-19-20/mwl9-fsa.aspx">Strengthen Occupant Protection</a>” is also an issue area on our current MWL).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
We hope to see you at AirVenture next year! For more safety tips, check out our NTSB GA safety alerts here: <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-alerts/Pages/default.aspx">https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-alerts/Pages/default.aspx</a>.
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<media:title type="html">Mike Folkerts and Aaron Sauer talk with guest speaker and acrobatic pilot Patty Wagstaff</media:title>
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<title>New Hours-of-Service Rule Relaxes Critical Safety Regulations</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/07/13/new-hours-of-service-rule-relaxes-critical-safety-regulations/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2020 15:42:20 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Drowsy Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Fatigue]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[By Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg Would you get tired after driving for 8 hours straight? What about after driving up to 11 hours, even with a short rest break? Suppose your vehicle weighed 80,000 pounds and was 80 feet long—would that require just a bit more alertness and finesse than the family car? Trucks are … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/07/13/new-hours-of-service-rule-relaxes-critical-safety-regulations/" class="more-link">Continue reading New Hours-of-Service Rule Relaxes Critical Safety Regulations →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/BLandsberg/Pages/bio_landsberg.aspx">Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg</a>
Would you get tired after driving for 8 hours straight? What about after driving up to 11 hours, even with a short rest break? Suppose your vehicle weighed 80,000 pounds and was 80 feet long—would that require just a bit more alertness and finesse than the family car?
Trucks are an essential part of the supply chain, but their human drivers are just as susceptible to fatigue as the rest of us. To meet the needs of the country during this current pandemic, some trucking regulations have been relaxed to meet the unexpected, increased demand for goods and services. I understand the need to make some temporary adjustments to meet the nation’s needs; however, unfortunately during this time, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) also completed a 2-year effort to permanently relax hours-of-service (HOS) rules for commercial motor vehicle drivers. The new final rule puts commercial drivers—and those with whom they share the roads—at increased risk.
Fatigue is a pervasive yet preventable problem impacting transportation safety. Tackling fatigue requires a comprehensive approach focused on research, education, training, technology, sleep disorder treatment, HOS regulations, and on- and off-duty scheduling policies and practices. At the NTSB, we are troubled by the relaxed rules that ignore this approach. The FMCSA’s final rule uses terms like “safety-neutral” and “without adversely affecting safety”; and the US Department of Transportation’s press release optimistically adds that the rule will “improve” and “increase” safety. But the science doesn’t support those claims. The FMCSA euphemistically claims that the changes “enhance flexibility” so drivers can stop when they feel tired; the reality is that humans are exceedingly poor at self-assessment, especially when a paycheck is involved, and will push beyond reasonable endurance. The fact that a driver has successfully (and luckily) driven fatigued for hundreds of trips absolutely does not guarantee that the next one will have a happy ending.
The new final rule relaxes the HOS regulations in several ways.
<ul>
<li style="list-style-type:none;">
<ul>
<li>It expands the short-haul exception from 100 air-miles to 150 air-miles, and increases the allowable duty day from 12 to 14 hours.</li>
<li>It expands the driving window during adverse driving conditions by up to an additional 2 hours.</li>
<li>It requires a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving time (instead of on-duty time), and allows an on-duty/not driving period to qualify as the required break. That might include loading or unloading, which could be even more tiring than driving.</li>
<li>It modifies the sleeper berth exception to allow a driver to meet the 10-hour minimum off-duty requirement by spending at least 7—rather than at least 8— hours in the berth, and a minimum off-duty period of at least 3 hours spent inside or outside of the berth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
Bluntly speaking, the increase in allowable miles from home base for short-haul drivers is a loophole you could drive a truck through.
We understand that economics matter in this debate, and we know most drivers only get paid when the wheels are turning. But we don’t believe any dollar amount is worth a human life. And we aren’t alone in wanting to put safety first in the trucking industry—the Teamsters, who have a vested interest in full employment, recognize the value of ensuring driver safety and have also come out against these changes to the HOS rules. We should point out, too, that trucking companies that have addressed fatigue beyond simply complying with HOS regulations have experienced fewer crashes and seen fewer fatalities as a result of driver crashes. For example, after a fatigued driver caused a <a href="https://ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/HAR1502.pdf">fatal truck crash in Cranbury, New Jersey</a>, in 2014, Walmart Transportation introduced a fatigue management program that exceeded regulatory minimums with effective sleep management protocols. By investing in safety, proactive companies like Walmart have actually improved their bottom line.

<a href='https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/07/13/new-hours-of-service-rule-relaxes-critical-safety-regulations/cranbury-nj-truck/'><img width="132" height="150" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/cranbury-nj-truck.jpg?w=132" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/cranbury-nj-truck.jpg?w=132 132w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/cranbury-nj-truck.jpg?w=264 264w" sizes="(max-width: 132px) 100vw, 132px" data-attachment-id="4805" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/07/13/new-hours-of-service-rule-relaxes-critical-safety-regulations/cranbury-nj-truck/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/cranbury-nj-truck.jpg" data-orig-size="535,608" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"Highway Scanner","camera":"","caption":"Three-dimensional scan of the Peterbilt combination vehicle involved in the June 7, 2014, crash in Cranbury, New Jersey","created_timestamp":"1403013300","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="Three-dimensional scan of the Peterbilt combination vehicle involved in the June 7, 2014, crash in Cranbury, New Jersey.
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/cranbury-nj-truck.jpg?w=264" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/cranbury-nj-truck.jpg?w=474" /></a>
<a href='https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/07/13/new-hours-of-service-rule-relaxes-critical-safety-regulations/cranbury-nj-limo/'><img width="150" height="68" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/cranbury-nj-limo.jpg?w=150" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/cranbury-nj-limo.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/cranbury-nj-limo.jpg?w=298 298w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" data-attachment-id="4804" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/07/13/new-hours-of-service-rule-relaxes-critical-safety-regulations/cranbury-nj-limo/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/cranbury-nj-limo.jpg" data-orig-size="1225,559" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"Highway Scanner","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1402755024","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Cranbury NJ limo" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="Three-dimensional scan of the Mercedes-Benz limo van involved in the June 7, 2014, crash in Cranbury, New Jersey.
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/cranbury-nj-limo.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/cranbury-nj-limo.jpg?w=474" /></a>

The HOS rules are somewhat complex, but sleep science is not. Fatigue degrades a person’s ability to stay awake, alert, and attentive to the demands of safely controlling a vehicle. Humans can become fatigued under the conditions the final rule allows. Fatigue is a manageable threat to transportation safety that can be mitigated through reasonable company safety practices and individual responsibility. Understanding this, the NTSB has recommended for decades that the FMCSA tighten enforcement of fatigue regulations, implement sleep apnea screening, set science-based maximum HOS, develop sleep management programs, and deploy electronic logging devices for all commercial truck drivers.
<figure data-shortcode="caption" id="attachment_4807" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4807" style="width: 528px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4807" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/07/13/new-hours-of-service-rule-relaxes-critical-safety-regulations/hwy18fh015-preliminary-report/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/hwy18fh015-preliminary-report.jpg" data-orig-size="1128,617" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="June 16, 2018, Construction Zone Multivehicle Collision, in Boise, Idaho." data-image-description="" data-image-caption="June 16, 2018, Construction Zone Multivehicle Collision, in Boise, Idaho. Postcrash photograph of vehicles under Cloverdale Road overpass; view is looking
west, toward the 2019 Volvo truck that began the crash sequence. (Source: Idaho State Police) 
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/hwy18fh015-preliminary-report.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/hwy18fh015-preliminary-report.jpg?w=474" class="alignnone wp-image-4807" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/hwy18fh015-preliminary-report.jpg" alt="June 16, 2018, Construction Zone Multivehicle Collision, in Boise, Idaho." width="528" height="289" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/hwy18fh015-preliminary-report.jpg?w=528&h=289 528w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/hwy18fh015-preliminary-report.jpg?w=1056&h=578 1056w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/hwy18fh015-preliminary-report.jpg?w=150&h=82 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/hwy18fh015-preliminary-report.jpg?w=300&h=164 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/hwy18fh015-preliminary-report.jpg?w=768&h=420 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/hwy18fh015-preliminary-report.jpg?w=1024&h=560 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 528px) 100vw, 528px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4807" class="wp-caption-text">Postcrash photograph of vehicles under Cloverdale Road overpass; view is looking west, toward the 2019 Volvo truck that began the crash sequence of the June 16, 2018, construction zone multivehicle collision, in Boise, Idaho. (Source: Idaho State Police)</figcaption></figure>
These HOS rule changes come at a time when new data show trucking fatalities increasing. Between 800 and 900 drivers lose their lives on the road each year, and the risk only begins with the truck driver. It doesn’t take much imagination to see what happens when a fatigued trucker collides with a minivan full of children, construction workers on the road, or commuters on an intercity bus. Just look at our recent investigations involving fatigued truck drivers—one in <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/HAB2002.aspx">Boise, Idaho</a>, and another in <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/HAB2003.aspx">Elmhurst, Illinois</a>. The NTSB has investigated too many preventable tragedies to remain silent on this critical issue. At a time when truck-related fatalities are increasing, how many of your family and friends are you willing to sacrifice to an exhausted trucker? We should be doing more to improve trucking safety, not relax it.
<figure data-shortcode="caption" id="attachment_4809" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4809" style="width: 1608px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4809" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/07/13/new-hours-of-service-rule-relaxes-critical-safety-regulations/hwy18mh007-prelim/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/hwy18mh007-prelim.jpg" data-orig-size="1608,462" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="Scene views of six of the vehicles at final rest on eastbound I-290, involved in the March 1, 2018, multivehicle collision in Elmhurst, Illinois.
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/hwy18mh007-prelim.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/hwy18mh007-prelim.jpg?w=474" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4809" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/hwy18mh007-prelim.jpg" alt="" width="1608" height="462" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/hwy18mh007-prelim.jpg 1608w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/hwy18mh007-prelim.jpg?w=150&h=43 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/hwy18mh007-prelim.jpg?w=300&h=86 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/hwy18mh007-prelim.jpg?w=768&h=221 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/hwy18mh007-prelim.jpg?w=1024&h=294 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1608px) 100vw, 1608px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4809" class="wp-caption-text">Scene views of six of the vehicles at final rest on eastbound I-290, involved in the March 1, 2018, multivehicle collision, in Elmhurst, Illinois.</figcaption></figure>
 
<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwlfs-19-20/mwl2.aspx">Reduce Fatigue-Related Accidents</a> is on the NTSB 2019-2020 Most Wanted List.
<img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4310" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2019/02/06/2019-2020-most-wanted-list/mwl08s_fatigue/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl08s_fatigue.jpg" data-orig-size="750,600" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="MWL08s_Fatigue" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl08s_fatigue.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl08s_fatigue.jpg?w=474" class=" wp-image-4310 aligncenter" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl08s_fatigue.jpg" alt="MWL08s_Fatigue" width="516" height="413" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl08s_fatigue.jpg?w=516&h=413 516w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl08s_fatigue.jpg?w=150&h=120 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl08s_fatigue.jpg?w=300&h=240 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl08s_fatigue.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 516px) 100vw, 516px" />
 
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<media:title type="html">June 16, 2018, Construction Zone Multivehicle Collision, in Boise, Idaho.</media:title>
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<title>Fatal Distraction: The Dangers When our Eyes Aren’t Faithful to the Road</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/07/06/fatal-distraction-the-dangers-when-our-eyes-arent-faithful-to-the-road/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 06 Jul 2020 15:10:13 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Jennifer Homendy]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4797</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Member Jennifer Homendy In my senior year of college I worked part-time as a “hot walker” for a trainer at a racehorse track. One afternoon, a coworker asked if I wanted to leave for lunch and grab a sandwich at a local deli. The last thing I remember before the crash was getting in … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/07/06/fatal-distraction-the-dangers-when-our-eyes-arent-faithful-to-the-road/" class="more-link">Continue reading Fatal Distraction: The Dangers When our Eyes Aren’t Faithful to the Road →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[By Member Jennifer Homendy
In my senior year of college I worked part-time as a “hot walker” for a trainer at a racehorse track. One afternoon, a coworker asked if I wanted to leave for lunch and grab a sandwich at a local deli. The last thing I remember before the crash was getting in her car, pulling the shoulder strap of the seat belt across me, and realizing that the buckle attachment was missing. I remember being worried; it was snowing, but somehow, I rationalized that I’d be fine because we were only going a few miles down a rural road where few cars traveled.
The next thing I remember is waking up in an ambulance and, soon after, arriving at a hospital, where a team of medical professionals were focused on the large, deep gash across the top of my head (and later, a concussion), which apparently occurred when I hit the windshield. These are injuries I never would’ve sustained had I been wearing a seat belt. My most vivid memory from that afternoon was the priest who worked his way between the medical staff to ask who he could contact on my behalf. While writing this blog, I asked my parents about that phone call. As the parent of a tween now, I can’t imagine how devastating it must have been to get a call about their child being involved in a major car crash and needing to get to a hospital that was two states away.
As for my coworker who was wearing a seat belt—she broke her arm when she threw it between me and the dashboard during the crash. Fortunately, the woman who hit us suffered only minor injuries. I found out later that she had taken her eyes off the road to pick up a wallet that fell on the floor of the passenger side of her car. She veered into our lane and hit us head on.
Distractions like the one that resulted in my crash aren’t new, but nearly 30 years later, as we’ve become more connected, our behavior toward them has gotten far worse. The technological advancements over the past couple of decades, in many ways, have improved and enriched our daily lives. Think of all the things we can do that were unimaginable in a pre-smartphone world: we no longer have to drive to the bank to cash a check, wait in line for coffee, or even visit the grocery store. With our time yielded back, we spend endless hours staying connected to others by text or video chats, or by browsing social media—to the point where we (particularly <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2017/12/11/phone-addiction-is-real-and-so-are-its-mental-health-risks/#5fe8a70d13df">young people</a>) become addicted to our devices.
So, why is this a problem on our roadways? Distractions like eating, reading, shaving, and picking up a wallet while driving are now compounded by our urge to respond to a barrage of phone calls, texts, and alerts on our smartphones—devices that are, in fact, designed to capture our attention. And, not surprisingly, research shows that humans aren’t good at multitasking. As a result, people are dying. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted-driving crashes killed 2,841 people in 2018, including 400 pedestrians and 77 bicyclists who are particularly vulnerable because they don’t stand much of a chance when colliding with a 4,000-pound vehicle.
“Eliminating Distractions” has been on the NTSB’s <a href="https://ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/default.aspx">Most Wanted List</a> of transportation safety improvements since 2013, and it isn’t going anywhere until we see a significant reduction in distracted-driving-related fatalities. <a href="https://www.ghsa.org/index.php/state-laws/issues/distracted%20driving">States</a> also recognize the problem; some have banned the use of handheld devices altogether, while others have at least banned texting while driving. Short of full cellphone bans, though, drivers can still make calls on speaker, which only results in cognitive distraction.
<img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4358" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2019/03/18/why/mwl01s_distractions-2/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/mwl01s_distractions.jpg" data-orig-size="750,600" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="MWL01s_Distractions" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/mwl01s_distractions.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/mwl01s_distractions.jpg?w=474" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4358" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/mwl01s_distractions.jpg" alt="MWL01s_Distractions" width="750" height="600" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/mwl01s_distractions.jpg 750w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/mwl01s_distractions.jpg?w=150&h=120 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/mwl01s_distractions.jpg?w=300&h=240 300w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px">
I think we all forget how big a responsibility operating a vehicle is and the potential harm that can be caused to us, our loved ones, and others when we allow ourselves to become distracted. Please, let’s all remember that we must remain vigilant while driving. Safe driving requires 100% of a driver’s attention, 100% of the time, so put down the phone or the bagel or the makeup. Let the wallet stay on the floor until you’re parked. No distraction is worth a human life.
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<title>Let’s Make This Independence Day Memorable with ZERO Impaired Driving Crashes</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/07/02/lets-make-this-independence-day-memorable-with-zero-impaired-driving-crashes/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2020 14:00:22 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Holiday Travel]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impairment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thomas Chapman]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[By Member Thomas Chapman This has been a year of continuous and unexpected events.  Never did I expect that just two months after being confirmed as the 46th Board Member of the NTSB, I would be sent home to quarantine and physically distance from my new colleagues – and for a period now approaching 5 … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/07/02/lets-make-this-independence-day-memorable-with-zero-impaired-driving-crashes/" class="more-link">Continue reading Let’s Make This Independence Day Memorable with ZERO Impaired Driving Crashes →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/TChapman/Pages/bio_chapman.aspx">Member Thomas Chapman</a>
This has been a year of continuous and unexpected events.  Never did I expect that just two months after being confirmed as the 46th Board Member of the NTSB, I would be sent home to quarantine and physically distance from my new colleagues – and for a period now approaching 5 months.  Additionally, the news headlines have not let up, both nationally and internationally.  Each seems more surprising than the next.
However, some things remain the same, and not necessarily in a positive sense.  According to the National Safety Council, while the total number of traffic deaths is down, there was a<a href="https://www.nsc.org/in-the-newsroom/motor-vehicle-fatality-rates-jump-366-in-april-despite-quarantines"> 36.6-percent increase</a> in fatality rates per miles driven in April 2020 (the most recent month for which statistics are available).
Now, as some states are easing their stay-at-home orders, people are tempted to reunite with family and friends.  This reacquired freedom is coinciding with another reason to celebrate our freedoms – Independence Day.  Unfortunately, July 4th <a href="https://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/get-materials/drunk-driving/drive-sober-or-get-pulled-over-4th-july/4th-july-drive-sober#:~:text=This%20American%20holiday%20is%20also,due%20to%20drunk%2Ddriving%20crashes.&text=Over%20the%204th%20of%20July,occurred%20in%20alcohol%2Dimpaired%20crashes.">is one of the deadliest impaired driving holidays in the United States</a>, according to NHTSA.
The NTSB has long advocated for our safety recommendations to <a href="https://ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwlfs-19-20/mwl5-fsh.aspx">end alcohol and drug impaired driving</a>  – over the 4th of July weekend and every day.  We have recommended many changes to strengthen impaired driving laws.  However, ultimately, impaired driving is the result of the personal choice of getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol or drugs.
Like many others, my family and I will be celebrating this holiday, but we all have a responsibility to celebrate responsibly.  In March, many states reported that they experienced zero impaired driving fatalities over the St. Patrick’s Day weekend.  For the upcoming Independence Day weekend, I challenge you to repeat that history.  Let’s make this another holiday where we celebrate zero impaired driving fatalities.  If you choose to consume alcohol or drugs, also choose a designated, sober driver.  Remember that impairment begins with the first drink or dose.  And buzzed driving is drunk driving.
Choose to drive sober or designate a sober driver.  Impaired driving is 100% preventable!
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<title>This July 4, Travel Safely—Don’t Put Unnecessary Strain on First Responders and Hospital Staff</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/06/29/this-july-4-travel-safely-dont-put-unnecessary-strain-on-first-responders-and-hospital-staff/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2020 19:49:20 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Child Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Drowsy Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Fatigue]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Holiday Travel]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impairment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Motorcycles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pedestrians]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Speeding]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4783</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Dolline Hatchett, Director, NTSB Office of Safety Recommendations and Communications COVID-19 has affected every American, and the NTSB has adapted to respond to the effects of the pandemic. As the agency’s Director of Safety Recommendations and Communications (SRC), I know how important it is to keep the industry, elected officials, and the advocacy community … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/06/29/this-july-4-travel-safely-dont-put-unnecessary-strain-on-first-responders-and-hospital-staff/" class="more-link">Continue reading This July 4, Travel Safely—Don’t Put Unnecessary Strain on First Responders and Hospital Staff →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[By Dolline Hatchett, Director, NTSB Office of Safety Recommendations and Communications
COVID-19 has affected every American, and the NTSB has adapted to respond to the effects of the pandemic. As the agency’s Director of Safety Recommendations and Communications (SRC), I know how important it is to keep the industry, elected officials, and the advocacy community briefed on transportation safety; that’s why I decided to take advantage of this platform to try to reach as many of my fellow citizens as possible.
As we approach the July 4th weekend, with travelers expected to hit the roadways even in the midst of a pandemic, it’s important to remind the traveling public to drive safely. Motor vehicle crashes continue to constitute a chronic national health care crisis, resulting in 35,000 or more deaths and millions of injuries each year. Highway crashes create an enormous demand for medical services, year in and year out. At the same time, an emergent crisis, like COVID-19, demands those same resources, and they start to get stretched thin.
SRC works not only to inform, but also to advocate for safer personal transportation choices. Although much of the country has been shut down for the past few months, the agency continues to craft and track safety recommendations, and it’s up to my office to publicize safety advances when we close recommendations.
Throughout the lockdown, SRC has continued to facilitate communication with state and national policy makers, upon request, about transportation safety issues that are relevant to legislation they may be considering. The difference these days is that the office responds to these requests in writing, rather than in face-to-face testimony. We’ve also responded to requests from federal congressional staff to provide information on our recommendations to help them develop a surface transportation bill. And of course, we continue to make safety publications available to the public and to respond to queries about ongoing investigations.
But perhaps the most innovative response we’ve had during this pandemic is our Safety Reminder campaign, which launched just before Memorial Day with a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo8rbs0Xmvs">public service announcement</a>. This outreach was important; surprisingly, while most of the country was on lockdown leading up to Memorial Day weekend, a nationwide speeding trend emerged. We decided to proactively remind the public about safe transportation across all modes as the nation began to re-open.
I believe it’s important to re-emphasize safe road travel ahead of the July 4th weekend, especially because stay-at-home orders have eased throughout the country, and we may see even more road travelers this holiday weekend than we did over Memorial Day weekend. Despite being away from our physical offices, SRC continues to keep the public informed of the agency’s work as we advocate for safety improvements across all modes of transportation. We’re the conduit between the technical expertise at the agency and our stakeholders—the traveling public, lawmakers, and industry—and it’s up to us to effectively communicate the vital safety improvements that come out of our investigations, reports, and studies. There’s no better time to convey that important information than now, just before a holiday weekend during which many Americans will be taking to the roads, perhaps for the first time in months.
So, before the start of the holiday weekend, when you’re picking out your mask and planning socially distant celebrations, remember how your actions behind the wheel relate to this pandemic and those directly affected by it. Don’t drive impaired. Don’t drive distracted or fatigued. Don’t speed. Whether you’re a passenger or a driver, always wear your seatbelt.
<a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/06/29/this-july-4-travel-safely-dont-put-unnecessary-strain-on-first-responders-and-hospital-staff/#gallery-4783-1-slideshow">Click to view slideshow.</a>
Let’s work together to avoid further strain on our health care system; every ambulance not called, every unit of blood not transfused, every bed in an emergency department not filled because of a crash, is one more resource made available to fight our emergent crisis.
 
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<title>Episode 34: Highway Safety</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/06/25/episode-34-highway-safety/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2020 15:28:53 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Behind-the-Scene]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4775</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In this episode of the Behind-the-Scene @NTSB podcast, NTSB Office of Highway Safety Director Rob Molloy, PhD, and Deputy Director Kris Poland, PhD, discuss their journeys to the NTSB and current work. Hear their views on the increase in speed-related crashes, current NTSB highway investigations, new safety recommendations related to vehicle automation, and much more. … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/06/25/episode-34-highway-safety/" class="more-link">Continue reading Episode 34: Highway Safety →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[In this episode of the Behind-the-Scene @NTSB podcast, NTSB Office of Highway Safety Director Rob Molloy, PhD, and Deputy Director Kris Poland, PhD, discuss their journeys to the NTSB and current work. Hear their views on the increase in speed-related crashes, current NTSB highway investigations, new safety recommendations related to vehicle automation, and much more. They also discuss the NTSB #SafetyReminder campaign & share important road safety reminders as the nation resumes normal operations during the pandemic.

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The NTSB final reports for the investigations mentioned in this episode are available <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/highway.aspx">here</a>.
For more information about NTSB school transportation-related investigations, safety recommendations and presentations, visit the NTSB School Bus Safety <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/Pages/schoolbuses.aspx">page</a>.
The previously released podcast featuring Kris Poland, PhD, is available <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2019/10/21/episode-28-school-bus-safety-week/">here</a>.
Get the latest episode on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-scene-ntsb/id1286590741?mt=2">Apple Podcasts</a> , on <a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Ihj2oejp6ut3rrvs3kpej7y3qsu?t=Behind-the-Scene__NTSB">Google Play</a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/behindthescenentsb/behindthescene-ntsb">Stitcher</a>, or your favorite podcast platform.
And find more ways to listen here: <a href="https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/">https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/</a>
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<title>FAA Must Take Action on Recorder Safety Recommendations</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/06/15/faa-must-take-action-on-recorder-safety-recommendations/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2020 14:24:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Aviation Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Recorders]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Jennifer Homendy]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4770</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Member Jennifer Homendy Crash-protected flight recording systems, such as cockpit voice recorders (CVRs) and flight data recorders (FDRs), often called “black boxes,” are required on most commercial aircraft by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). CVRs record sounds like engine noises and pilots’ voices in aircraft cockpits. FDRs record important data on a plane’s operating … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/06/15/faa-must-take-action-on-recorder-safety-recommendations/" class="more-link">Continue reading FAA Must Take Action on Recorder Safety Recommendations →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/JHomendy/Pages/bio_homendy.aspx">Member Jennifer Homendy</a>
Crash-protected flight recording systems, such as <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/Pages/cvr_fdr.aspx">cockpit voice recorders (CVRs) and flight data recorders (FDRs)</a>, often called “black boxes,” are required on most commercial aircraft by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). CVRs record sounds like engine noises and pilots’ voices in aircraft cockpits. FDRs record important data on a plane’s operating condition during flight, like altitude and airspeed. Both are installed in a part of the aircraft most likely to “survive” a crash—usually the tail. These instruments have proven invaluable to determining the causes of a crash and preventing similar accidents from occurring; yet, the FAA doesn’t require them on most helicopters.
Nearly 4 months ago, a helicopter carrying nine people collided with a mountainside in Calabasas, California, tragically killing all on board. As the Board member on duty, I launched to Calabasas with a team of NTSB investigators just a few hours after learning of the crash. In the days following the accident, our team of investigators thoroughly examined the details surrounding the collision and I relayed our initial findings to the public. At our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vwk6NaQSuPA">final press conference</a>, I highlighted a <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/RecLetters/A06_17_18.pdf">2006 safety recommendation</a> issued to the FAA that the agency had refused to implement: require all transport-category rotorcraft operating under <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=f90f30c49bb5055a46dc974e621baecf&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title14/14tab_02.tpl">Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations</a> Part 91 (requirements for general aviation operations in the United States) and Part 135 (requirements for operating charter and on-demand flights) to be equipped with a CVR and an FDR. The transport-category helicopter in the Calabasas crash was operating under Part 135, but was not equipped with either a CVR or an FDR.
<figure data-shortcode="caption" id="attachment_4771" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4771" style="width: 5472px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4771" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/06/15/faa-must-take-action-on-recorder-safety-recommendations/calabasas-ca/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/calabasas-ca.jpg" data-orig-size="5472,3648" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"8","credit":"","camera":"Canon EOS 6D","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1580128796","copyright":"","focal_length":"80","iso":"160","shutter_speed":"0.005","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Calabasas CA" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="CALABASAS, California (Jan. 28, 2020) — In this photo taken Jan. 27, NTSB investigator Carol Horgan examines wreckage as part of the NTSB’s investigation of the the crash of a Sikorsky S76B helicopter near Calabasas, California, Jan. 26. The eight passengers and pilot aboard the helicopter were fatally injured and the helicopter was destroyed. (NTSB photo by James Anderson)
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/calabasas-ca.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/calabasas-ca.jpg?w=474" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4771" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/calabasas-ca.jpg" alt="Calabasas CA" width="5472" height="3648" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/calabasas-ca.jpg 5472w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/calabasas-ca.jpg?w=150&h=100 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/calabasas-ca.jpg?w=300&h=200 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/calabasas-ca.jpg?w=768&h=512 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/calabasas-ca.jpg?w=1024&h=683 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 5472px) 100vw, 5472px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4771" class="wp-caption-text">CALABASAS, California — In this photo taken Jan. 27, NTSB investigator Carol Horgan examines wreckage as part of the NTSB’s investigation of the the crash of a Sikorsky S76B helicopter near Calabasas, California, Jan. 26. The eight passengers and pilot aboard the helicopter were fatally injured and the helicopter was destroyed. (NTSB photo by James Anderson)</figcaption></figure>
Although it’s too soon in the ongoing Calabasas helicopter investigation to know how the lack of recorders will affect our investigative work, the NTSB has long seen the value of using flight recorders to conduct comprehensive accident investigations, including those involving helicopters. At the time of the Calabasas accident, The Late Show host Stephen Colbert <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1IX-MF82SI">spoke about how a CVR was instrumental in determining what caused Eastern Air Lines flight 212 to crash in 1974, killing 72 people on board—including his father and two brothers. </a>Colbert appealed to the FAA to require that helicopters be equipped with black boxes so we can learn more about what occurred in a crash and prevent the next one from happening.
Unfortunately, the absence of a CVR and an FDR in the Calabasas crash was not unique. In fact, the NTSB has investigated several helicopter crashes and issued recommendations to address the lack of crash-resistant flight recording technology onboard helicopters as far back as 1999 (<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/A99_59_63.pdf">A‑99‑60</a>). We followed up with comparable recommendations in 2003 (<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/A03_62_65.pdf">A-03-62 to -65</a>) and 2009 (<a href="https://ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR0902.pdf">A-09-9 to -11</a>), and recently released a <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/ASR2004.pdf">safety recommendation report</a> detailing several helicopter crashes in which recorded flight data would’ve helped us better identify potential safety issues.
On May 19, the Board adopted a <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR2001.pdf">report</a> on the January 29, 2019, crash of an air ambulance near Zaleski, Ohio. The investigation found that if cockpit image data had been captured, investigators would have been able to better understand why the pilot failed to maintain altitude in the final moments of the air ambulance’s flight. We reiterated two previous recommendations (<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=A-13-012">A-13-12</a> and <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=A-13-013">-13</a>) that the FAA require crash-resistant flight recorder systems on new and existing aircraft operating under Parts 91, 121 (domestic operating requirements), and 135. As we learned at the Board meeting, these crash-resistant devices are available on the market today.
We also reiterated a recommendation (<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/A-16-034-042.pdf">A-16-35</a>) that the FAA require all Part 135 operators to create flight data monitoring (FDM) programs “to identify deviations from established norms and procedures and other potential safety issues.” In the Zaleski investigation, although the helicopter was equipped with FDM devices, the data was not used to verify and improve safety.
Expanding the use of recorders has been on the NTSB’s <a href="https://ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/default.aspx">Most Wanted List</a> (MWL) going back to 2011. The MWLs in 2014 and 2015 both specifically called for crash-resistant flight recorder systems to be adopted to enhance helicopter safety. Our most current MWL, which spans 2019 and 2020, calls on regulators to “<a href="https://ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwlfs-19-20/mwl3.aspx">require all Part 135 operators to install data recording devices</a>” to meet the same safety requirements as commercial airlines.
<img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4308" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2019/02/06/2019-2020-most-wanted-list/mwl06s_part135/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl06s_part135.jpg" data-orig-size="750,600" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="MWL06s_Part135" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl06s_part135.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl06s_part135.jpg?w=474" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4308" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl06s_part135.jpg" alt="MWL06s_Part135" width="750" height="600" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl06s_part135.jpg 750w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl06s_part135.jpg?w=150&h=120 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl06s_part135.jpg?w=300&h=240 300w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px">
The NTSB’s history of recommendations on flight recording systems has not gone unnoticed by lawmakers. Following a June 2019 helicopter crash in Manhattan that killed the pilot and started a fire on top of a Midtown skyscraper, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer and New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand urged the FAA to require FDRs in helicopters, just as they are required for commercial planes. In their <a href="https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/on-heels-of-chopper-crash-in-manhattan-and-with-lack-of-data-available-for-investigation-schumer-urges-faa-to-require-all-helicopters-be-equipped-with-black-boxes-just-like-commercial-planes_">press release</a>, Senator Schumer stated “to know that the NTSB has been trying for years, without success, to compel the FAA to take action as it relates to making helicopters more valuable to safety by installing flight data recorders is cause for serious concern.” He went on to say that the FAA “must take another look” at the NTSB’s recommendations on FDRs.
To date, the FAA has not acted on our repeated recommendations regarding crash‑resistant and crash-protected flight recording systems for helicopters. Although the FAA encourages helicopter operators to voluntarily use crash-resistant flight recording systems, the agency stops short of mandating CVRs and FDRs. This is especially disappointing because, although flight recording systems are undoubtedly crucial to improving aviation safety, they serve another important function: they provide grieving families with answers.
The benefits of crash-resistant flight recording systems well outweigh their cost; it’s beyond time for the FAA to take action on our safety recommendations regarding them.
 
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<title>When it Comes Down to You and a Train, You Won’t Win!</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/05/28/when-it-comes-down-to-you-and-a-train-you-wont-win/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2020 16:28:04 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Rail Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Jennifer Homendy]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4766</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Member Jennifer Homendy It seems like it should be obvious that you should never gamble with safety, but, for some reason, people often do when it comes to trains. Last spring, I visited our regional office in Alaska, and on the way to a meeting, I stopped along the road near Turnagain Arm. Just … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/05/28/when-it-comes-down-to-you-and-a-train-you-wont-win/" class="more-link">Continue reading When it Comes Down to You and a Train, You Won’t Win! →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/JHomendy/Pages/bio_homendy.aspx">Member Jennifer Homendy</a>
It seems like it should be obvious that you should never gamble with safety, but, for some reason, people often do when it comes to trains.
Last spring, I visited our regional office in Alaska, and on the way to a meeting, I stopped along the road near Turnagain Arm. Just beyond the parking lot was a fence, some train tracks, and a stunning shoreline overlooking the bay. Signs were posted along the fence, warning visitors not to cross the tracks. On that day—and I’m sure many others—the warnings were ignored. The fence was cut, people were crawling underneath to get to the shoreline, and several families were taking pictures on the tracks. It was a familiar scene. I’ve witnessed the same risky behavior on train tracks and at crossings near my home, and, let me tell you, when it’s between you and a train, you won’t win! Trains weigh tons, they’re moving faster than you think, sometimes you won’t hear them (even though you think you will), and they can take over a mile to come to a stop. Don’t risk it!
Railroads have always had the right of way, and they often existed before the communities that grew around them. Roughly a century before commercial airports began connecting a network of American cities, and long before the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 established the Interstate Highway System, the <a href="https://www.aar.org/data/chronology-railroading-america/">first steam engine railroads</a> were created to transport passengers and freight in the United States. Railroads were foundational to our country, pushing westward and growing throughout the industrial revolution. As trains transported more and more passengers and commerce across a young nation expanding its territory, cities and small towns grew alongside the tracks. This history is why we now see so many <a href="https://railroads.dot.gov/program-areas/highway-rail-grade-crossing/highway-rail-grade-crossings-overview">highway-rail grade</a> crossings in the United States.
Grade crossing safety has been a challenge for decades. Fatalities and injuries resulting from collisions at grade crossings occur all over the United States and are particularly problematic in densely populated urban areas that surround at-grade tracks. States and local governments are primarily responsible for the decisions that make crossings safer, including upgrades to warning signals and infrastructure improvements, such as roadway redesigns, crossing consolidations, and grade separations. But these projects are expensive for states and local governments, and they often require funding from oversubscribed federal grant programs.
In 2008, following an <a href="https://www.oig.dot.gov/library-item/30001">audit</a> by the US Department of Transportation’s (DOT’s) Inspector General, Congress <a href="https://www.congress.gov/110/plaws/publ432/PLAW-110publ432.pdf">required</a> the DOT to identify the 10 states with the highest number of grade crossing collisions and direct those states to develop action plans identifying specific solutions for improving safety at crossings, particularly crossings where multiple accidents had occurred or that were at high risk for accidents. Those states were Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Ohio, and Texas.
In 2015, the <a href="https://www.congress.gov/114/plaws/publ94/PLAW-114publ94.pdf">Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act</a> extended the mandate to all states. The law also required the DOT to develop a <a href="https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/hsip/xings/fhwasa16075/">model grade-crossing action plan</a> and distribute it to the states to help focus their efforts. This requirement was in response to two NTSB safety recommendations (H-12-60 and -61) issued following a grade crossing collision we investigated on <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/HAR1203.pdf">June 24, 2011, in Miriam, Nevada</a>, which tragically took the lives of a truck driver, a train conductor, and four train passengers.
Despite implementation of these recommendations, as well as many others, and the tremendous actions of railroads and state and local governments in partnership with the federal government, grade crossing collisions and the rate at which they occur have increased over the past decade. Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) <a href="https://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/OfficeofSafety/publicsite/Query/TenYearAccidentIncidentOverview.aspx">data</a> show that there were 2,216 grade crossing incidents in 2019, up from 2,052 in 2010. The rate of incidents per million train miles also increased from 2.911 to 3.273 over the same time period, while fatalities at grade crossings grew from 261 to 293.
Those figures don’t even include trespassers on train tracks, like those I saw in Alaska. Trespasser incidents (not at grade crossings) have increased from 788 in 2010 to 1,092 in 2019. Deaths and injuries have soared from a total of 801 to 1,122 over the last decade. This is tragic, and, as a society, we can—and must—do better.
<img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4768" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/05/28/when-it-comes-down-to-you-and-a-train-you-wont-win/print-11/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/safetyreminder_seetrackthinktrain-flip.jpg" data-orig-size="1085,568" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"Print","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Print" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/safetyreminder_seetrackthinktrain-flip.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/safetyreminder_seetrackthinktrain-flip.jpg?w=474" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4768" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/safetyreminder_seetrackthinktrain-flip.jpg" alt="Print" width="1085" height="568" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/safetyreminder_seetrackthinktrain-flip.jpg 1085w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/safetyreminder_seetrackthinktrain-flip.jpg?w=150&h=79 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/safetyreminder_seetrackthinktrain-flip.jpg?w=300&h=157 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/safetyreminder_seetrackthinktrain-flip.jpg?w=768&h=402 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/safetyreminder_seetrackthinktrain-flip.jpg?w=1024&h=536 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1085px) 100vw, 1085px">
The NTSB continues to investigate grade crossing collisions and <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/RecTabs.aspx?Tab=1&RecommendationText=grade%20crossing">recommend</a> safety enhancements, such as infrastructure upgrades and better signage at crossings. We’ve held public forums and worked alongside the FRA, <a href="https://oli.org/about-us">Operation Lifesaver</a>, railroads, and rail labor to raise public awareness about safety at grade crossings and the need to stay off the tracks. But, ultimately, it’s our responsibility to always be vigilant and take safety seriously. Drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians must obey warning signs and signals, stay off the tracks, stop and look both ways at passive crossings, and avoid distractions. Trying to beat an oncoming train is reckless and deadly.
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<title>Teen Drivers: Don’t Take Your Return to the Road for Granted</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/05/26/teen-drivers-dont-take-your-return-to-the-road-for-granted/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2020 17:44:54 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Drowsy Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Fatigue]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Global Youth Traffic Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Teen Driving]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4761</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By: Nicholas Worrell, Chief, Office of Safety Advocacy We recently announced the launch of a new #SafetyReminder campaign to provide the traveling public with a few friendly reminders as unprecedented stay-at-home restrictions are eased and we slowly resume air, rail, road, and marine travel. During this return to “normalcy,” we’re especially concerned about young drivers. … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/05/26/teen-drivers-dont-take-your-return-to-the-road-for-granted/" class="more-link">Continue reading Teen Drivers: Don’t Take Your Return to the Road for Granted →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[By: Nicholas Worrell, Chief, Office of Safety Advocacy
We recently announced the launch of a new <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/05/12/returning-to-travel-with-safety-on-the-mind/">#SafetyReminder campaign</a> to provide the traveling public with a few friendly reminders as unprecedented stay-at-home restrictions are eased and we slowly resume air, rail, road, and marine travel.
During this return to “normalcy,” we’re especially concerned about young drivers. That’s why we partnered with Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) to host a virtual get together to reach out to teen drivers and their parents.
It’s an understatement to say that 2020’s young drivers have seen a lot in a short time. Like the rest of us, teens have done their part to slow the spread of the coronavirus through self-quarantine, protecting both themselves and others. Now that the country is slowly reopening, it’s time to return our focus to what’s most deadly to young drivers and their peers. It’s time to think not only about socially distancing ourselves, but also about isolating our cars from hazards like vulnerable road users, roadside obstacles, and even other cars. It’s time for a reminder about the biggest threat to teens’ lives: traffic crashes.
Parents have always passed the car keys to the next generation with trembling hands, and for good reason. <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/injury/images/lc-charts/leading_causes_of_death_by_age_group_2018_1100w850h.jpg">Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death</a> for every age group between 1 and 44. <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/injury/images/lc-charts/leading_causes_of_death_by_age_group_unintentional_2018_1100w850h.jpg">According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of fatal injury for people between the ages of 15 and 44. So, when it’s time to return to the road, we all need to be aware of the “danger zones” for young drivers:
<ol>
<li>Inexperience</li>
<li>Driving with teen passengers</li>
<li>Nighttime driving</li>
<li>Not using seat belts</li>
<li>Distraction</li>
<li>Drowsiness</li>
<li>Impairment</li>
<li>Reckless driving</li>
</ol>
Although it’s good for young drivers—and their parents—to refresh their knowledge of all the danger zones, they should be aware that our recent isolation may have increased risk in certain danger zone categories. For example, stay-at-home orders have hampered new drivers’ ability to gain experience and start to internalize many of the actions that will become second nature with more time behind the wheel. Any skills even the most seasoned driver had before lockdown will be rusty; that’s compounded for new drivers who have had far less time to practice behind the wheel. Beyond that, young drivers may not weigh risk as carefully as their adult counterparts, and the excitement of getting back on the road may easily manifest as risky behavior.
Here’s another consideration that teens and their parents might overlook: driving with teen passengers not only makes it harder for teen drivers to keep their concentration on the road, but it also flies in the face of social distancing. We understand that it’s been a long time since we’ve gotten together with people outside our homes, and teen drivers are probably the most eager of anyone to reunite with their friends. But reunions don’t belong in the same car, where distraction can be as contagious as a virus. Nothing good is going to come from getting behind the wheel if those reunions involve illegal use of alcohol or other drugs, or they go late into the night, or a driver is running on little sleep.
While distraction from passengers is one risk to avoid, driving while distracted by personal electronic devices—which was deadly before the pandemic—is potentially even deadlier now, given how accustomed we’ve become to practicing virtual contact. The always-connected world that helped us be resilient during this isolating time can also make us vulnerable to danger if we continue that constant connection while behind the wheel. No call, no text, no update, is worth a human life.
Even age-old risky behaviors, like speeding, that have always been a pitfall for young drivers pose an increased danger following isolation. The roads have been emptier for months, and some drivers have taken advantage, driving unimpeded at breakneck speed. Even on nearly empty roads, drivers need to leave the lead foot at home and keep an eye out for those who treat the less-crowded roads like their personal speedways. Most importantly, drivers need to make sure they—and their passengers—are always using seat belts, in case the high-risk driver in the next lane makes a bad decision.
Teens, for all your admirable resilience in the face of today’s challenges, you are still our most vulnerable and inexperienced road users. You’re going to be a great generation of adults before long; let us help make sure you make it there.
Parents and guardians, don’t send your teens back out on the road unprepared. Talk to your teens about the key components of driving and set the example for safe driving. A study by Liberty Mutual and SADD found that parents are setting a poor example for teens by engaging in unsafe driving behaviors, such as texting and driving, and are not listening to their kids’ warnings. Forty-one percent of teens say their parents continue these unsafe behaviors even after their teens ask them to stop, and 28 percent of teens say their parents justify unsafe behavior. Take a moment to consider how to keep your young drivers safe, how to help them make good choices, and what example you’re setting. Take time to outline the key risks of driving. If you need a reminder, visit the websites of expert organizations like <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/">NHTSA</a> and the<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/teen_drivers/teendrivers_factsheet.html"> CDC</a>. And remember: your example is the most powerful instructor. Teens learn by example.
It’s been said that insisting on one’s rights without accepting one’s responsibilities is not freedom but adolescence. As somebody who works in youth safety outreach, I assure you, that’s an insult to today’s adolescents, who have used their voices and actions to demonstrate that they understand the role of conscience, mindfulness, and selfless service. I have no doubt this resilient group—many of whom gave up rites of passage, like prom and in-person graduation, to self-quarantine and protect those around them—can come back to the driving task with a renewed understanding of their profound responsibilities behind the wheel.
Our <a href="https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/721191981">virtual joint event</a> with SADD will take place on May 27, 2020, and we want to hear from parents and youth about the challenges and successes of returning to the road. We’ll also discuss resources that everyone can use to promote safer driving, whether they’re talking to peers, parents, or teens.
<img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4762" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/05/26/teen-drivers-dont-take-your-return-to-the-road-for-granted/ntsb-sadd-transportation-safety-youth-leader-check-in/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/ntsb-sadd-transportation-safety-youth-leader-check-in.png" data-orig-size="1080,1080" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="NTSB &amp; SADD Transportation Safety Youth Leader Check-in" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/ntsb-sadd-transportation-safety-youth-leader-check-in.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/ntsb-sadd-transportation-safety-youth-leader-check-in.png?w=474" class="aligncenter wp-image-4762" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/ntsb-sadd-transportation-safety-youth-leader-check-in.png?w=2048" alt="NTSB &amp; SADD Transportation Safety Youth Leader Check-in" width="486" height="486" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/ntsb-sadd-transportation-safety-youth-leader-check-in.png?w=486 486w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/ntsb-sadd-transportation-safety-youth-leader-check-in.png?w=972 972w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/ntsb-sadd-transportation-safety-youth-leader-check-in.png?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/ntsb-sadd-transportation-safety-youth-leader-check-in.png?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/ntsb-sadd-transportation-safety-youth-leader-check-in.png?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 486px) 100vw, 486px" />
Teens, take care as you reenter the roadway. Don’t let your freedom from isolation end in unnecessary injury or death—for you or those around you. I know it will feel amazing to get back to some kind of normal, but don’t let your sacrifices of the past few months be in vain.
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<title>Episode 33: Chairman Robert Sumwalt</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/05/21/episode-33-chairman-robert-sumwalt/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2020 04:01:39 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Behind-the-Scene]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Robert Sumwalt]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4754</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt talks about NTSB’s communications, leadership, and operations during this period especially as it relates to our mission. Chairman Sumwalt also discusses how the agency is maximizing the use of virtual platforms to support its day-to-day operations and shares important transportation safety reminders as the nation … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/05/21/episode-33-chairman-robert-sumwalt/" class="more-link">Continue reading Episode 33: Chairman Robert Sumwalt →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt talks about NTSB’s communications, leadership, and operations during this period especially as it relates to our mission. Chairman Sumwalt also discusses how the agency is maximizing the use of virtual platforms to support its day-to-day operations and shares important transportation safety reminders as the nation re-opens.
<audio class="wp-audio-shortcode" id="audio-4754-2" preload="none" style="width: 100%;" controls="controls"><source type="audio/mpeg" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/episode-33.mp3?_=2" /><a href="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/episode-33.mp3">https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/episode-33.mp3</a></audio>
<img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4757" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/4757/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/episode-33-mp3-image.jpg" data-orig-size="800,800" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/episode-33-mp3-image.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/episode-33-mp3-image.jpg?w=474" class=" wp-image-4757 aligncenter" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/episode-33-mp3-image.jpg" alt="" width="299" height="299" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/episode-33-mp3-image.jpg?w=299&h=299 299w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/episode-33-mp3-image.jpg?w=598&h=598 598w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/episode-33-mp3-image.jpg?w=150&h=150 150w" sizes="(max-width: 299px) 100vw, 299px">
Chairman Sumwalt’s full bio is available <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/RSumwalt/Pages/bio_sumwalt.aspx">here</a>.
Previously released podcasts featuring Chairman Sumwalt are available <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?s=behind-the-scene+chairman+sumwalt">here</a>.
Get the latest episode on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-scene-ntsb/id1286590741?mt=2">Apple Podcasts</a> , on <a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Ihj2oejp6ut3rrvs3kpej7y3qsu?t=Behind-the-Scene__NTSB">Google Play</a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/behindthescenentsb/behindthescene-ntsb">Stitcher</a>, or your favorite podcast platform.
And find more ways to listen here: <a href="https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/">https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/</a>
 
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<title>Motorcycle Safety: Your Mindset Makes All the Difference</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/05/18/motorcycle-safety-your-mindset-makes-all-the-difference/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2020 16:00:18 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Motorcycles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4749</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Chris O’Neil, Chief, NTSB Media Relations May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and, although the number of motorcyclists killed in crashes dropped again in 2018, motorcycle riders remain overrepresented in overall highway traffic deaths. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, per miles traveled, motorcyclists are 28 times more likely to … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/05/18/motorcycle-safety-your-mindset-makes-all-the-difference/" class="more-link">Continue reading Motorcycle Safety: Your Mindset Makes All the Difference →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[By Chris O’Neil, Chief, NTSB Media Relations
<figure data-shortcode="caption" id="attachment_3393" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3393" style="width: 490px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="3393" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2017/05/26/ride-your-own-ride-even-in-groups/motorcycle-blog-1/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/motorcycle-blog-1.jpg" data-orig-size="979,765" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Motorcycle Blog 1" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="The blog author makes a left-hand turn through a four-way intersection during a group ride in March 2017. (Photo by Larry G. Carmon)
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/motorcycle-blog-1.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/motorcycle-blog-1.jpg?w=474" class="alignnone wp-image-3393" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/motorcycle-blog-1.jpg" alt="Motorcycle Blog 1" width="490" height="383" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/motorcycle-blog-1.jpg?w=490&h=383 490w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/motorcycle-blog-1.jpg?w=150&h=117 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/motorcycle-blog-1.jpg?w=300&h=234 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/motorcycle-blog-1.jpg?w=768&h=600 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/motorcycle-blog-1.jpg 979w" sizes="(max-width: 490px) 100vw, 490px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3393" class="wp-caption-text">The blog author makes a left-hand turn through a four-way intersection during a group ride. (Photo by Larry G. Carmon)</figcaption></figure>
May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and, although the number of motorcyclists killed in crashes dropped again in 2018, motorcycle riders remain overrepresented in overall highway traffic deaths. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, per miles traveled, motorcyclists are 28 times more likely to die in a crash than are passenger car occupants.
With that thought in mind, I want to discuss one of the most important factors in motorcycle safety—your mindset.
<a href="https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/three-things-to-believe-even-though-theyre-not-necessarily-true">Revzilla</a> recently posted an article by Lance Oliver that speaks to a rider’s mindset, and his piece really resonated with me in both my professional capacity here at the NTSB, and personally as a Harley Davidson rider. Essentially, Oliver says there are three things every rider should believe:
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type:none;">
<ol>
<li>Ride like everyone in a car is trying to kill you.</li>
<li>Every crash is avoidable.</li>
<li>When in a bad way in a curve, believe you can make it.</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
Every time we saddle up, we accept more risk than the average highway user. One way to mitigate that risk is to presume other motorists are going to do bad things at the worst possible moment, and to plan for that eventuality. I’m not saying motorists intentionally make bad decisions designed to harm you, but an ultra-defensive mindset can help you anticipate and plan for others’ actions that are beyond your control and that can potentially cause you serious bodily harm. Riding a motorcycle is akin to a moving chess match, where riders are scanning <a href="https://www.msf-usa.org/downloads/ERC_Rider_Classroom_Cards.pdf">(search, evaluate, execute)</a> 12 seconds ahead to think “what if?” and planning an escape route to safety or another plan of action to eliminate or mitigate a safety threat. Having a mindset that others’ driving can kill you isn’t pessimistic, it’s realistic.
Every crash is avoidable—which is why we at the NTSB say “crash” instead of “accident.” Having a mindset guided by the principle that crashes are preventable forces a rider to seek ways to identify risks and threats that could result in a crash, and to understand what to do to eliminate or mitigate the risks and threats to prevent or avoid the crash. This mindset begins before we throw a leg over our machine and can also be applied in trip/route planning (weather considerations, road conditions, experience level for intended route, etc.) and in bike maintenance (ensuring completion of a pre-ride <a href="https://www.msf-usa.org/downloads/T-CLOCS_Inspection_Checklist.pdf">T-CLOCS</a> [tires/controls/lights/oil/chassis/stand]) for every ride. Believing every crash is avoidable leads good riders to continually examine how they ride and evaluate their skills to determine if they need refresher training. It should also force a good rider to evaluate completed rides, noting what could have been done better or more safely, or remembering actions they took that mitigated or eliminated a threat. Operating under the principle that crashes are preventable even influences motorcycle selection. Motorcyclists with an ultra-defensive mindset look for motorcycles with advanced stability control systems, antilock braking systems, and enhanced lighting that helps make the motorcycle more visible to other drivers.
One quick caveat here: the belief that every crash is avoidable does not absolve riders and their passengers from practicing ATGATT (all the <a href="https://www.msf-usa.org/downloads/fools-gear-cool-gear-poster.pdf">gear</a>, all the time), because, although avoidable, crashes still happen, and in 2018, they <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/motorcycle-safety">killed nearly 5,000 motorcyclists.</a>
If adherence to the first two parts of the ultra-defensive mindset have failed to keep us from getting into the danger zone, Oliver’s third belief—you can make this—can mean the difference between coming home safely or taking a trip to the hospital. Oliver illustrates this third belief using the example of entering a curve with too much speed and succumbing to the fear that you won’t make it, then panicking or giving up. Oliver posits that, at that moment, it’s time to look farther ahead to the exit of the curve (at where you want to go, not at where you’re afraid of going), lean more, and work to make the curve. I believe riders can apply this mindset to a variety of emergent situations while riding, such as encountering road debris, washouts, standing water, or rain slickened <a href="https://youtu.be/0RlJUXhWQRM">tar snakes</a>. How tightly a rider holds to this belief is likely to be tied to his or her level of riding experience, training, and confidence.
An ultra-defensive mindset can help novices and experienced riders alike consistently identify, evaluate, and mitigate risks and threats while still enjoying the unique freedom and exhilaration that come from riding a motorcycle. More than that, it can help them make it safely to their next ride.
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<media:title type="html">Motorcycle Blog 1</media:title>
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<title>Episode 32: Member Thomas Chapman</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/05/14/episode-32-member-thomas-chapman/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2020 19:05:16 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Behind-the-Scene]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Thomas Chapman]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4741</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, Member Thomas Chapman talks about his journey to the NTSB, his work before joining the Board and what he hopes to accomplish as an NTSB Board member. Member Chapman’s full bio is available here. Get the latest episode on Apple Podcasts , on Google Play, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast platform. And find … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/05/14/episode-32-member-thomas-chapman/" class="more-link">Continue reading Episode 32: Member Thomas Chapman →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, Member Thomas Chapman talks about his journey to the NTSB, his work before joining the Board and what he hopes to accomplish as an NTSB Board member.
<audio class="wp-audio-shortcode" id="audio-4741-3" preload="none" style="width: 100%;" controls="controls"><source type="audio/mpeg" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/episode-32.mp3?_=3" /><a href="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/episode-32.mp3">https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/episode-32.mp3</a></audio>
<img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4744" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/4744/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/episode-32-mp3-image.jpg" data-orig-size="800,800" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/episode-32-mp3-image.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/episode-32-mp3-image.jpg?w=474" class=" wp-image-4744 aligncenter" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/episode-32-mp3-image.jpg" alt="" width="297" height="297" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/episode-32-mp3-image.jpg?w=297&h=297 297w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/episode-32-mp3-image.jpg?w=594&h=594 594w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/episode-32-mp3-image.jpg?w=150&h=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/episode-32-mp3-image.jpg?w=300&h=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 297px) 100vw, 297px">
Member Chapman’s full bio is available <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/TChapman/Pages/bio_chapman.aspx">here</a>.
Get the latest episode on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-scene-ntsb/id1286590741?mt=2">Apple Podcasts</a> , on <a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Ihj2oejp6ut3rrvs3kpej7y3qsu?t=Behind-the-Scene__NTSB">Google Play</a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/behindthescenentsb/behindthescene-ntsb">Stitcher</a>, or your favorite podcast platform.
And find more ways to listen here: <a href="https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/">https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/</a>
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<title>Returning to Travel with Safety on the Mind</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/05/12/returning-to-travel-with-safety-on-the-mind/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2020 14:00:13 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Child Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Drowsy Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Fatigue]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Aviation]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impairment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Marine Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Medical Fitness]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pedestrians]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Speeding]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Teen Driving]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4736</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Nicholas Worrell, Chief, Office of Safety Advocacy Normally this time of year, the transportation safety advocacy world would be buzzing with annual calendared campaigns, like these more well-known ones in the highway safety world: • Global Youth Traffic Safety Month • Motorcycle Awareness Month • 100 Deadliest Days of Summer • NHTSA’s “Click it … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/05/12/returning-to-travel-with-safety-on-the-mind/" class="more-link">Continue reading Returning to Travel with Safety on the Mind →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[By Nicholas Worrell, Chief, Office of Safety Advocacy
Normally this time of year, the transportation safety advocacy world would be buzzing with annual calendared campaigns, like these more well-known ones in the highway safety world:
• Global Youth Traffic Safety Month 
• Motorcycle Awareness Month 
• 100 Deadliest Days of Summer 
• NHTSA’s “Click it or Ticket” seatbelt enforcement campaign
As the weather gets warmer, students learning to drive, fly or even operate a boat would gather for educational awareness-raising events or training seminars and conferences. Driver-educators and safety advocates would be working to pour their hearts and souls into reaching teen drivers on stages around the country, hoping to convince some to avoid the bad choices that would put them at higher risk of traffic crashes. Flight schools would be gearing up for the busy summer flying months, and the US Coast Guard and other organizations would be prepping for summer safety on our waterways.
But it is different this year. This year, the country is in large part sheltering in place because of a global public health pandemic.
In terms of traffic safety, the dark cloud might have a silver lining. The Los Angeles Times reports that crash incidences have reduced by half due to the virus; however, Streetsblog.org questions whether this silver lining in the form of reduced numbers of crashes will come with another dark cloud in the form of higher rates of crashes. We will have to wait for the statistics to be compiled a year or more from now to get a clearer picture. Although advocacy messages no longer reach students face-to-face, young people have less freedom—and reason—to drive. Will those two factors cancel each other out? Will drivers of all ages remember to drive sober and without distractions? Only time will tell.
General aviation continues to operate, though in a slightly more limited fashion, but we at the NTSB continue to investigate crashes. Boaters have not been out, due to shutdowns and weather, but with summer coming, things will change.
The big question I find myself pondering is, what will transportation safety look like once we are all able to move about freely again?
I like to think that Abraham Lincoln was right when he said that the best way to predict your future is to create it. I wonder about the new normal that we could strive to achieve in transportation safety on the other side of this pandemic. I also find myself worrying about re-emergence shock on the highways.
I recall from my time in the Marine Corps that when we’d return from duty on ship for an extended period without driving, traffic safety advocates would come on board to remind us what we would be facing returning home. That type of reminder would be helpful now after this long period of reduced driving. Have our skills gotten rusty? Will our road awareness be slow to return?
A potential benefit that could come from this pandemic, though, is that many of us have become much more mindful of how our behavior affects others. Will our mindfulness stay with us when we head back out on the roads, or jump back into our cockpits, or warm up our boats?
The present crisis knocked us out of our 24/7, “go-go-go” lifestyle suddenly and shockingly. Now, it is finally sinking in that returning to that normal will not happen soon or suddenly; rather, it will happen step by step. How can we rebuild transportation safety in our new normal? Tens of thousands of lives are lost on our roads every year. For too long, we have accepted this as normal. Perhaps this pandemic will wake us up to the fact that it does not have to be this way.
The step to transitioning back to our new normal will be to remember all the little safety lessons that might not have been front-of-mind these last few weeks or months. Returning to safe driving, flying, and other transportation operations will require renewed focus. To help us return to safe operations, the NTSB and other transportation organizations will launch the #SafetyReminder campaign with a Twitter chat <a href="http://www.twitter.com/ntsb">@NTSB,</a> May 21, 2020, at 12pm EDT. You can join the conversation by mentioning @NTSB in your tweets to questions and comments or simply follow the conversation using #SafetyReminder.
<img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4737" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/05/12/returning-to-travel-with-safety-on-the-mind/safetyreminder-announcement-1/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/safetyreminder-announcement-1.png" data-orig-size="900,540" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="SafetyReminder Announcement 1" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/safetyreminder-announcement-1.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/safetyreminder-announcement-1.png?w=474" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4737" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/safetyreminder-announcement-1.png" alt="SafetyReminder Announcement 1" width="900" height="540" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/safetyreminder-announcement-1.png 900w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/safetyreminder-announcement-1.png?w=150&h=90 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/safetyreminder-announcement-1.png?w=300&h=180 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/safetyreminder-announcement-1.png?w=768&h=461 768w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" />
I encourage you to follow the campaign and brush up on some of the things you may have forgotten before we all get back out on the road. When it comes to transportation safety, we really are all in this together.
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<media:title type="html">SafetyReminder Announcement 1</media:title>
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<title>Episode 31: Member Michael Graham</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/04/30/episode-31-member-michael-graham/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/04/30/episode-31-member-michael-graham/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2020 14:38:30 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Behind-the-Scene]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael Graham]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4658</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, Member Michael Graham talks about his journey to the NTSB, his work before joining the Board and what he hopes to accomplish as an NTSB Board member. Member Graham’s full bio is available here.   Get the latest episode on Apple Podcasts , on Google Play, Stitcher, or your … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/04/30/episode-31-member-michael-graham/" class="more-link">Continue reading Episode 31: Member Michael Graham →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, Member Michael Graham talks about his journey to the NTSB, his work before joining the Board and what he hopes to accomplish as an NTSB Board member.
<audio class="wp-audio-shortcode" id="audio-4658-4" preload="none" style="width: 100%;" controls="controls"><source type="audio/mpeg" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/2020-04-24-leah-walton-and-stephanie-shaw-interview-mike-graham-1.mp3?_=4" /><a href="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/2020-04-24-leah-walton-and-stephanie-shaw-interview-mike-graham-1.mp3">https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/2020-04-24-leah-walton-and-stephanie-shaw-interview-mike-graham-1.mp3</a></audio>
<img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4662" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/4662/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/2020-04-24-leah-walton-and-stephanie-shaw-interview-mike-graham-1-mp3-image.jpg" data-orig-size="800,800" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/2020-04-24-leah-walton-and-stephanie-shaw-interview-mike-graham-1-mp3-image.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/2020-04-24-leah-walton-and-stephanie-shaw-interview-mike-graham-1-mp3-image.jpg?w=474" class=" wp-image-4662 aligncenter" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/2020-04-24-leah-walton-and-stephanie-shaw-interview-mike-graham-1-mp3-image.jpg" alt="" width="347" height="347" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/2020-04-24-leah-walton-and-stephanie-shaw-interview-mike-graham-1-mp3-image.jpg?w=347&h=347 347w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/2020-04-24-leah-walton-and-stephanie-shaw-interview-mike-graham-1-mp3-image.jpg?w=694&h=694 694w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/2020-04-24-leah-walton-and-stephanie-shaw-interview-mike-graham-1-mp3-image.jpg?w=150&h=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/2020-04-24-leah-walton-and-stephanie-shaw-interview-mike-graham-1-mp3-image.jpg?w=300&h=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 347px) 100vw, 347px">
Member Graham’s full bio is available <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/MGraham/Pages/bio_graham.aspx">here</a>.
 
Get the latest episode on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-scene-ntsb/id1286590741?mt=2">Apple Podcasts</a> , on <a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Ihj2oejp6ut3rrvs3kpej7y3qsu?t=Behind-the-Scene__NTSB">Google Play</a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/behindthescenentsb/behindthescene-ntsb">Stitcher</a>, or your favorite podcast platform.
And find more ways to listen here: <a href="https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/">https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/</a>
 
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<title>Incentivizing Implementation of Collision Avoidance Technology through NCAP</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/04/22/incentivizing-implementation-of-collision-avoidance-technology-through-ncap/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/04/22/incentivizing-implementation-of-collision-avoidance-technology-through-ncap/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2020 14:05:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[autonomous vehicles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Michael Graham]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4634</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Member Michael Graham I recently participated in my first NTSB Board meeting as a member. We deliberated the findings of a crash involving a Tesla that drove into a gore area and struck a crash attenuator on a highway in Mountain View, California, killing the driver. Although this investigation was focused on level 2 … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/04/22/incentivizing-implementation-of-collision-avoidance-technology-through-ncap/" class="more-link">Continue reading Incentivizing Implementation of Collision Avoidance Technology through NCAP →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[By Member <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/MGraham/Pages/bio_graham.aspx">Michael Graham</a>
I recently participated in my first NTSB Board meeting as a member. We deliberated the findings of a crash involving a Tesla that drove into a gore area and struck a crash attenuator on a highway in <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/HAR2001.aspx">Mountain View, California</a>, killing the driver. Although this investigation was focused on level 2 automation safety issues, we also discussed the building blocks of autonomous vehicles—collision avoidance systems (CAS). In this crash, the vehicle was equipped with forward collision warning (FCW) and automatic emergency braking (AEB), elements of a CAS, but they were not designed for this kind of collision. Additionally, we discussed how testing protocols for CAS should be more demanding, and that one way to do that is through the National Highway Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/ratings">New Car Assessment Program</a> (NCAP), its 5-star safety rating system for new automobiles. During the Board meeting, we highlighted vehicle rating systems in other countries, especially the European NCAP (Euro NCAP), and how they could—and should—be a model for the United States.
<figure data-shortcode="caption" id="attachment_4595" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4595" style="width: 963px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4595" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/03/23/automated-vehicles-and-distraction-lessons-learned-from-mt-view/mt-view/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/mt-view.jpg" data-orig-size="963,616" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="March 23, 2018, crash of a Tesla in Mountain View, California" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="Northbound view of the crash scene before the Tesla was engulfed in flames. (Source: witness S. Engleman)
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/mt-view.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/mt-view.jpg?w=474" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4595" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/mt-view.jpg" alt="March 23, 2018, crash of a Tesla in Mountain View, California" width="963" height="616" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/mt-view.jpg 963w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/mt-view.jpg?w=150&h=96 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/mt-view.jpg?w=300&h=192 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/mt-view.jpg?w=768&h=491 768w" sizes="(max-width: 963px) 100vw, 963px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4595" class="wp-caption-text">Northbound view of the Mountain View, California, crash scene before the Tesla was engulfed in flames. (Source: witness S. Engleman)</figcaption></figure>
We believe a robust NCAP is vitally important for safety. A rating system helps manufacturers assess a vehicle’s crashworthiness, which is critical, but the NCAP can also be a great tool for consumers to assess which vehicles have advanced safety technologies and provide a guide for how they work. Additionally, such a rating system gives manufacturers an incentive to improve performance. A rating system that regularly increases the criteria for achieving a top score and promotes competition, compels automakers to continually improve the technology.
The US NCAP currently only provides crashworthiness (occupant protection) ratings; it doesn’t rate advanced safety technologies, such as FCW or AEB. These technologies are already on our roadways today and American consumers have no resources available to them to evaluate the effectiveness of collision avoidance technologies. Some consumers may even be totally unaware what CAS their automobiles come with.
In May 2015,  the NTSB released a <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Pages/SIR1501.aspx">report</a> touting the benefits of CAS and <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=H-15-006">recommended</a> that NHTSA expand the NCAP 5-star rating system to include a scale that rates CAS technology such as FCW performance. It also <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=H-15-007">recommended</a> it include the ratings on the legally required Monroney label, a window sticker that provides official data about the vehicle to consumers. We were pleased to see that, shortly after the report was released, NHTSA proposed a rule for testing procedures that would be similar to the more comprehensive testing done by European regulators. More importantly, NHTSA proposed expanding the NCAP 5-star rating to include a CAS rating, as well as pedestrian protection rating. Unfortunately, NHTSA has yet to publish a final rule to make this proposal a reality. It has issued several requests for comments regarding various aspects of testing protocols, but hasn’t moved forward to implement expansion.
The Euro NCAP, which was developed in 2009—nearly 15 years after the US NCAP—offers crashworthiness ratings as well as ratings on pedestrian protection (including cyclists) and driver-assistance and crash-avoidance technologies. Its safety assist rating for CAS is determined from tests of AEB, lane keeping, seat belt warnings, speed warning systems, and others.  Euro NCAP ratings are displayed with the consumer in mind, with easy to read and compare pictures, diagrams and tables. There is currently no federal resource for rating CAS for US consumers
The Euro NCAP, as well as organizations in Australia and Japan, recognizes what we have long known: that car-to-car rear impacts are among the most frequent crash types, making it critical to rate technologies that address these safety issues. NHTSA has established test protocols and performance specifications for FCW and AEB as part of the US NCAP. For example, if a vehicle model is equipped with FCW or AEB, and has passed NHTSA’s minimum testing protocols, NHTSA’s website will state that such a vehicle may be equipped with those features; however, that only indicates that those systems have met NHTSA’s minimum performance criteria, and the vehicle only receives a pass or fail grade. CAS that meet the performance specifications are listed only as “recommended safety technologies” in the <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/ratings">US NCAP</a>. We know that various FCWs differ greatly in their performance—this pass/fail rating is not enough.
Additionally, although the US NCAP and the Euro NCAP use similar scenarios in their test protocols, the Euro NCAP uses a variety of targets, such as vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians; tests at a greater range of  speeds; and, most importantly, rates system performance. Our <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=H-20-001">Mountain View report</a> recommends that the US NCAP be expanded even further to test forward collision avoidance systems performance using common obstacles, such as traffic safety hardware, cross-traffic vehicle profiles, and other applicable vehicle shapes or objects found in the highway operating environment.
Without a US NCAP to rate collision avoidance technologies, US consumers have had to turn to insurance research organizations for this kind of information. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), for example, offers consumers vehicle reviews and ratings and issues its <a href="https://www.iihs.org/ratings/top-safety-picks">top safety picks</a>. IIHS tests evaluate two aspects of safety: crashworthiness (how well a vehicle protects its occupants in a crash) and crash avoidance and mitigation (technology that can prevent a crash or lessen its severity). This is a great first step for consumers in the United States, but we need our regulators to step up and do the same.
The US NCAP has fallen behind its counterparts with respect to the safety information it provides to American consumers about CAS. We know that CAS can be very effective and can save lives, making it even more important to educate consumers about these critical technologies—their benefits as well as their limitations. That’s why this issue has been on the NTSB  <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwlfs-19-20/mwl6.aspx">Most Wanted List</a> for several years now.
<img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4514" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2019/10/17/the-new-car-assessment-program/mwl07s_collisionavoidance-2/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/mwl07s_collisionavoidance.jpg" data-orig-size="750,600" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="MWL07s_CollisionAvoidance" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/mwl07s_collisionavoidance.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/mwl07s_collisionavoidance.jpg?w=474" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4514" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/mwl07s_collisionavoidance.jpg" alt="MWL07s_CollisionAvoidance" width="750" height="600" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/mwl07s_collisionavoidance.jpg 750w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/mwl07s_collisionavoidance.jpg?w=150&h=120 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/mwl07s_collisionavoidance.jpg?w=300&h=240 300w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px">
We urge NHTSA to again become a global leader by incorporating CAS and other safety performance measures in the US NCAP, and by adopting testing protocols for CAS in commercial vehicles and requiring them on all new heavy vehicles. European and other international organizations have figured out the importance of offering these expansive rating systems to help save lives and improve transportation safety. It’s time for the United States to catch up.
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<media:title type="html">March 23, 2018, crash of a Tesla in Mountain View, California</media:title>
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<title>Open Roads are not a Reason to Speed</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/04/17/open-roads-are-not-a-reason-to-speed/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2020 13:41:59 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Speeding]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Jennifer Homendy]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4624</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Member Jennifer Homendy This past week, law enforcement officials across the United States, including in Indiana, Minnesota, and Virginia, took to social media to express their concern about the increased number of motorists speeding on the nation’s currently less-crowded roads. In Minnesota, Governor Tim Walz reported that state officials have seen a “troubling surge” … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/04/17/open-roads-are-not-a-reason-to-speed/" class="more-link">Continue reading Open Roads are not a Reason to Speed →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[By Member <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/JHomendy/Pages/bio_homendy.aspx">Jennifer Homendy</a>
This past week, law enforcement officials across the United States, including in <a href="https://www.wane.com/traffic/police-covid-19-is-not-a-license-to-speed-reduced-traffic-leads-to-higher-speeds/">Indiana</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MnDPS_OTS/status/1247197834975367170">Minnesota</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/VSPPIO/status/1246084006187319298">Virginia</a>, took to social media to express their concern about the increased number of motorists speeding on the nation’s currently less-crowded roads.
In Minnesota, Governor Tim Walz <a href="https://www.startribune.com/fatal-crashes-surge-despite-sharp-drop-in-traffic-across-minnesota/569473872/">reported</a> that state officials have seen a “troubling surge” in traffic fatalities, even though stay-at-home orders have sharply reduced travel. The Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety reports that there have been 24 fatal crashes in Minnesota since March 16, resulting in 28 deaths, compared to 12 crashes resulting in 13 deaths during the same time period last year.
Just because the roads are clear, doesn’t mean you can—or should—speed.
In 2017, we issued a report, <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Documents/SS1701.pdf">Reducing Speeding-Related Crashes Involving Passenger Vehicles</a>, which emphasized that speeding increases the likelihood of being involved in a crash and intensifies the severity of injuries sustained in a crash. Although research shows speeding impacts all road users, it’s particularly dangerous for the most vulnerable, such as pedestrians and bicyclists. As mentioned in our report, more than 40 percent of the more than 300,000 people who sustained nonfatal injuries due to speeding in 2014 were pedestrians, bicyclists, or occupants of nonspeeding vehicles.
Trying to save a few minutes to get to your destination, isn’t worth the risk of a crash. At this time, we should all be working together to lessen the burden on our already overtaxed law enforcement officials, emergency responders, and medical personnel. Don’t assume that because the roads are fairly empty these days, you’re safe to drive dangerously. If you must go out, be safe. We’re all in this together.
<img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4307" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2019/02/06/2019-2020-most-wanted-list/mwl05s_speeding/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl05s_speeding.jpg" data-orig-size="750,600" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="MWL05s_Speeding" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl05s_speeding.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl05s_speeding.jpg?w=474" class=" wp-image-4307 aligncenter" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl05s_speeding.jpg" alt="MWL05s_Speeding" width="509" height="407" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl05s_speeding.jpg?w=509&h=407 509w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl05s_speeding.jpg?w=150&h=120 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl05s_speeding.jpg?w=300&h=240 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/mwl05s_speeding.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 509px) 100vw, 509px">
Implement a Comprehensive Strategy to Reduce Speeding-Related Crashes is on the <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwlfs-19-20/mwl7.aspx">NTSB 2019-2020 Most Wanted List</a>.  
 
 
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<title>Flatten the Curve Beyond COVID-19</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/04/13/flatten-the-curve-beyond-covid-19/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2020 19:45:33 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Bicyclists]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Child Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impairment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pedestrians]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4621</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Leah Walton, NTSB Safety Advocate When I read the extended nationwide maximum telework order, prolonging the order that started on March 17th, I couldn’t help but think about what impact the COVID-19 preventive measures might have on traffic deaths around the country. Surely, we’ll see a drop in vehicle miles traveled, like we did … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/04/13/flatten-the-curve-beyond-covid-19/" class="more-link">Continue reading Flatten the Curve Beyond COVID-19 →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[By Leah Walton, NTSB Safety Advocate
When I read the <a href="https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/snow-dismissal-procedures/current-status/">extended nationwide maximum telework order</a>, prolonging the order that started on March 17th, I couldn’t help but think about what impact the COVID-19 preventive measures might have on traffic deaths around the country. Surely, we’ll see a drop in vehicle miles traveled, <a href="https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/overview/impact-of-recessions/">like we did in the last great recession</a>, but will that give us a false sense of security that traffic safety has improved? The truth is, even though fewer people are driving, and we might see a drop in traffic fatalities in 2020 due to social distancing and stay-at-home orders, risky driving behaviors persist. On one hand, I’ve seen reports of drivers using the emptier-than-normal freeways as their personal racetracks, and on the other, I’ve seen reports of significantly <a href="https://www.3newsnow.com/news/coronavirus/less-drunk-driving-arrests-amid-covid-19-outbreak">lower drunk driving arrests</a> in the month of March.
It’s encouraging to see so many people following state orders to implement social distancing and staying at home—if there are fewer people on the roads, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tanyamohn/2020/03/29/driving-safely-in-the-time-of-coronavirus-and-why-it-matters/#1595b9a07d38">there is less risk for vehicle-related injuries, which keeps people out of hospitals, allowing hospital workers to focus on the influx of coronavirus patients.</a> However, this causes me to wonder: if people can be convinced to stay home to avoid contracting a dangerous and sometimes deadly virus, could they also be convinced to designate a sober driver or drive their vehicle at posted speeds? After all, those are lifesaving behaviors, as well.
 
As a transportation safety advocate, I know that motor vehicle crashes are a serious threat to public health in the United States. In 2018, <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/traffic-deaths-2018">36,560 people were killed in traffic crashes.</a> The Insurance Information Institute estimates that <a href="https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-highway-safety#Motor%20Vehicle%20Crashes%20By%20Type,%202009-2018">1,894,000 people were injured in traffic crashes</a> in the same year. According to NHTSA, <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/usdot-releases-2016-fatal-traffic-crash-data">94 percent of all serious traffic crashes are the result of human error</a>; or, in other words, they’re caused by a driver’s choices. We should not let the stress of COVID-19 lower our guard on safe driving practices. Remaining vigilant behind the wheel is critical now more than ever with children home from school, often playing outside, riding bikes in the streets. More people are out walking; sometimes in the street to practice social distancing of other pedestrians.
<img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4622" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/04/13/flatten-the-curve-beyond-covid-19/print-9/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/36560-killed-in-crashes.jpg" data-orig-size="1085,568" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"Print","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Print" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/36560-killed-in-crashes.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/36560-killed-in-crashes.jpg?w=474" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4622" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/36560-killed-in-crashes.jpg" alt="Print" width="1085" height="568" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/36560-killed-in-crashes.jpg 1085w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/36560-killed-in-crashes.jpg?w=150&h=79 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/36560-killed-in-crashes.jpg?w=300&h=157 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/36560-killed-in-crashes.jpg?w=768&h=402 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/36560-killed-in-crashes.jpg?w=1024&h=536 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1085px) 100vw, 1085px" />
The CDC has been promoting thorough handwashing procedures and the importance of covering a cough and sanitizing surfaces to <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html">prevent the spread of COVID-19.</a> But did you know that the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/">CDC also promotes motor vehicle safety</a> behaviors like <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/impaired_driving/index.html">driving sober</a>, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/seatbelts/index.html">buckling up</a>, and not <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/Distracted_Driving/index.html">driving distracted</a>?
We are extremely troubled by the increasing number of deaths and cases across our country related to COVID-19. Doctors, scientists, and public health professionals are all searching for a cure or a vaccine to eliminate this virus as quickly as possible. At the NTSB, we’re incredibly grateful for all those professionals—including those transporting vital supplies around the country. If Americans can choose to stay home to help slow the spread of COVID-19, imagine the impact we could have if everyone chose to make the safest driving choices for ourselves and our fellow road users. We have the power to flatten the curve of traffic deaths by making safe choices every day.
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<title>Keeping Those Wheels—and the Country—Rolling</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/04/06/keeping-those-wheels-and-the-country-rolling/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2020 19:22:19 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4617</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Mike Fox, NTSB Highway Crash Investigator I’ve spent more than 25 years of my professional career in and around trucking, and I want to take a minute to highlight this industry. Having been a terminal manager, an FMCSA investigator, and a now an NTSB investigator, I’ve seen hundreds of fleet operations, and I understand … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/04/06/keeping-those-wheels-and-the-country-rolling/" class="more-link">Continue reading Keeping Those Wheels—and the Country—Rolling →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[By Mike Fox, NTSB Highway Crash Investigator
I’ve spent more than 25 years of my professional career in and around trucking, and I want to take a minute to highlight this industry. Having been a terminal manager, an FMCSA investigator, and a now an NTSB investigator, I’ve seen hundreds of fleet operations, and I understand how challenging it can be to keep the freight moving.
As we enter week 4 of, essentially, sheltering in place, we’re all trying to adjust to the new normal. It is a strange time indeed. Most families are faced with the same challenges of trying to telework with children home from school, while others may be faced with being laid off or having to report to work and strive to stay safe. It’s a relief that grocery stores, gas stations, pharmacies, and other essential stores remain open. Thank goodness!
I do most of the grocery shopping for my family, and it’s now normal to see bare shelves. Who would’ve believed that toilet paper would be such a hot item during a pandemic?
<img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4619" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/04/06/keeping-those-wheels-and-the-country-rolling/trucking-blog-impage-2/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/trucking-blog-impage-1.jpg" data-orig-size="481,641" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Empty Store Shelves" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/trucking-blog-impage-1.jpg?w=225" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/trucking-blog-impage-1.jpg?w=474" class=" wp-image-4619 alignleft" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/trucking-blog-impage-1.jpg" alt="Empty Store Shelves" width="290" height="387" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/trucking-blog-impage-1.jpg?w=290&h=387 290w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/trucking-blog-impage-1.jpg?w=113&h=150 113w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/trucking-blog-impage-1.jpg?w=225&h=300 225w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/trucking-blog-impage-1.jpg 481w" sizes="(max-width: 290px) 100vw, 290px" />Although the paper products aisle was bare, on my recent shopping trip, I was comforted to see that many of the other shelves in the grocery store were fairly well stocked; maybe not with every brand or size that I normally buy, but there were most of the essentials my family needed to get by another few days.
For most Americans, this is the first time they may be experiencing the shortage of many of their favorite items. And most Americans are also waiting on that truck in their neighborhood store to bring them diapers, eggs, milk, bread, meats, vegetables, and all the other critical items we need daily. Those trucks are now running around the clock to keep the shelves stocked. In fact, those trucks have always been moving products from ships, airports, rail yards, terminals, distribution centers, and other supply chain networks to keep our shelves full. Regardless of how or where things are produced, a truck must take them to their final destination. Truckers truly are the backbone of our economy, and now more than ever we’re depending on the more than a <a href="https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/2020-01/FMCSA%20Pocket%20Guide%202019-FINAL-1-9-2020.pdf">half-million trucking companies and fleets</a> to go the extra mile for us.
As NTSB Member Homendy said in her <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/04/02/ensuring-transportation-safety-even-during-a-crisis/">April 2 blog post</a>, “our nation’s transportation workforce is essential to getting critical goods to states and local communities and to ensuring that those serving on the frontlines of this pandemic, like medical personnel, grocery store employees, and other essential personnel, are able to continue the fight against COVID-19.” Especially in these difficult times, we want to take a moment to salute all those who are going the extra mile, as well as all of those truck drivers who are doing such an awesome job keeping us fed, supplied, fueled, and sustained during this very difficult time. We want to give them a sincere “thank you” for all that they’re doing. Maybe next time you see a truck driver, you might take a minute to say thanks, as well. Just make sure to do it from a distance of at least 6 feet.
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<title>Remembering Tenerife</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/04/03/remembering-tenerife/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2020 13:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Aviation Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Transportation History]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4615</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Jeff Marcus, Chief, NTSB Safety Recommendations Division Forty-three years ago, on March 27, 1977, two Boeing 747s, KLM flight 4805 and Pan Am flight 1736, collided on a runway at Los Rodeos Airport in Tenerife, Canary Islands, killing 583 people. It was the single greatest loss of life in aviation accident history. The crash … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/04/03/remembering-tenerife/" class="more-link">Continue reading Remembering Tenerife →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[By Jeff Marcus, Chief, NTSB Safety Recommendations Division
Forty-three years ago, on March 27, 1977, two Boeing 747s, <a href="http://www.project-tenerife.com/engels/PDF/Spanish_report.PDF">KLM flight 4805 and Pan Am flight 1736</a>, collided on a runway at Los Rodeos Airport in Tenerife, Canary Islands, killing 583 people. It was the single greatest loss of life in aviation accident history.
The crash was the result of an unlikely series of events—and a flight crew’s responses to them.
To begin with, neither of the two aircraft was initially supposed to be at Los Rodeos Airport in the first place. Both planes had been scheduled to arrive at Las Palmas Airport, also in the Canary Islands; however, Las Palmas had just been the target of a terrorist attack, and the terminal had been evacuated and the airport closed. The two 747s, as well as other arriving traffic, were diverted to the smaller Los Rodeos airport in Tenerife, where they landed safely.
The Los Rodeos Airport had not been equipped to handle the influx of diverted flights and, because of that, on March 27, the airport was congested, and maneuverability issues arose when the airplanes were ready to depart. Pan Am 1736 was ready to depart Los Rodeos to resume its itinerary, but had to wait until KLM 4805, which was obstructing the taxiway, had completed taking on fuel from a refueling vehicle. The captain of the KLM flight was instructed to back taxi down the entire runway, then perform a 180-degree turn in preparation for departure. The Pan Am captain was instructed by air traffic control to back taxi down the runway, then exit on the third taxiway to their left, and to report leaving the runway. The taxiways at the airport were unmarked and the centerline lights were out of service.
Los Rodeos airport was subject to fast-appearing, thick fog, and as the KLM airplane lined up for its takeoff roll, fog enveloped the runway. The Pan Am airplane missed its exit, and its crew did not appear to know their position on the runway. Neither crew could see the other plane, and the tower couldn’t see either plane. The airport was not equipped with ground radar.
Having lost so many sources of information, one last source of information failed: verbal communication between the airplanes and the tower.
Immediately after lining up, the KLM captain who had a sense of urgency to depart before exceeding duty limits advanced the throttles and the aircraft started to move forward. The KLM first officer advised the captain that air traffic control (ATC) clearance had not yet been given. The captain replied, “No, I know that. Go ahead, ask.” The first officer radioed the tower that they were ready for takeoff and waiting for ATC clearance. The KLM crew then received instructions that specified the route that the aircraft was to follow after takeoff. The instructions used the word “takeoff,” but didn’t include an explicit statement that the aircraft was cleared for takeoff. The first officer then read the clearance back to the controller, completing the readback with the nonstandard statement: “We are now at takeoff.” The KLM captain interrupted the first officer’s read-back with the comment, “We’re going.”
The controller, who could not see the runway due to the fog, initially responded with the nonstandard terminology “OK,” which reinforced the KLM captain’s misinterpretation that they had been cleared for takeoff. The controller then immediately added “stand by for takeoff, I will call you,” indicating that he had not intended the clearance to be interpreted as a takeoff clearance. However, a simultaneous radio call from the Pan Am crew caused mutual <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interference_(communication)">interference</a> on the radio frequency, which was audible in the KLM flight deck as a 3-second-long shrill sound. This caused the KLM crew to miss the crucial latter portion of the tower’s response. The simultaneous message from the Pan Am crew, “We’re still taxiing down the runway, the Clipper 1736!” was also blocked by the interference and inaudible to the KLM crew. Either message, if heard in the KLM flight deck, would have alerted the crew to the situation and given them time to abort the takeoff attempt.
After the KLM plane started its takeoff roll, the tower instructed the Pan Am crew to “report when runway clear.” The Pan Am crew replied, “OK, will report when we’re clear.” On hearing this, the KLM flight engineer expressed his concern about the Pan Am aircraft not being clear of the runway by asking the pilots in his own cockpit, “Is he not clear, that Pan American?” The KLM captain emphatically replied, “Oh, yes,” and continued with the takeoff.
By the time the KLM captain saw the Pan Am airplane, he could only try to fly over it. The tail of the KLM airplane struck the Pan Am airplane, tearing through the center of its fuselage above the wing. Fuel spilled and ignited on impact. Of the Pan Am passengers and crew, 335 died, mainly as a result of ensuing fire and explosions, and 61 survived.
The KLM airplane lost one engine on impact, and the wings were damaged. The airplane rolled sharply and crashed about 500 feet past the point of collision. All 248 passengers and crew died in the crash and the post-crash fire.
The Tenerife accident provided early lessons for the concept of crew resource management (CRM), which emphasizes that all flight crew members should actively voice their safety concerns, and all crew, particularly senior crew members like the captain, must acknowledge the safety concerns of any crew member. In the Tenerife accident, the captain rushed the takeoff, despite the first officer pointing out that they had not received clearance, and the flight engineer recognizing that the Pan Am airplane had not yet cleared the runway. Despite the flight engineer highlighting the dangerous situation, the KLM captain dismissed the concern and continued the takeoff, which resulted in the tragedy a few seconds later.
The Tenerife accident was a milestone in the study of human factors in aviation accidents. The pressures of the day’s events and delays; the logistics pressures in a regional airport handling a major airport’s arrivals; the communications misunderstanding; and the failure to understand and use CRM practices all led to bad decisions at various points in the accident chain.
Aviation has changed and become safer by leaps and bounds since the crash. As a result of Tenerife, there has been greater emphasis on English as the single working language of aviation, and on the use of standard, concise, and unequivocal aeronautical language.
Tenerife was influential in recognizing that all crew members should feel empowered to speak up, and captains should listen to their safety concerns—an important principle of CRM. The principles of CRM have even been extended beyond aviation to marine safety, where it is known as bridge resource management, and to medicine, where all doctors and technicians in an operating room are encouraged to voice their concerns, and senior, highly esteemed surgeons are trained to listen to and evaluate any safety concern expressed, regardless of who has the concern.
Humans are an integral part of the aviation system and the system must protect for human error. In 2017, many links of an accident chain were in place at San Francisco International Airport when an Air Canada airplane almost landed on a taxiway occupied by four airliners waiting to takeoff. There were over 1,000 people in those four airliners; <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2018/10/29/too-close-for-comfort-in-san-francisco/">the accident would have equaled or even surpassed the death toll at Tenerife more than 40 years earlier</a>. That close call was another reminder of how much is on the line every time human pilots and passengers take to the skies—and how much of a role human factors can play in such tragedies and near misses.
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<title>Ensuring Transportation Safety, Even During a Crisis</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/04/02/ensuring-transportation-safety-even-during-a-crisis/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2020 15:48:12 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Aviation Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Fatigue]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Marine Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Medical Fitness]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pipeline]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Rail Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Jennifer Homendy]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4613</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Member Jennifer L. Homendy For the past few weeks, I’ve woken up every morning to a text message from the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) updating riders on its continued service and modified schedule. It’s hard not to think of all the VRE and Amtrak locomotive engineers and conductors that I’ve come to recognize (or … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/04/02/ensuring-transportation-safety-even-during-a-crisis/" class="more-link">Continue reading Ensuring Transportation Safety, Even During a Crisis →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[By Member <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/JHomendy/Pages/bio_homendy.aspx">Jennifer L. Homendy</a>
For the past few weeks, I’ve woken up every morning to a text message from the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) updating riders on its continued service and modified schedule. It’s hard not to think of all the VRE and Amtrak locomotive engineers and conductors that I’ve come to recognize (or know by name—Hi, Willie and Samantha!) over the years, and how dedicated they are to continuing to serve the public during this national emergency. You and your colleagues across the country are heroes. Thank you for all you do.
The safety of transportation workers across all modes is extremely important especially during times of crisis. Our nation’s transportation workforce is essential to getting critical goods to states and local communities and to ensuring that those serving on the frontlines of this pandemic, like medical personnel, grocery store employees, and other essential personnel, are able to continue the fight against COVID-19. Without all of them, we’d be in a much more dire situation. Still, we need to make sure that the transportation workers who are putting their lives at risk daily to make deliveries or get people to work are also safe. That not only means providing them with necessary personal protective gear, but also ensuring any regulatory waivers do not jeopardize their safety or the safety of others.
Since the start of this national emergency, many transportation entities facing staffing shortages due to illness and the need to quarantine have requested emergency relief from certain safety regulations. These entities cite concerns about their ability to deliver critical goods and materials necessary for the country’s welfare while meeting regulatory requirements for inspections, training, and maintenance, to name a few. Although regulatory relief from certain requirements may be necessary during this difficult time, I urge the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to carefully review each request and put measures in place to ensure that the safety of transportation workers, and all others who must travel, remains a priority.
We are all being challenged in ways that we could not have imagined a month ago. People are staying safe by traveling only when absolutely necessary and maintaining a safe social distance from others. Those in the transportation industry are also doing what they can to stay safe while continuing to do the important work of moving the people and goods that keep our nation pushing forward during this crisis.
It’s important that any regulatory relief the DOT determines is appropriate is only temporary. This crisis can seem overwhelming, but as a nation, we will prevail. It’s important that when our lives start to take the path back to “normal,” safety regulations—many of which the NTSB has long advocated for following tragic crashes—are reinstituted. Temporary measures to address a crisis should not become the new normal. An efficient transportation network is key to our nation’s success during this challenging time, but we must not forget the importance of ensuring the safety of transportation workers and the traveling public both now and in the future.
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<title>A Tribute to NTSB Employees</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/04/01/a-tribute-to-ntsb-employees/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2020 13:25:57 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Aviation Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Marine Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pipeline]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Rail Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Transportation History]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Robert Sumwalt]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4607</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt What do you get when you cross a transportation-related life-saving mission with some of the best people in the federal government?  The National Transportation Safety Board, of course!  And that is no April Fool’s joke.  On this day 53 years ago, the NTSB was formed by an act of Congress. … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/04/01/a-tribute-to-ntsb-employees/" class="more-link">Continue reading A Tribute to NTSB Employees →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[By Chairman <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/RSumwalt/Pages/bio_sumwalt.aspx">Robert L. Sumwalt</a>
What do you get when you cross a transportation-related life-saving mission with some of the best people in the federal government?
 The National Transportation Safety Board, of course!
 And that is no April Fool’s joke. 
On this day 53 years ago, the NTSB was formed by an act of Congress. The agency’s mission is to investigate every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant accidents in other modes of transportation, determine their probable causes, and issue safety recommendations aimed at preventing future accidents. In addition, we conduct special studies concerning transportation safety, and we coordinate the resources of the federal government and other organizations to provide assistance to victims and their family members impacted by major transportation disasters. We also adjudicate appeals from civil enforcement actions by the Federal Aviation Administration and the United States Coast Guard.
<img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4610" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/04/01/a-tribute-to-ntsb-employees/print-8/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/april_11967.jpg" data-orig-size="1085,568" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"Print","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Print" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/april_11967.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/april_11967.jpg?w=474" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4610" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/april_11967.jpg" alt="Print" width="1085" height="568" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/april_11967.jpg 1085w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/april_11967.jpg?w=150&h=79 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/april_11967.jpg?w=300&h=157 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/april_11967.jpg?w=768&h=402 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/april_11967.jpg?w=1024&h=536 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1085px) 100vw, 1085px">
Since 1967, the NTSB has investigated more than 149,000 aviation accidents and thousands of surface transportation accidents. We’ve issued more than 15,000 safety recommendations—the vast majority of which ultimately are implemented. Some of the safety measures that have arisen, at least in part, from our safety recommendations include:
Aviation
<ul>
<li>Floor-level escape lighting, fire-blocking seat coverings, lavatory smoke detectors, stronger cabin seats</li>
<li>Terrain avoidance and warning systems requirements</li>
<li>Inert gas use to eliminate fuel tank explosions</li>
<li>Shoulder harnesses in general aviation</li>
</ul>
Highway
<ul>
<li>Raising the legal drinking age to 21 and .05 percent BAC drinking and driving laws</li>
<li>Child passenger safety</li>
<li>Enforcement of commercial vehicle regulations</li>
</ul>
Marine
<ul>
<li>Boating-while-intoxicated laws</li>
<li>Cruise ship fire safety</li>
<li>Emergency position-indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) on vessels</li>
</ul>
Railroad & Rail Transit
<ul>
<li>Positive train control</li>
<li>Passenger rail car safety standards</li>
<li>Toll-free emergency number posting at grade crossings</li>
<li>Tank car enhancements</li>
</ul>
Pipeline
<ul>
<li>One-call systems before excavation (“Call 811 Before You Dig”)</li>
<li>Integrity management programs</li>
<li>Facility response plan effectiveness and oversight</li>
</ul>
HAZMAT
<ul>
<li>Hazard communications training for first responders, community planning, and preparedness</li>
</ul>
I’m often reminded that you can have an important mission, but if you don’t have devoted, talented employees, you really don’t have a great agency. Fortunately, the NTSB has both.
Our mission generates dedication, which often translates to retention; some of our longest-serving employees have been at the agency for over 40 years. But don’t misinterpret that longevity as complacency. In the most recent Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, of the 70% of NTSB employees who completed the survey, 97% responded favorably to the statement, “When needed I am willing to put in the extra effort to get a job done.” Bear in mind that in many cases, “extra effort” is in addition to routine travel to remote accident sites with only hours’ notice!
During more than 13 years at the agency, including the past 3 as Chairman, I’ve had the pleasure to be surrounded by, and to work with, these professionals. As Chairman, I have relied on them to help formulate strategic decisions, advise me on technical details, and echo and amplify my own thirst for safety improvements.
Many of our air safety investigators are pilots and aircraft mechanics themselves—and each of them can tear down an engine. Several have built their own airplanes. Many of our highway safety investigators come from law enforcement backgrounds. Our marine investigators generally maintain licenses first earned as deck and engine officers or have Coast Guard investigative or regulatory experience. Our railroad and pipeline investigators are veterans of those industries and their regulators as well. Although doctoral degrees are common throughout the agency, the environment is as far as you can imagine from an ivory tower.
The NTSB workforce is among the best in the federal government, which is what fuels my desire to make the NTSB the best place to work in the federal government—even if, for now, we have temporarily moved that workplace into our homes.
Today, like many workforces, we are physically distant from one another, but we are not alone. We are physically separate, but we will get through this together. I’m grateful for the dedication and resilience of every one of NTSB’s employees. And that, too, is no April Fool’s joke.
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<title>Attributes of a Healthy Safety Culture</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/03/25/attributes-of-a-healthy-safety-culture/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2020 21:06:03 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Inside NTSB]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Robert Sumwalt]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4599</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt I recently wrote a series of social media messages about attributes of a healthy safety culture. I received some interesting feedback and cross-talk from organizational safety leaders, so I wanted to make the collected messages available in PDF form for this blog’s readers. Click on any of the attributes listed below … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/03/25/attributes-of-a-healthy-safety-culture/" class="more-link">Continue reading Attributes of a Healthy Safety Culture →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[By Chairman <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/RSumwalt/Pages/bio_sumwalt.aspx">Robert L. Sumwalt</a>
I recently wrote a series of social media messages about attributes of a healthy safety culture. I received some interesting feedback and cross-talk from organizational safety leaders, so I wanted to make the collected messages available in <a title="Attributes of a Healthy Safety Culture: Messages from NTSB Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt" href="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/2020-3-25-attributes-healthysafetyculture.pdf">PDF form</a> for this blog’s readers.
<img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4603" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/03/25/attributes-of-a-healthy-safety-culture/attributes-of-a-healthy-safety-culture/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/attributes-healthysafetyculture-cover.jpg" data-orig-size="877,475" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"Robert L. Sumwalt","camera":"","caption":"A collection from a series of social media messages about attributes of a healthy safety culture made available in PDF form.","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"Attributes of a Healthy Safety Culture","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Attributes of a Healthy Safety Culture" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="A collection from a series of social media messages about attributes of a healthy safety culture made available in PDF form.
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/attributes-healthysafetyculture-cover.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/attributes-healthysafetyculture-cover.jpg?w=474" class=" wp-image-4603 aligncenter" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/attributes-healthysafetyculture-cover.jpg" alt="Attributes of a Healthy Safety Culture" width="564" height="305" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/attributes-healthysafetyculture-cover.jpg?w=564&h=305 564w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/attributes-healthysafetyculture-cover.jpg?w=150&h=81 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/attributes-healthysafetyculture-cover.jpg?w=300&h=162 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/attributes-healthysafetyculture-cover.jpg?w=768&h=416 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/attributes-healthysafetyculture-cover.jpg 877w" sizes="(max-width: 564px) 100vw, 564px">
Click on any of the attributes listed below to read the original messages.
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ntsb_ntsb-safetyculture-safety-activity-6597867652746661888-BF4z/">Top-Level Management Commitment</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6600410762185891840">Personal Accountability and Empowerment</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6608033918199312384">Risk Awareness and Planning</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6610582085461692417/">Problem Identification and Resolution</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6625761690598338560">Promoting Open Reporting</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ntsb_message-from-chairman-robert-l-sumwalt-activity-6628284326255620097-rgo3/">A Culture of Continuous Learning</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6630847424824950784">Using the Proper Metrics</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6633378833653387265">The Questioning Attitude</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6635901391539888128">Just Culture</a></li>
</ul>
I hope that, after viewing these messages, readers look around their operations, note where an attribute is lacking from their organization’s safety culture, and consider whether the shortcoming presents an opportunity for improvement. As widely known expert on organizational accidents <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2018/05/01/the-age-of-reason/">James Reason</a> said, “There are no final victories in the struggle for safety.”
While writing these messages, I realized again how integrally enmeshed personal and organizational responsibility are in the safety journey. The active error committed by one employee might not have been committed by another, but the same employee who committed the error might not have done so in another organization. Furthermore, in addition to individuals, an organization might be at the root of an accident.
Continuous safety improvement takes both conscientiousness and boldness to voluntarily identify what might go wrong and to think through the “what ifs” on the way to mitigating risk. It’s a tall order, and my hat is always off to those who accept the challenge—our safety professionals.
I hope that these musings will be of value to you and your colleagues as you move forward in your safety journey!
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<media:title type="html">Attributes of a Healthy Safety Culture</media:title>
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<title>Automated Vehicles and Distraction: Lessons Learned from Mt. View</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/03/23/automated-vehicles-and-distraction-lessons-learned-from-mt-view/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2020 13:26:50 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4594</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Robert Molloy, PhD, Director, NTSB Office of Highway Safety The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) met on February 25 to consider the 2018 collision of a Tesla Model X, operating with partial driving automation, with a damaged crash attenuator in Mountain View, California. The car steered out of its travel lane and into a … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/03/23/automated-vehicles-and-distraction-lessons-learned-from-mt-view/" class="more-link">Continue reading Automated Vehicles and Distraction: Lessons Learned from Mt. View →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[By Robert Molloy, PhD, Director, NTSB Office of Highway Safety
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) met on February 25 to consider the 2018 collision of a Tesla Model X, operating with partial driving automation, with a damaged crash attenuator in <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/HAR2001.aspx">Mountain View, California</a>. The car steered out of its travel lane and into a gore area, where it collided with the damaged highway safety hardware. The driver didn’t notice the errant path the vehicle had taken because he was interacting with a game application on his work phone.
<figure data-shortcode="caption" id="attachment_4595" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4595" style="width: 617px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4595" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/03/23/automated-vehicles-and-distraction-lessons-learned-from-mt-view/mt-view/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/mt-view.jpg" data-orig-size="963,616" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="March 23, 2018, crash of a Tesla in Mountain View, California" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="Northbound view of the crash scene before the Tesla was engulfed in flames. (Source: witness S. Engleman)
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/mt-view.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/mt-view.jpg?w=474" class="alignnone wp-image-4595" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/mt-view.jpg" alt="March 23, 2018, crash of a Tesla in Mountain View, California" width="617" height="395" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/mt-view.jpg?w=617&h=395 617w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/mt-view.jpg?w=150&h=96 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/mt-view.jpg?w=300&h=192 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/mt-view.jpg?w=768&h=491 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/mt-view.jpg 963w" sizes="(max-width: 617px) 100vw, 617px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4595" class="wp-caption-text">Northbound view of the crash scene before the Tesla was engulfed in flames. (Source: witness S. Engleman)</figcaption></figure>
It was a tragic event for both the driver and his loved ones, and the tragedy was compounded because the event was utterly preventable. In this crash, the driver behaved as if his partially automated vehicle were self-driving when it wasn’t. The driver’s resulting distraction, tragically, led to his death. But it’s rare that a crash is the result of a single factor. At the NTSB, we try to identify all the factors contributing to a crash so we can propose multiple methods to prevent a similar crash in the future. The NTSB doesn’t apportion blame or liability; we look for ways to prevent the next occurrence.
In this crash, we identified or reiterated <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/NR20200225.aspx">several ways to prevent a similar tragedy</a>:
<ul>
<li>Because drivers using portable electronic devices while driving often crash, we recommended that device manufacturers find a way to lock people out of their devices while they’re driving.</li>
<li>Because “Autopilot,” Tesla’s automated vehicle control suite, is only designed for certain conditions, we reiterated our recommendation to disable it when those conditions are not met.</li>
<li>Because Tesla’s proxy measure for driver engagement—torque on the steering wheel—was previously found ineffective, we reiterated a recommendation that Tesla find an effective measure of driver engagement.</li>
<li>Because this vehicle crashed into objects that it “did not detect, and [were] not designed to detect,” (a crash attenuator) we recommended that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rate collision avoidance systems under its 5-star rating program, incorporating such objects into its assessment.</li>
<li>Because we found that misuse of Tesla’s automation was foreseeable, we recommended that NHTSA evaluate Tesla Autopilot-equipped vehicles to determine if the system’s operating limitations, foreseeability of driver misuse, and ability to operate the vehicle outside the intended operational design domain pose an unreasonable risk to safety, and to ensure that Tesla takes corrective action if safety defects are identified.</li>
<li>Because the crash attenuator that the Tesla crashed into had not been repaired, and because lane markings were worn in the area of the crash, we made recommendations to state agencies responsible for maintaining highway infrastructure.</li>
<li>Because Apple, the driver’s employer, had no distracted driving policy, we recommended that it adopt one.</li>
<li>Because many other companies also don’t have such a policy, and because transportation accidents are a leading cause of workplace injury and death, we recommended that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration review and revise its distracted driving initiatives and add new enforcement strategies.</li>
<li>Because it is important to have ready access to data that fits defined parameters to assess crashes involving automated vehicle control, we reiterated recommendations to require standardized data reporting, including incidents, crashes, and vehicle miles traveled, with such systems enabled. This recommendation would also allow the NTSB and NHTSA to evaluate real data on the safety of level 2 automation, not just industry claims.</li>
</ul>
When we investigate a crash, we aren’t looking for a driver, a company, or an agency to blame; we’re looking for all the ways the next crash can be prevented. When prevention is the goal, those drivers, companies, and agencies are often happy to help make the changes needed to ensure safety. We hope all parties will heed the lessons learned from this tragic crash and take the steps we’ve recommended to increase the safety of the traveling public.
 
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<media:title type="html">March 23, 2018, crash of a Tesla in Mountain View, California</media:title>
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<title>A Comprehensive Approach to Bicycle Safety</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/03/12/a-comprehensive-approach-to-bicycle-safety/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 12 Mar 2020 13:59:10 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Bicyclists]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Infrastructure]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Jennifer Homendy]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4589</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Member Jennifer Homendy Last fall, the National Transportation Safety Board released a report that made safety recommendations meant to improve safety for an important and growing segment of users on our roadways – bicyclists. The report issued 12 new safety recommendations and reiterated 10 safety recommendations. Through NTSB’s 50+ years of accident investigation experience, we’ve … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/03/12/a-comprehensive-approach-to-bicycle-safety/" class="more-link">Continue reading A Comprehensive Approach to Bicycle Safety →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/JHomendy/Pages/bio_homendy.aspx">Member Jennifer Homendy</a>
Last fall, the National Transportation Safety Board released a <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Documents/SS1901.pdf">report</a> that made safety recommendations meant to improve safety for an important and growing segment of users on our roadways – bicyclists. The report issued 12 new safety recommendations and reiterated 10 safety recommendations.
Through NTSB’s 50+ years of accident investigation experience, we’ve long known that complex challenges, like reducing the number of vehicle-bicycle collisions, requires multi-faceted solutions. In the study, we looked at numerous countermeasures, including roadway design and infrastructure, reducing traffic speeds, collision avoidance systems and blind spot detection systems.
<img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4590" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/03/12/a-comprehensive-approach-to-bicycle-safety/homendy-bike/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/homendy-bike.jpg" data-orig-size="2340,3048" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"1.8","credit":"","camera":"iPhone X","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1583947800","copyright":"","focal_length":"4","iso":"40","shutter_speed":"0.066666666666667","title":"","orientation":"1","latitude":"38.883086111111","longitude":"-77.023863888889"}" data-image-title="Homendy-bike" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/homendy-bike.jpg?w=230" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/homendy-bike.jpg?w=474" class=" wp-image-4590 alignright" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/homendy-bike.jpg" alt="Homendy-bike" width="303" height="395" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/homendy-bike.jpg?w=303&h=395 303w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/homendy-bike.jpg?w=606&h=790 606w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/homendy-bike.jpg?w=115&h=150 115w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/homendy-bike.jpg?w=230&h=300 230w" sizes="(max-width: 303px) 100vw, 303px">Perhaps that is why I was disappointed to see the controversy within the cycling community surrounding one of the 22 recommendations discussed in the report – the singular recommendation about requiring the use of helmets. That debate overshadowed the many other important recommendations that largely focused on preventing collisions between vehicles and bicyclists in the first place, rather than mitigating their severity. As an avid cyclist myself, I am very aware of the hazards that exist for cyclists and share the community’s concern for improving bicycle safety on U.S. roadways.
Separated bike lanes and bike-friendly intersections are incorporated in the design of just a tiny fraction of U.S. roadways. So, we asked for more. The NTSB recommended that guidance provided to highway engineers, city planners and traffic designers, include resources that will help increase bike-friendly roadway improvements throughout the U.S.
Along with changes in infrastructure, the NTSB found that reducing traffic speeds can reduce the likelihood of fatal or serious bicycle injuries. Lowering speed limits is part of a safe systems approach that was also discussed in our 2017 safety study on <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Documents/SS1701.pdf">reducing speeding-related crashes</a>.
Collision avoidance systems are broadly effective in helping motorists detect and avoid other vehicles and some automakers have begun adding systems to detect bicyclists and pedestrians.  To encourage manufacturers to include these systems in their new vehicles, and to assist auto buyers in making safety-conscious purchasing decisions, the NTSB recommended that bicycle detection systems be incorporated into the 5-Star Safety Ratings.
The NTSB also recommended that newly manufactured large trucks be equipped with blind spot detection systems, because large vehicles have bigger blind spots that make it difficult, or even impossible, in some situations for their drivers to see bicyclists.
And as a Board Member, I will continue to push for the implementation of safety recommendations on the <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/default.aspx">NTSB’s Most Wanted List</a> that would help make streets safer for bicyclists – including eliminating distractions, reducing fatigue-related accidents, ending alcohol and other drug impairment, increasing implementation of collision avoidance systems and reducing speed-related crashes.
<img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4591" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/03/12/a-comprehensive-approach-to-bicycle-safety/member-homendy-bike-safety-study-board-meeting/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/member-homendy-bike-safety-study-board-meeting.jpg" data-orig-size="4061,2037" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"4","credit":"","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark III","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1572952990","copyright":"","focal_length":"70","iso":"1600","shutter_speed":"0.008","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Member Homendy Bike Safety Study Board Meeting" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/member-homendy-bike-safety-study-board-meeting.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/member-homendy-bike-safety-study-board-meeting.jpg?w=474" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4591" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/member-homendy-bike-safety-study-board-meeting.jpg" alt="Member Homendy Bike Safety Study Board Meeting" width="4061" height="2037" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/member-homendy-bike-safety-study-board-meeting.jpg 4061w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/member-homendy-bike-safety-study-board-meeting.jpg?w=150&h=75 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/member-homendy-bike-safety-study-board-meeting.jpg?w=300&h=150 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/member-homendy-bike-safety-study-board-meeting.jpg?w=768&h=385 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/member-homendy-bike-safety-study-board-meeting.jpg?w=1024&h=514 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 4061px) 100vw, 4061px">
Implementation of our recommendations would dramatically improve the safety of our roadways for bicyclists. But prevention or avoidance will sometimes fail and mitigating the severity of crashes will help save lives. That basic premise of transportation safety, supported by data on fatalities from head injuries, prompted our call for helmets for bicyclists.
The NTSB’s approach to bicyclist safety is comprehensive, multi-faceted and fact-based. All the safety recommendations, when implemented, would help save lives by preventing collisions from happening, and by reducing the severity of those that do.
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<media:title type="html">Homendy-bike</media:title>
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<media:title type="html">Member Homendy Bike Safety Study Board Meeting</media:title>
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<title>2019-2020 Most Wanted List Midpoint Review</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/02/18/2019-2020-most-wanted-list-midpoint-review/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 18 Feb 2020 10:42:52 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Robert Sumwalt]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4585</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt What do you call 125 participants in an NTSB Most Wanted List (MWL) mid-point progress meeting, each of whom has their own idea of a transportation safety goal to achieve by the end of the year? An excellent start. On February 4, the NTSB hosted attendees from government, industry, and … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/02/18/2019-2020-most-wanted-list-midpoint-review/" class="more-link">Continue reading 2019-2020 Most Wanted List Midpoint Review →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[By Chairman <a href="https://ntsb.gov/news/speeches/RSumwalt/Pages/bio_sumwalt.aspx">Robert L. Sumwalt</a>
<img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4323" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2019/03/11/most-highway-crashes-are-not-accidents/mwl-list/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/mwl-list.jpg" data-orig-size="1998,1125" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="MWL List" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/mwl-list.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/mwl-list.jpg?w=474" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4323" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/mwl-list.jpg" alt="MWL List" width="1998" height="1125" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/mwl-list.jpg 1998w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/mwl-list.jpg?w=150&h=84 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/mwl-list.jpg?w=300&h=169 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/mwl-list.jpg?w=768&h=432 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/mwl-list.jpg?w=1024&h=577 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1998px) 100vw, 1998px">
What do you call 125 participants in an NTSB <a href="https://ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/default.aspx">Most Wanted List</a> (MWL) mid-point progress meeting, each of whom has their own idea of a transportation safety goal to achieve by the end of the year?
An excellent start.
On February 4, the NTSB hosted attendees from government, industry, and the advocacy community to discuss progress on the 2019-2020 MWL. The conversations were productive and lively, and there was one thing we all agreed on: we need to achieve more in 2020.
Many people believe the NTSB’s work is done when an investigation has been completed, and we’ve determined the probable cause of an accident. But finding out what happened and why it happened is just half the equation.
The second half is arguably the most important part of our investigations: After determining the what and why, we issue safety recommendations aimed at correcting the deficiencies we uncovered, and thus, preventing similar accidents from happening again.
Even then, our work is still not complete. Recommendations must be implemented by their recipients before they begin to save lives. Therefore, part of our work is to highlight these recommendations and advocate for their implementation.
Board members, safety advocates and other NTSB staff are dedicated to fostering the cooperation necessary to ensure those life-saving recommendations are implemented, so the issues can be addressed and ultimately solved.
The MWL was conceived in 1990 and is the NTSB’s premiere advocacy product. It groups together unimplemented safety recommendations under broad topic areas that we refer to as issue areas. Issues placed on the list are selected from safety recommendations and emerging areas, and are based on the magnitude of risk, potential safety benefits, timeliness, and probability of advocacy efforts to bring about change. Simply put, MWL issue areas are those that we believe need the most attention to prevent accidents, reduce injuries, and save lives.
Up until 2017, the MWL was updated annually. That year, we went to a biennial list, with the provision that we conduct a mid-point progress review. And that, of course, is why we gathered on February 4. The purpose of the meeting was to receive input from stakeholders on where the current list is going, what are the impediments to implementing these recommendations, and what we can do better to advocate successful implementation of these recommendations. It was a day for us at the NTSB to listen to input and feedback.
Prior to the midpoint meeting, only 31 NTSB <a href="https://ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Documents/2019-20/2019-20-MWL-SafetyRecs.pdf">safety recommendations</a> had been implemented out of 268 targeted in this MWL cycle. Implementing these 31 recommendations will make transportation safer by improving pipeline, aviation, railroad, marine, and highway safety. But as attendees of our mid-point evaluation agreed, implementation of these 31 recommendations, while welcome, is just not enough.

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Member <a href="https://ntsb.gov/news/speeches/JHomendy/Pages/bio_homendy.aspx">Jennifer Homendy</a> and Robert Hall, Director of our Office of Railroad, Pipeline, and Hazardous Materials Investigations, guided the breakout session for that mode. Dana Schulze, Director of NTSB’s Office of Aviation Safety and I facilitated the conversations in the aviation breakout session. The marine safety session was headed-up by Morgan Turrell, Deputy Director of our Office of Marine Safety. And finally, Vice Chairman <a href="https://ntsb.gov/news/speeches/BLandsberg/Pages/bio_landsberg.aspx">Bruce Landsberg</a> took the highway safety discussion, joined by Rob Molloy, Director of our Office of Highway Safety.
Here are some of the thoughts that our attendees contributed:
<ul>
<li>Support efforts in the states to strengthen traffic safety laws to address issues like speeding, distracted and impaired driving and seat belt use.</li>
<li>Not every solution is a regulatory solution; work with industry and advocates to move toward voluntary compliance to get the required change done.</li>
<li>Increase and improve data collection.</li>
<li>Be proactive rather than reactive—through increased coordination between the NTSB, agencies, and industry.</li>
<li>Identify and promote industry best practices; to make change, it helps to see, hear, and learn from others who have accomplished the task.</li>
<li>Increase dialogue between the NTSB and industry outside of the context of accidents through preliminary recommendation communication, site visits, and board member meetings.</li>
<li>Creating a safety culture (in business) and addressing negative social norms (in public) are perhaps the most critical steps needed to improve transportation safety overall.</li>
<li>NTSB can play a key role in bringing all the key players together, promoting dialogue, and encouraging change.</li>
</ul>
NTSB recommendations, when implemented, can help to prevent unnecessary deaths, injuries, and property damage. The recommendation that is implemented today could be the life that is saved tomorrow. So, the voices of those closest to the battle for implementation—including the attendees at the midpoint progress meeting—are invaluable.
Time will tell how many critical <a href="https://ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/default.aspx">MWL</a> advances can be achieved by year’s end. I hope it’s all of them.
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<title>Automation Complacency: Yet Another Distraction Problem</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/02/10/automation-complacency-yet-another-distraction-problem/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/02/10/automation-complacency-yet-another-distraction-problem/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 10 Feb 2020 14:23:53 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Bruce Landsberg]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4578</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg  The NTSB first issued a recommendation to ban the nonemergency use of portable electronic devices (PEDs) while driving in 2011, and the issue area “Eliminate Distractions” remains on the 2019–2020 Most Wanted List of transportation safety improvements. Web browsing, texting, calling (even hands-free)—all these activities significantly increase the chance of … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/02/10/automation-complacency-yet-another-distraction-problem/" class="more-link">Continue reading Automation Complacency: Yet Another Distraction Problem →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[By <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/BLandsberg/Pages/bio_landsberg.aspx">Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg</a>
The NTSB first issued a <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=H-11-039">recommendation</a> to ban the nonemergency use of portable electronic devices (PEDs) while driving in 2011, and the issue area “<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwlfs-19-20/mwl1.aspx">Eliminate Distractions</a>” remains on the <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/default.aspx">2019–2020 Most Wanted List</a> of transportation safety improvements. Web browsing, texting, calling (even hands-free)—all these activities significantly increase the chance of a distracted‑driving crash, which is why we’ve recommended banning driver use of PEDs in all states. Most <a href="https://www.iihs.org/topics/distracted-driving/cellphone-use-laws">states</a> have prohibited texting and handheld PED use in some form.
The science is clear: our addiction to PEDs is growing exponentially, placing constant connectivity and convenience above driving responsibly and resulting in tens of thousands of completely preventable, and often tragic, crashes. Driving while distracted by a PED is dangerous and it’s completely preventable. Simply, the decision to drive distracted is dumb.
Distraction by PED is becoming the “old” kind of distraction, as automated and semi-automated vehicles enter the roadways. These new technologies are creating a new and equally menacing kind of distraction: automation complacency. Overreliance on these advanced driver assistance technologies lulls drivers into a false sense of security. They trust in the machine and believe that frees them up to text, e-mail, or watch a video. With automation complacency, human nature asserts itself. We evolve to the idea that we will probably never have to intervene when a computer is doing the driving. The mind creates a rule based on positive prior experience; after so many seamless rides in an automated vehicle, we begin to relax our guard.
A tragic illustration of this growing phenomena is the March 18, 2018, fatal crash in <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/HAR1903.aspx">Tempe, Arizona</a>, involving a pedestrian and an Uber vehicle with an experimental automated driving system. The Uber’s safety driver was expected to intervene only if needed, a task that required the driver’s full engagement in and focus on the driving task. Instead, in the half hour prior to colliding with and killing the pedestrian, the driver spent more than a third of her time gazing down at the center console, sometimes for as long as 26.5 seconds. The vehicle’s onboard camera recorded the driver watching streamed content on her cell phone through most of the crash sequence.
<figure data-shortcode="caption" id="attachment_4580" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4580" style="width: 950px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4580" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/02/10/automation-complacency-yet-another-distraction-problem/nr20191119c-img/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/nr20191119c-img.jpg" data-orig-size="950,950" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Tempe, Arizona crash" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="NTSB investigators on-scene in Tempe, Arizona, examining the Uber automated test vehicle involved in a March 18, 2018 collision with a pedestrian.
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/nr20191119c-img.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/nr20191119c-img.jpg?w=474" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4580" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/nr20191119c-img.jpg" alt="Tempe, Arizona crash" width="950" height="950" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/nr20191119c-img.jpg 950w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/nr20191119c-img.jpg?w=150&h=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/nr20191119c-img.jpg?w=300&h=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/nr20191119c-img.jpg?w=768&h=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 950px) 100vw, 950px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4580" class="wp-caption-text">NTSB investigators on-scene in Tempe, Arizona, examining the Uber automated test vehicle involved in a March 18, 2018 collision with a pedestrian.</figcaption></figure>
Humans are creatures of habit and this driver had traveled this route more than 20 times in the test vehicle with no incident. Simply put, she was bored. She failed to remain vigilant and succumbed to automation complacency, believing the system would detect pedestrians under all circumstances—even when crossing outside of a crosswalk at night. Our investigation of this fatal crash determined that an attentive human driver would have easily avoided the pedestrian.
If it’s hard to convince drivers to stop multitasking while driving a vehicle that is not equipped with an advanced driver assistance technology, then it’s going to be that much harder to convince drivers to stay alert in a highly automated vehicle. The fact is, there is no commercially available vehicle in the United States that is fully autonomous and doesn’t require the driver’s full attention to the driving task.
The companies testing automated vehicles on public roads, the states where these vehicles are tested, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration must work to prevent this emerging form of distraction from increasing and placing roadway users at increased risk, particularly vulnerable users such as bicyclists and pedestrians. Now is the time to get ahead of the problem.
 
 
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<title>Do You Have a Super Bowl Transportation Game Plan?</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/01/31/do-you-have-a-super-bowl-transportation-game-plan/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 31 Jan 2020 19:44:51 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Distraction]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Drowsy Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Fatigue]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impaired Driving]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Impairment]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Most Wanted List]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Safety Recommendations]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4569</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Leah Walton, NTSB Safety Advocate Super Bowl LIV is almost here! Whether you’re a diehard 49ers or Chiefs fan, or you simply watch for the commercials and halftime show, the play clock is just about to hit 0. For many football fans, driving will be part of the game plan both before and after … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/01/31/do-you-have-a-super-bowl-transportation-game-plan/" class="more-link">Continue reading Do You Have a Super Bowl Transportation Game Plan? →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[By Leah Walton, NTSB Safety Advocate
Super Bowl LIV is almost here! Whether you’re a diehard 49ers or Chiefs fan, or you simply watch for the commercials and halftime show, the play clock is just about to hit 0. For many football fans, driving will be part of the game plan both before and after the Super Bowl, regardless of if they’re driving over 3,000 miles to Hard Rock Stadium or simply going across town to a playoff party. Either way, safe transportation plans must be part of every driver’s Super Bowl game plan.
Football is a game driven by statistics. As Chiefs’ Head Coach Andy Reid takes in stats for his Super Bowl game plan, consider these highway safety facts as you prepare your own playbook.
<ul>
<li>Each year, 6,400 fatal crashes involve a drowsy driver. Making sure you have adequate rest before getting behind the wheel should be an essential part of your plan.</li>
<li>Every day, nearly <a href="https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812864">29 people in the U.S. die in alcohol-impaired crashes</a> – that’s 1 person every 50 minutes!</li>
<li>In 2016, <a href="https://www.ghsa.org/resources/news-releases/DUID18">44 percent of drivers killed in crashes tested positive for drugs</a>.</li>
<li>In 2017, <a href="https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812700">3,166 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers</a>. That’s 9 percent of all highway fatalities that year!</li>
<li>It takes just 4 to 5 seconds to quickly look at that text that popped up on your phone. If you’re driving 55 mph, you can drive the length of a football field in that time!</li>
<li>Traffic deaths increase 41 percent on Super Bowl Sunday due to impaired, drowsy, and distracted driving.</li>
</ul>
<img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4570" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/01/31/do-you-have-a-super-bowl-transportation-game-plan/driving-fast-with-a-sport-car-8/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/distracted-football-field-image2020.jpg" data-orig-size="600,600" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"4.5","credit":"oneinchpunch - Fotolia","camera":"NIKON D610","caption":"Man driving the car on the freeway in Los Angeles, California. concept about traffic jam,transportation and travels","created_timestamp":"1442411238","copyright":"oneinchpunch - Fotolia","focal_length":"12","iso":"250","shutter_speed":"0.008","title":"Driving fast with a sport car","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Driving fast with a sport car" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="Man driving the car on the freeway in Los Angeles, California. concept about traffic jam,transportation and travels
" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/distracted-football-field-image2020.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/distracted-football-field-image2020.jpg?w=474" class=" wp-image-4570 aligncenter" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/distracted-football-field-image2020.jpg" alt="Driving fast with a sport car" width="322" height="322" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/distracted-football-field-image2020.jpg?w=322&h=322 322w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/distracted-football-field-image2020.jpg?w=150&h=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/distracted-football-field-image2020.jpg?w=300&h=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/distracted-football-field-image2020.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 322px) 100vw, 322px" />
So, what should your Super Bowl transportation game plan look like? First, drive sober or designate a sober driver. Recognize that even a moderate amount of alcohol or certain drugs will make driving unsafe. If you don’t have a designated driver, a taxi, public transportation, or rideshare charge will be a minor cost compared to a DUI—or worse. Second, don’t drive fatigued. Immediately after the game and before work the next day, check yourself to see if you are rested enough to drive safely. If you got less than 7 to 9 hours of sleep, recognize the need to take breaks, take a nap, or find another mode of transportation. Third, don’t drive distracted—the postgame highlights, commentary, and selfies can wait until you safely arrive at your destination.

<a href='https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2018/08/22/back-to-school-safety-series-zero-tolerance-starts-at-home/impairment-is/'><img width="150" height="150" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/impairment-is-e1580499757645.jpg?w=150" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/impairment-is-e1580499757645.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/impairment-is-e1580499757645.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" data-attachment-id="4183" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2018/08/22/back-to-school-safety-series-zero-tolerance-starts-at-home/impairment-is/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/impairment-is-e1580499757645.jpg" data-orig-size="1080,1080" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Impairment is…" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/impairment-is-e1580499757645.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/impairment-is-e1580499757645.jpg?w=474" /></a>
<a href='https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2018/07/03/buzzed-driving-is-drunk-driving-time-to-walk-the-talk/impaired-driving-preventable-2/'><img width="150" height="150" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/impaired-driving-preventable.jpg?w=150" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/impaired-driving-preventable.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/impaired-driving-preventable.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" data-attachment-id="4114" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2018/07/03/buzzed-driving-is-drunk-driving-time-to-walk-the-talk/impaired-driving-preventable-2/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/impaired-driving-preventable.jpg" data-orig-size="2048,2048" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Impaired Driving Preventable" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/impaired-driving-preventable.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/impaired-driving-preventable.jpg?w=474" /></a>

Whether you’re rooting for the 49ers, Chiefs, or simply a good game, make sure you have a designated sober driver in your Super Bowl lineup, and follow this gameday rulebook!
 
 
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<media:title type="html">Driving fast with a sport car</media:title>
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<title>Global Road Safety Leaders of the Future</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/01/24/global-road-safety-leaders-of-the-future/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/01/24/global-road-safety-leaders-of-the-future/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Jan 2020 13:40:50 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[General Safety]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4561</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Nicholas Worrell, Chief, NTSB Safety Advocacy Division Last week, the NTSB hosted a group of students from around the world who are studying or pursuing higher education degrees in traffic safety. They came to us through the International Roads Federation (IRF) Fellows Program, which works to develop transportation safety leaders worldwide. The students were … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/01/24/global-road-safety-leaders-of-the-future/" class="more-link">Continue reading Global Road Safety Leaders of the Future →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[By Nicholas Worrell, Chief, NTSB Safety Advocacy Division
Last week, the NTSB hosted a group of students from around the world who are studying or pursuing higher education degrees in traffic safety. They came to us through the International Roads Federation (IRF) Fellows Program, which works to develop transportation safety leaders worldwide. 
The students were from diverse cultures—Lebanese, Iranian, Japanese, Colombian, Libyan, Mexican, Palestinian, and Brazilian—but they had one thing in common: they were all studying at universities in the United States.
It was an honor to be chosen by the IRF to help develop and grow these fellows. The group got to hear from Jim Ritter, Director of Research and Engineering; Lisandra Garay-Vega, Supervisory Transportation Specialist; David Pereira, Vehicle Factors Investigator; and several of our lab experts. 

<a href='https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/01/24/global-road-safety-leaders-of-the-future/img_5293/'><img width="150" height="100" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/img_5293.jpg?w=150" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/img_5293.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/img_5293.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" data-attachment-id="4564" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/01/24/global-road-safety-leaders-of-the-future/img_5293/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/img_5293.jpg" data-orig-size="5472,3648" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"4","credit":"","camera":"Canon EOS 6D","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1579100174","copyright":"","focal_length":"24","iso":"1000","shutter_speed":"0.033333333333333","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="IMG_5293" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/img_5293.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/img_5293.jpg?w=474" /></a>
<a href='https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/01/24/global-road-safety-leaders-of-the-future/img_5235/'><img width="150" height="100" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/img_5235.jpg?w=150" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/img_5235.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/img_5235.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" data-attachment-id="4562" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/01/24/global-road-safety-leaders-of-the-future/img_5235/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/img_5235.jpg" data-orig-size="5472,3648" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"5.6","credit":"","camera":"Canon EOS 6D","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1579087890","copyright":"","focal_length":"50","iso":"2000","shutter_speed":"0.025","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="IMG_5235" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/img_5235.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/img_5235.jpg?w=474" /></a>
<a href='https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/01/24/global-road-safety-leaders-of-the-future/img_5269/'><img width="150" height="100" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/img_5269.jpg?w=150" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/img_5269.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/img_5269.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" data-attachment-id="4563" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/01/24/global-road-safety-leaders-of-the-future/img_5269/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/img_5269.jpg" data-orig-size="5472,3648" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"4","credit":"","camera":"Canon EOS 6D","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1579092391","copyright":"","focal_length":"46","iso":"400","shutter_speed":"0.025","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="IMG_5269" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/img_5269.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/img_5269.jpg?w=474" /></a>
<a href='https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/01/24/global-road-safety-leaders-of-the-future/img_5296/'><img width="150" height="100" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/img_5296.jpg?w=150" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/img_5296.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/img_5296.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" data-attachment-id="4567" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/01/24/global-road-safety-leaders-of-the-future/img_5296/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/img_5296.jpg" data-orig-size="5472,3648" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"4","credit":"","camera":"Canon EOS 6D","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1579107419","copyright":"","focal_length":"35","iso":"800","shutter_speed":"0.033333333333333","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="IMG_5296" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/img_5296.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/img_5296.jpg?w=474" /></a>

In transportation safety, we often ask how we can change safety culture? This question applies in one way to organizations, looking at how a company’s culture might influence a driver’s actions of a driver. This kind of safety culture is widely studied but involves only the minority of accidents/crashes. Most crashes involve everyday drivers operating personal motor vehicles. How do we change the safety perspectives of everyday drivers? We start with investing in young leaders like those who joined us during the visit.
In the United States, we lose more than <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/data/Pages/Data_Stats.aspx">40,000 lives</a> every year as a result of accidents and crashes in all modes of transportation. Worldwide, according to the World Health Organization, we lose more than <a href="https://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/road_safety_status/2018/en/">1.35 million</a> people every year on the roads, alone. When it comes to traffic safety, to truly change our safety culture, we must start with the younger generation. We must invest in ways to teach young children how to be safe on the roads long before they get behind the wheel for the first time. And we must invest our time in working with students like the IRF fellows, supporting their efforts to design transportation systems that protect all road users, not just those inside a motor vehicle.
At the NTSB, we strive to encourage and develop young safety leaders—teaching them to build bridges for others to cross, lay stepping stones for others to walk upon and shoulders for them to stand upon. Our core value of excellence goes beyond our central mission of issuing safety recommendations; it also applies to excellence in the service of others. In advocacy, it demands we pass along information to young leaders who will carry the mantel with a goal of safer transportation worldwide. We wish them well and lots of success.
 
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<title>Episode 30: Member Jennifer Homendy</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/01/16/episode-30-member-jennifer-homendy/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/01/16/episode-30-member-jennifer-homendy/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Jan 2020 17:34:47 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Behind-the-Scene]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Jennifer Homendy]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4555</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, Member Jennifer Homendy shares highlights from her first year at NTSB and the transportation safety improvements she hopes are accomplished in 2020. Member Homendy was first featured on the podcast shortly after she began her tenure as the 44th Member of the NTSB in Episode 20.   Member Homendy’s … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2020/01/16/episode-30-member-jennifer-homendy/" class="more-link">Continue reading Episode 30: Member Jennifer Homendy →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[In this episode of Behind-the-Scene @NTSB, Member Jennifer Homendy shares highlights from her first year at NTSB and the transportation safety improvements she hopes are accomplished in 2020. Member Homendy was first featured on the podcast shortly after she began her tenure as the 44th Member of the NTSB in <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2018/12/06/episode-20-member-jennifer-homendy/">Episode 20</a>.
<audio class="wp-audio-shortcode" id="audio-4555-5" preload="none" style="width: 100%;" controls="controls"><source type="audio/mpeg" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/2019-12-18-leah-walton-and-stephanie-shaw-interview-jennifer-homendy-and-erik-strickland.mp3?_=5" /><a href="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/2019-12-18-leah-walton-and-stephanie-shaw-interview-jennifer-homendy-and-erik-strickland.mp3">https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/2019-12-18-leah-walton-and-stephanie-shaw-interview-jennifer-homendy-and-erik-strickland.mp3</a></audio>
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Member Homendy’s full bio is available <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/JHomendy/Pages/bio_homendy.aspx">here</a>.
 
Get the latest episode on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-scene-ntsb/id1286590741?mt=2">Apple Podcasts</a> , on <a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Ihj2oejp6ut3rrvs3kpej7y3qsu?t=Behind-the-Scene__NTSB">Google Play</a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/behindthescenentsb/behindthescene-ntsb">Stitcher</a>, or your favorite podcast platform.
And find more ways to listen here: <a href="https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/">https://www.blubrry.com/behind_the_scene_ntsb/</a>
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<title>Our Transportation Safety Wish List</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2019/12/23/our-transportation-safety-wish-list/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2019/12/23/our-transportation-safety-wish-list/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 23 Dec 2019 14:00:35 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Robert Sumwalt]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4549</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt Every 2 years, the NTSB puts together a wish list, called our Most Wanted List (MWL) of transportation safety improvements. It comprises recommendations ripe for action by their recipients, which, if acted on, will bring safety benefits to all Americans. Our wish list is not like some other traditional holiday … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2019/12/23/our-transportation-safety-wish-list/" class="more-link">Continue reading Our Transportation Safety Wish List →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[By Chairman <a href="https://ntsb.gov/news/speeches/RSumwalt/Pages/bio_sumwalt.aspx">Robert L. Sumwalt</a>
Every 2 years, the NTSB puts together a wish list, called our <a href="https://ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/default.aspx">Most Wanted List</a> (MWL) of transportation safety improvements. It comprises recommendations ripe for action by their recipients, which, if acted on, will bring safety benefits to all Americans.
Our wish list is not like some other traditional holiday wish lists. For one thing, we’re not asking who’s naughty and who’s nice; the stakes are too high for that. Regardless of whether you’re naughty or nice, you deserve access to safe transportation. Another difference is that a safety wish list is about things that transportation interests—government, industry, and others—are supposed to provide. Our list includes safety items that should “come standard,” not ones that we hope we’ll receive if we’re all really, really good travelers this year.
<img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4553" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2019/12/23/our-transportation-safety-wish-list/print-6/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/santasmwl-chackinglist.jpg" data-orig-size="1085,568" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"Print","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Print" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/santasmwl-chackinglist.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/santasmwl-chackinglist.jpg?w=474" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4553" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/santasmwl-chackinglist.jpg" alt="Print" width="1085" height="568" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/santasmwl-chackinglist.jpg 1085w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/santasmwl-chackinglist.jpg?w=150&h=79 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/santasmwl-chackinglist.jpg?w=300&h=157 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/santasmwl-chackinglist.jpg?w=768&h=402 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/santasmwl-chackinglist.jpg?w=1024&h=536 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1085px) 100vw, 1085px">
That being said, it’s still nice to see some “wishes” checked off our list this year, even if American travelers had every right to expect them. For instance, we recently acceptably closed the following recommendations to the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and the Metro-North Railroad, both part of New York’s Metropolitan Transit Authority:
<ul>
<li>Safety Recommendation <a href="https://ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=R-14-065">R-14-65</a>, which asked the LIRR to screen and evaluate employees in safety-sensitive positions for sleep disorders, then treat those who tested positive.</li>
<li>Safety Recommendations <a href="https://ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=R-14-062">R-14-62</a> and <a href="https://ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=R-14-064">R-14-64</a>, which asked Metro-North to revise medical protocols and provide its employees in safety-sensitive positions a list of medications that engineers and conductors must avoid.</li>
<li>Safety Recommendation <a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/click?upn=G62jSYfZdO-2F12d8lSllQB6mJHOUfkUGcjjvdBgCNMNQ-3D_ex8vQtdTEwGKc274NFeZlP28-2BdEg3YmvjsvGUvYy0Zhi3SXXys75G-2FYIAIoVrHvMwHB-2Fh56wLMtw1M39Jpkb0-2BcdEPVz5MuNf-2BO8L-2FYjefjjF94G0AYKOAd9UKKs7HtQQ-2FckJUGqXAdoIeacjGI1lMod2J1Ki0HgWucjh6d4lH8j3fEMjz6OBAWOm-2B2-2BiyzJAp5mFa4sMpHrL4p8oSwXjbTgfHZkq6fB8F8XsNXPTFKWDUYzJi-2FgD-2FvmKYIi7f0I-2FOwMCTTfv5nOSLfPq2K2GD2oUNZcup7-2B2wz9VN0pOWLQG-2F-2FUtbqXYjzhkxBlAZKWi6GhMEbISEoMUY0RalcTcWIXqVu9eI5dXNlxNwotPmU-3D">R-17-9</a>(to Metro-North) and <a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/click?upn=G62jSYfZdO-2F12d8lSllQBx0dBJ17GO8w89CMjfuHFTE-3D_ex8vQtdTEwGKc274NFeZlP28-2BdEg3YmvjsvGUvYy0Zhi3SXXys75G-2FYIAIoVrHvMwHB-2Fh56wLMtw1M39Jpkb0-2BcdEPVz5MuNf-2BO8L-2FYjefjjF94G0AYKOAd9UKKs7HtQQ-2FckJUGqXAdoIeacjGI1lMod2J1Ki0HgWucjh6d4lH8j3fEMjz6OBAWOm-2B2-2BiyzJAp5mFa4sMpHrL4p8oSwXjbDUFCankCv3jwjOv-2BrxeSHqdPi4P3OLD1eBoFayi6nljJBceql-2Fkw6u-2BFoNtEac542CQ6DxiccOjLoOfY2HcuT3WjMRfJ-2FxbJB9XU8pJxtkjBkl6fQggCKvMiW4e89BbmNrTUoV34rWhdPVshJClMw-3D">R-17-10</a> (to a number of railroads, including Metro-North), which sought risk assessment and mitigation strategies at grade crossings with third-rail systems at or near the crossings. (Safety Recommendation <a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/click?upn=G62jSYfZdO-2F12d8lSllQBx0dBJ17GO8w89CMjfuHFTE-3D_ex8vQtdTEwGKc274NFeZlP28-2BdEg3YmvjsvGUvYy0Zhi3SXXys75G-2FYIAIoVrHvMwHB-2Fh56wLMtw1M39Jpkb0-2BcdEPVz5MuNf-2BO8L-2FYjefjjF94G0AYKOAd9UKKs7HtQQ-2FckJUGqXAdoIeacjGI1lMod2J1Ki0HgWucjh6d4lH8j3fEMjz6OBAWOm-2B2-2BiyzJAp5mFa4sMpHrL4p8oSwXjW-2FeFG1zGa0BEjVtntJQnA08lxjAdILaTiOMg4Do1CP-2F-2Bt540WMNuYkVigtyhx08skz-2B68hWABND3d5NDq463gIIc13VHL6mC6c4cTXuwrrF0eJKgJJMX0hGIaSe75zWB-2BS6y6jGug5xjNcPRmq1wHk-3D">R‑17‑10</a> remains classified “open” overall because other recipients have not yet completed action on it.)</li>
</ul>
What else can we scratch off our list?
In November, we closed Safety Recommendations <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=P-18-005">P-18-5</a>, <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=P-18-006">-6</a>, and <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=P-18-008">-8</a> acceptably. These recommendations called for the management-of-change process to be used to identify natural gas system threats, and for professional engineers to be included in the engineering plan and constructability review processes as well as in public utility engineering drawings in Massachusetts.
In September, we closed Safety Recommendations <a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/click?upn=G62jSYfZdO-2F12d8lSllQByZJzjfUqBk1JDhLx5txsXs-3D_ex8vQtdTEwGKc274NFeZlP28-2BdEg3YmvjsvGUvYy0Zhi3SXXys75G-2FYIAIoVrHvMwHB-2Fh56wLMtw1M39Jpkb0-2BcdEPVz5MuNf-2BO8L-2FYjefjjF94G0AYKOAd9UKKs7HtQQ-2FckJUGqXAdoIeacjGI1lMod2J1Ki0HgWucjh6d4lH8j3fEMjz6OBAWOm-2B2-2BiyzJAp5mFa4sMpHrL4p8oSwXjZoyeVSAHngMwQ71FeabPd4J-2BbX6uge7wIklKBnZaYShPu5-2Bb7yc9y1et7IkkXRdBKSsWc1omfhs6nnHWzkSfVYkimrFPCfCb8Omewsv64sFZN7dep4QU6ZyZG9EbXe0MeDrEpbMNOOD2AdJfijPaPU-3D">P-18-1</a>, <a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/click?upn=G62jSYfZdO-2F12d8lSllQBz2Nvlob32cMnDdzqmBgjXg-3D_ex8vQtdTEwGKc274NFeZlP28-2BdEg3YmvjsvGUvYy0Zhi3SXXys75G-2FYIAIoVrHvMwHB-2Fh56wLMtw1M39Jpkb0-2BcdEPVz5MuNf-2BO8L-2FYjefjjF94G0AYKOAd9UKKs7HtQQ-2FckJUGqXAdoIeacjGI1lMod2J1Ki0HgWucjh6d4lH8j3fEMjz6OBAWOm-2B2-2BiyzJAp5mFa4sMpHrL4p8oSwXjf-2BJbuLDuEmP8umIvJzZFueATJiUexBxH7mBCv-2Bpsi4x3te-2BQf-2FF2BnyOn9JQCx0Q9G3kefJ2sXLyB2FQz9cjHD4KIo9Ngmp-2Ft2z2TORYuNupkMWV0bxms9zu7dccBam7C2vSjSgqHjHYwDnqPoWJRs-3D">-7</a>, and <a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/click?upn=G62jSYfZdO-2F12d8lSllQB0e1RtUM4DIf-2FkuzdOspmA4-3D_ex8vQtdTEwGKc274NFeZlP28-2BdEg3YmvjsvGUvYy0Zhi3SXXys75G-2FYIAIoVrHvMwHB-2Fh56wLMtw1M39Jpkb0-2BcdEPVz5MuNf-2BO8L-2FYjefjjF94G0AYKOAd9UKKs7HtQQ-2FckJUGqXAdoIeacjGI1lMod2J1Ki0HgWucjh6d4lH8j3fEMjz6OBAWOm-2B2-2BiyzJAp5mFa4sMpHrL4p8oSwXjcDrU67DQhiRcbkH-2B8pKim-2F8u-2Fp7uaOpCSOh2u1poy70nbdR8yV7rcCCMVntk9yNwoSfvGtUdIEPf6xj2y8x-2B9C-2FC0Vq-2BR6HUrCc0niQSGXO-2FpiNmeRQXH5YNeHVAAeYKNinqH5tbQu6F-2Bqk3JpOAvs-3D">-9</a> acceptably. These recommendations called for improved inspection programs, better records and documentation of natural gas systems, and procedures to mitigate risks identified during management-of-change operations.
In July, we announced the closure of eight MWL-related recommendations. Four (<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/click?upn=G62jSYfZdO-2F12d8lSllQB6JYIbgA8n4HTYjdykSnu6I-3D_0Wg9Nh1n4pGFtplDTkv8PtnY1rChQHh6guRbd111Ehukhxa-2B4y2qgQ76oS85hQZleB-2BOdZHoCjMlWAGTZUTa6LsRhBetNkgAw-2Fh84CPcs-2BPEgNajYTnWNIaCa4Xf6ZcZMQQEt3-2Bwgo-2F9q6CEJuLT44ZV4OP6t8OcV5bQo3ans5gXJnheqGqbdI8TfO4stc2FTJB1nGoka08dNgEKqWfM1N9kv74lv4GkAwhC-2BqaPB3VMpJDh1vTrvRdXD58f4a3D1f8fTw0fLqYIqvMMr-2F-2Bq6KqeLy55kFXipUJNfEgf2kjGLBjaT6GP-2FYibuT1IQBGd-2BoxTZY2Gigjtv51uLQHY1-2Ftd7lLNKsZw2TifLASY4aU-3D">P‑17‑3</a>, <a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/click?upn=G62jSYfZdO-2F12d8lSllQBy-2BWFUc7CZlecik3OU6qZLE-3D_0Wg9Nh1n4pGFtplDTkv8PtnY1rChQHh6guRbd111Ehukhxa-2B4y2qgQ76oS85hQZleB-2BOdZHoCjMlWAGTZUTa6LsRhBetNkgAw-2Fh84CPcs-2BPEgNajYTnWNIaCa4Xf6ZcZMQQEt3-2Bwgo-2F9q6CEJuLT44ZV4OP6t8OcV5bQo3ans5gXJnheqGqbdI8TfO4stc2FQqFi58k9thjqCkNINQtyz6ttU65ER3-2BXP-2Fn-2Fsx8FMx0Fq1kwSWanyLAg9vbLazo-2FltcsfBMDhX3VhjROiJJU3dMJkSyrd9F0XR-2BXyw8xB5jRwgHWtFJ8jfsc9YJSzAP9rChXAhR323kMwcZ3zH4FDQmENitI5vMFA7wdqOsw01A-3D">H‑15‑20</a>,<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/click?upn=G62jSYfZdO-2F12d8lSllQBzSZ-2FtIaF8p-2FhUks9A3Abz4-3D_0Wg9Nh1n4pGFtplDTkv8PtnY1rChQHh6guRbd111Ehukhxa-2B4y2qgQ76oS85hQZleB-2BOdZHoCjMlWAGTZUTa6LsRhBetNkgAw-2Fh84CPcs-2BPEgNajYTnWNIaCa4Xf6ZcZMQQEt3-2Bwgo-2F9q6CEJuLT44ZV4OP6t8OcV5bQo3ans5gXJnheqGqbdI8TfO4stc2FU3rBdnVSHDQ0qgDqSma5U9U-2BiAALn2Jxqgxj-2F6O0tlms1D-2FmLpClOVFzm0R6JKAtHtYHb-2BXX-2FJKWBolzzXb5rHgh2mzUcWYJwMj06fJRaJKdVTBJxsePK7Nm7XVONQOx4gsNccBkm3Tnq7Xueh46T8pcR9C-2BW5I-2BVmYVXKVimVw-3D"> A-09-92</a>, and <a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/click?upn=G62jSYfZdO-2F12d8lSllQB5pEQZ4sReDPhi3a86cmrho-3D_0Wg9Nh1n4pGFtplDTkv8PtnY1rChQHh6guRbd111Ehukhxa-2B4y2qgQ76oS85hQZleB-2BOdZHoCjMlWAGTZUTa6LsRhBetNkgAw-2Fh84CPcs-2BPEgNajYTnWNIaCa4Xf6ZcZMQQEt3-2Bwgo-2F9q6CEJuLT44ZV4OP6t8OcV5bQo3ans5gXJnheqGqbdI8TfO4stc2FA3s5nZ52VkUS-2FChZS1-2FudY-2BmRcicFy8bKkd6wP4zsJjWbdE-2F17lerGoasmn-2BrfC0Q2czYIuo2CTxesrkL-2BMoO4iuxibLMvqyuLTvv4pGA-2Faj1WMD3ZLpdh6v97xfKwGfzIXypJxGjm2yZKPuJaS8MlpWzlno6fYmbIc1CaSFCP8-3D">H-09-18</a>) were closed with acceptable action taken, one (<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/click?upn=G62jSYfZdO-2F12d8lSllQBzGUuK1OdhUxGNezonCdjI0-3D_0Wg9Nh1n4pGFtplDTkv8PtnY1rChQHh6guRbd111Ehukhxa-2B4y2qgQ76oS85hQZleB-2BOdZHoCjMlWAGTZUTa6LsRhBetNkgAw-2Fh84CPcs-2BPEgNajYTnWNIaCa4Xf6ZcZMQQEt3-2Bwgo-2F9q6CEJuLT44ZV4OP6t8OcV5bQo3ans5gXJnheqGqbdI8TfO4stc2FsjGf49y0iAsCieQ-2Fat3e74CyhXMLuhHgzvigHhLScX-2BkrOW686pygP0iBgeijtuTCpgI9XaBHolgpD91-2FYeGLRZBn2JwT1zjGIIoxa-2BbO5InfEjF06GuitpG1qTKIqVlCyUXCHtNKZRBE4l5QleQCxl8GOX-2F2NU54JQU1JGIG2c-3D">P‑18‑3 </a>) was closed with acceptable alternate action taken, and one (<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/click?upn=G62jSYfZdO-2F12d8lSllQByOAQK9LFXZiJAXzoNbVRMQ-3D_0Wg9Nh1n4pGFtplDTkv8PtnY1rChQHh6guRbd111Ehukhxa-2B4y2qgQ76oS85hQZleB-2BOdZHoCjMlWAGTZUTa6LsRhBetNkgAw-2Fh84CPcs-2BPEgNajYTnWNIaCa4Xf6ZcZMQQEt3-2Bwgo-2F9q6CEJuLT44ZV4OP6t8OcV5bQo3ans5gXJnheqGqbdI8TfO4stc2F-2B8JGyKwsZq8bSD-2B6uFeTJagmOEs3a67olCqmjGUB-2B9icPl1vf7LM0cQ3N5isJIB0uaUQ-2FAhHmFXqYBq9uB0mWoK7ojsjMiupclOsV-2Ffqz10hCXwlOimd4pIZ9DUjCkRNI3kQUdZK68uc-2FiyZ-2BNjYmSn6QdQLVMjgltLy86GPzwk-3D">M-16-28</a>) was closed with a status of “exceeds recommended action.”
<ul>
<li><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/click?upn=G62jSYfZdO-2F12d8lSllQB6JYIbgA8n4HTYjdykSnu6I-3D_0Wg9Nh1n4pGFtplDTkv8PtnY1rChQHh6guRbd111Ehukhxa-2B4y2qgQ76oS85hQZleB-2BOdZHoCjMlWAGTZUTa6LsRhBetNkgAw-2Fh84CPcs-2BPEgNajYTnWNIaCa4Xf6ZcZMQQEt3-2Bwgo-2F9q6CEJuLT44ZV4OP6t8OcV5bQo3ans5gXJnheqGqbdI8TfO4stc2F6v7JuxBaW1sgos1qSU3qy-2F-2B1dhO6wFWP64fUXKKvlYSbn3Nu4PMuRdda35kFVz4aL9oEVDHEBSU7jTZbwxWHqXDOT4uXEP1WV-2BjVa4YcxR7f7-2BXwRxb5Zw1-2BnfoWsjOKPflHlOVIjewmt83OhqPEU5n0FB9GhHYR4DokXuewmG4-3D">P-17-3 </a>called for Colonial Pipeline Company to address pipeline dent repairs and leak detection.</li>
<li><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/click?upn=G62jSYfZdO-2F12d8lSllQBzGUuK1OdhUxGNezonCdjI0-3D_0Wg9Nh1n4pGFtplDTkv8PtnY1rChQHh6guRbd111Ehukhxa-2B4y2qgQ76oS85hQZleB-2BOdZHoCjMlWAGTZUTa6LsRhBetNkgAw-2Fh84CPcs-2BPEgNajYTnWNIaCa4Xf6ZcZMQQEt3-2Bwgo-2F9q6CEJuLT44ZV4OP6t8OcV5bQo3ans5gXJnheqGqbdI8TfO4stc2FlvW1j-2ByuNfGReyWfnFKuDJh221tdKt87o6PTFmdS-2Fhx41c5TednEqs3p-2FgcQ0qyNwlqnr0EoBRRQ9FbIZPba9Z3SdokDdOCFTQJ7DC2muZlMhlgdrrZM1t5q4gMTnF7gxPEtiimNiF05bhv5QBtJ47XbRX-2BlxCXSztlaoAjL6EM-3D">P-18-3 </a>called on Honeywell to address an issue with incorrectly installed mechanical tapping tee assemblies.</li>
<li><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/click?upn=G62jSYfZdO-2F12d8lSllQBy-2BWFUc7CZlecik3OU6qZLE-3D_0Wg9Nh1n4pGFtplDTkv8PtnY1rChQHh6guRbd111Ehukhxa-2B4y2qgQ76oS85hQZleB-2BOdZHoCjMlWAGTZUTa6LsRhBetNkgAw-2Fh84CPcs-2BPEgNajYTnWNIaCa4Xf6ZcZMQQEt3-2Bwgo-2F9q6CEJuLT44ZV4OP6t8OcV5bQo3ans5gXJnheqGqbdI8TfO4stc2Fupp2V5smP6ss01aR-2BTD-2B1jBQrmCxrlAvVbq94YYKRrt1yogawTaoNs35oWegbcWlIJingebwvoz-2BR9WS8uLORm7cfhQ6vtcUIFHqjPL5whQVsmzR1uBYsBzgus5thyCKKtDzenbuFIVFB4RFjYxahvLEiEJVJfRw7SrWnPz-2F8aA-3D">H-15-20, </a>to the National Limousine Association, addressed the need for passenger safety briefings about seat belt use in limousines.</li>
<li><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/click?upn=G62jSYfZdO-2F12d8lSllQB5pEQZ4sReDPhi3a86cmrho-3D_0Wg9Nh1n4pGFtplDTkv8PtnY1rChQHh6guRbd111Ehukhxa-2B4y2qgQ76oS85hQZleB-2BOdZHoCjMlWAGTZUTa6LsRhBetNkgAw-2Fh84CPcs-2BPEgNajYTnWNIaCa4Xf6ZcZMQQEt3-2Bwgo-2F9q6CEJuLT44ZV4OP6t8OcV5bQo3ans5gXJnheqGqbdI8TfO4stc2FSHJfVsCtDVfR-2BHbACK9cAByO2cRur20ZtElDcST9T-2B5gjeavqaYUweKdb0XV6pRaeQUw-2FwpMOP95emSRyKSLMH-2BD7RCllXwWIAS5fMBYlib8mAesW7tSJ7Fk8JoVwWYKkTkX-2BYfOuGdOlAlwrSxU-2FTVz3WSYDCgwLy7QZmcHNuY-3D">H-09-18</a>, to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), addressed access to positive drug and alcohol test results and refusal determinations.</li>
<li><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/click?upn=G62jSYfZdO-2F12d8lSllQBzSZ-2FtIaF8p-2FhUks9A3Abz4-3D_0Wg9Nh1n4pGFtplDTkv8PtnY1rChQHh6guRbd111Ehukhxa-2B4y2qgQ76oS85hQZleB-2BOdZHoCjMlWAGTZUTa6LsRhBetNkgAw-2Fh84CPcs-2BPEgNajYTnWNIaCa4Xf6ZcZMQQEt3-2Bwgo-2F9q6CEJuLT44ZV4OP6t8OcV5bQo3ans5gXJnheqGqbdI8TfO4stc2FYWFEbv8hr7w-2Bj6qXtHHkGekEsA5IzuLpFK-2F686-2BnWjJcg-2Fq9bsqvViAICTOT6XUE6MAWOA-2BBrenniFP-2F5LmkP-2BxhUDcluNe5sXRboTgHJoOXqBQ97506H425d9Trr1-2Bj-2Fu9Nt7mGw4Z-2FVCZNzxTRfpgMygw-2BExM5AztIPoYj6Xs-3D">A-09-92</a>, to the Federal Aviation Administration, addressed the need for the helicopter emergency medical services to use the Aviation Digital Data Service Weather Tool as an official weather product.</li>
<li><a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/click?upn=G62jSYfZdO-2F12d8lSllQByOAQK9LFXZiJAXzoNbVRMQ-3D_0Wg9Nh1n4pGFtplDTkv8PtnY1rChQHh6guRbd111Ehukhxa-2B4y2qgQ76oS85hQZleB-2BOdZHoCjMlWAGTZUTa6LsRhBetNkgAw-2Fh84CPcs-2BPEgNajYTnWNIaCa4Xf6ZcZMQQEt3-2Bwgo-2F9q6CEJuLT44ZV4OP6t8OcV5bQo3ans5gXJnheqGqbdI8TfO4stc2FTtBHAK4mR9zyvmoW2hsOKoXXaSIxNqYA5GZIf3n3BfAgYQkF1fYEPh5r8HEkvIE9xmMRUroMyAxIks2UZI64npnjepu-2BOW8k0Z1ycybAv26O4UBuP4h3CeToWEgDL1PnlMnr5G1CDRo2hV5jga3mnAcqeJOOoY0zSzxJGuw-2FMqk-3D">M-16-28</a>, issued to the Passenger Vessel Association, called for a variety of actions to improve the safety of amphibious passenger vehicle operations, applying lessons learned in two amphibious passenger vehicle crashes.</li>
</ul>
As in most years, we did not get most of what we wished for on behalf of the traveling public; Even though these are safety measures the public is supposed to be able to count on, we understand. Many of our wish list items take a long time to achieve. These items, too numerous to name here, remain open.
Sometimes a recommendation, such as <a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/click?upn=G62jSYfZdO-2F12d8lSllQB9A2mt1mWU9vK9BxHFb-2BqqU-3D_0Wg9Nh1n4pGFtplDTkv8PtnY1rChQHh6guRbd111Ehukhxa-2B4y2qgQ76oS85hQZleB-2BOdZHoCjMlWAGTZUTa6LsRhBetNkgAw-2Fh84CPcs-2BPEgNajYTnWNIaCa4Xf6ZcZMQQEt3-2Bwgo-2F9q6CEJuLT44ZV4OP6t8OcV5bQo3ans5gXJnheqGqbdI8TfO4stc2FMboV3pTDOE8LsfVSIA30lk1XOK4IkWVEeGrPGVg6s0jeJiJ-2Bs59-2FtvFDtvLVHdVWDnzNbLCtFJvbfkIMZlGA4qEilBkrWb2zPtGr-2FHWce5OIJzbvTf12TdTlZI8c-2FKlA-2BLEE7oMn5-2BMewjDCVoFN3eMDJjLH-2BW4nVLVytjYqG94-3D">R‑04-7</a>, is superseded by a subsequently issued recommendation (in this case, <a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/click?upn=G62jSYfZdO-2F12d8lSllQB3NNjvAQbi3NJOpT-2FtSoxLM-3D_0Wg9Nh1n4pGFtplDTkv8PtnY1rChQHh6guRbd111Ehukhxa-2B4y2qgQ76oS85hQZleB-2BOdZHoCjMlWAGTZUTa6LsRhBetNkgAw-2Fh84CPcs-2BPEgNajYTnWNIaCa4Xf6ZcZMQQEt3-2Bwgo-2F9q6CEJuLT44ZV4OP6t8OcV5bQo3ans5gXJnheqGqbdI8TfO4stc2FwjpbRKYEqNtLjhKTAh1BXQMk-2F22Ew7OX6XxW-2BUs-2BthpBauDH1uNtp1-2BnUnODhLrJKcd8KrUnIGftto-2FB-2F6iT6tV-2FE2Bld4y2R1dcOXFkB02ElrHQCVtx-2FqItIx6gd9uwV1t-2BJAo9OfOlRh6cgEXMmO-2FKQWxFOAB-2BNEuZEty4Ln4-3D">R-19-1</a>).
And sadly, other recommendations must be closed unacceptably, such as <a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/click?upn=G62jSYfZdO-2F12d8lSllQBye8-2F0QZh4tEZrx-2ByLBgCaa1YE3kcCQHu-2BXF3-2BckRq0RGWJ4MZhFvzZTb-2F6pYzDSvVnNICFHCgj0IXAFw0K3u7GSw2NF6FmFtqXI0U51czSYgXcY2dTv0LeCa0fN7J5-2FuQ-3D-3D_0Wg9Nh1n4pGFtplDTkv8PtnY1rChQHh6guRbd111Ehukhxa-2B4y2qgQ76oS85hQZleB-2BOdZHoCjMlWAGTZUTa6LsRhBetNkgAw-2Fh84CPcs-2BPEgNajYTnWNIaCa4Xf6ZcZMQQEt3-2Bwgo-2F9q6CEJuLT44ZV4OP6t8OcV5bQo3ans5gXJnheqGqbdI8TfO4stc2FhRiVrrNTaJwXoX02ERXPVIgPQsMrxQpCS7qXog1JxXHkZADSCFHW-2Fn8boYTOAKlWDvrk91Yl-2FnhIg-2BYtch2Jz-2FOk-2FWT-2FjLnss0VmiWPj8Cs4yYi4us49KvdapgZIUhymQKsg8K1CPul8lfnmW0LTtn-2FB2Uh-2B0LOhwBeRDOLKc48-3D">H-12-29</a>, issued to the FMCSA. This recommendation asked the FMCSA to establish an ongoing program to mitigate the risk of driver fatigue. That was one “gift” the traveling public really needed this year but did not receive.
Our 2019–2020 <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/default.aspx">Most Wanted List</a> includes the following broad items:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwlfs-19-20/mwl1.aspx">Eliminate Distractions</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwlfs-19-20/mwl5.aspx">End Alcohol and Other Drug Impairment</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwlfs-19-20/mwl10.aspx">Ensure the Safe Shipment of Hazardous Materials</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwlfs-19-20/mwl4.aspx">Fully Implement Positive Train Control</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwlfs-19-20/mwl7.aspx">Implement a Comprehensive Strategy to Reduce Speeding-Related Crashes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwlfs-19-20/mwl3.aspx">Improve the Safety of Part 135 Aircraft Flight Operations</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwlfs-19-20/mwl6.aspx">Increase Implementation of Collision Avoidance Systems in All New Highway Vehicles</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwlfs-19-20/mwl2.aspx">Reduce Fatigue-Related Accidents</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwlfs-19-20/mwl8.aspx">Require Medical Fitness—Screen for and Treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwlfs-19-20/mwl9.aspx">Strengthen Occupant Protection</a></li>
</ul>
We celebrate the actions that have been taken this year to improve safety, but there’s plenty left to wish for. Take a look at our website for more information on the MWL and <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Documents/2019-20/2019-20-MWL-SafetyRecs.pdf">some of the recommendations</a> still on our wish list.
Happy holidays, and may you receive everything you want (and need!) for the new year.
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<title>Making the Right Choice this Holiday Season</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2019/12/19/making-the-right-choice-this-holiday-season/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 19 Dec 2019 21:07:35 +0000</pubDate>
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<guid isPermaLink="false">http://safetycompass.wordpress.com/?p=4551</guid>
<description><![CDATA[By Leah Walton, NTSB Safety Advocate “On behalf of all of us at the NTSB, I offer our sincerest condolences to the families and friends of the individuals who lost their lives in this crash. Our entire purpose for being here today is to learn from tragic events like this, so that they can be … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2019/12/19/making-the-right-choice-this-holiday-season/" class="more-link">Continue reading Making the Right Choice this Holiday Season →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[By Leah Walton, NTSB Safety Advocate
 “On behalf of all of us at the NTSB, I offer our sincerest condolences to the families and friends of the individuals who lost their lives in this crash. Our entire purpose for being here today is to learn from tragic events like this, so that they can be prevented in the future.”
<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/RSumwalt/Pages/bio_sumwalt.aspx">Chairman Robert Sumwalt</a> speaks these words, or some variation of them, with grave sincerity in his opening statement at every Board <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/Pages/Previous_Events.aspx">meeting</a>, and, as we hit the height of this holiday season, I can’t help but reflect on the Chairman’s words, the accident reports I’ve read, and the survivors I’ve met. As families and friends gather to celebrate, socialize, and look back on the year that’s coming to a close, many will also be missing a loved one, some for an agonizing first time.
Regardless of whether they’re experiencing the first holiday season without their loved one or the twenty-first, I imagine this time of year is especially painful for those who have lost someone suddenly in a transportation accident or crash; particularly a crash that was preventable.
Many of the fatal highway crashes we investigate are the result of human error. In 2018, <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving">10,511</a> of those human errors were the result of alcohol-impaired driving, which—not surprisingly—tends to spike during this season of parties and revelry.
Imagine that—10,511 families are missing loved ones at their holiday celebrations this year due to a human error that is 100% preventable.
<img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4067" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2018/04/19/alcohol-awareness-month/impaired-driving-preventable/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/impaired-driving-preventable.jpg" data-orig-size="2048,2048" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Impaired Driving Preventable" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/impaired-driving-preventable.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/impaired-driving-preventable.jpg?w=474" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4067" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/impaired-driving-preventable.jpg" alt="Impaired Driving Preventable" width="2048" height="2048" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/impaired-driving-preventable.jpg 2048w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/impaired-driving-preventable.jpg?w=150&h=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/impaired-driving-preventable.jpg?w=300&h=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/impaired-driving-preventable.jpg?w=768&h=768 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/impaired-driving-preventable.jpg?w=1024&h=1024 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" />
At the NTSB, we issue <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/RecTabs.aspx">safety recommendations</a> that, if implemented, could prevent transportation tragedies from reoccurring. Our safety recommendations call for bold actions; that’s the only way we’re going to get to zero deaths on our nation’s roadways. We’ve called for actions like:
<ul>
<li>Lowering the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level from .08 g/dL to .05 g/dL or lower, <a href="https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2019/07/11/cgb-utah-dps-dui-crashes-fatalities-down-but-arrests-remain-consistent-under-05-blood-alcohol-law/#.XfPjeehKg2w">which Utah did on December 31, 2018</a>. Utah’s law, if enacted nationwide, could save <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/Documents/SafetyBriefing-March2019.pdf">1,700</a> lives annually.</li>
<li>Enacting all-offender ignition interlock laws. <a href="https://www.madd.org/press-release/new-jersey-becomes-34th-state-with-all-offender-ignition-interlock-law/">Currently, 34 states and the District of Columbia have an all-offender ignition interlock law</a>. About a third of all alcohol-impaired driving fatalities are caused by repeat offenders; requiring convicted drunk drivers to install ignition interlocks on their vehicles would prevent them from driving after consuming any measurable amount of alcohol and would cut down on repeat offenses.</li>
<li>Conducting <a href="https://one.nhtsa.gov/Driving-Safety/Enforcement-&-Justice-Services/HVE">high-visibility enforcement operations</a>, such as sobriety checkpoints or saturation patrols. These operations place highly visible and proactive law enforcement officers in locations at peak times when there’s a high likelihood that they’ll see impaired drivers (weekend nights, in or near entertainment districts, etc.).</li>
<li>Other safety recommendations included in the our 2013 <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Documents/SR1301.pdf">Reaching Zero: Actions to Eliminate Alcohol-Impaired Driving</a></li>
</ul>
Like many large problems, though, a comprehensive solution is needed to make real change. When it comes to impaired driving, a massive culture shift is required. We need to adjust our ideas about driving after drinking and take that option off the table, because when we say impaired driving crashes are 100% preventable, it really is that simple. Choose to drink or choose to drive. But never do both.
<img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="3945" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2017/12/20/national-impaired-driving-prevention-month/web/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2017/12/drinkordrive-holiday.jpg" data-orig-size="4501,4505" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"Web","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Web" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2017/12/drinkordrive-holiday.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2017/12/drinkordrive-holiday.jpg?w=474" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-3945" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2017/12/drinkordrive-holiday.jpg" alt="Web" width="4501" height="4505" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2017/12/drinkordrive-holiday.jpg 4501w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2017/12/drinkordrive-holiday.jpg?w=150&h=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2017/12/drinkordrive-holiday.jpg?w=300&h=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2017/12/drinkordrive-holiday.jpg?w=768&h=769 768w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2017/12/drinkordrive-holiday.jpg?w=1024&h=1024 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 4501px) 100vw, 4501px" />
This holiday season, as you enjoy coming together with your loved ones, please take a moment to consider those dealing with the pain of an empty seat at their table because of an impaired driver. If your plans include alcohol, make the choice to let someone else do the driving. Keep yourself, your loved ones, and your fellow travelers safe to celebrate again next year and for many years to come.
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<title>Ensuring the Safety of School Bus Transportation</title>
<link>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2019/12/16/ensuring-the-safety-of-school-bus-transportation/</link>
<comments>https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2019/12/16/ensuring-the-safety-of-school-bus-transportation/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[ntsbgov]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Dec 2019 15:45:24 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[By Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg Fact: Students are safer riding to and from school and school activities on a school bus than in the family car, and far safer than they would be riding in a car with a teenage driver. There should be no doubt that everything possible is being done to keep children … <a href="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2019/12/16/ensuring-the-safety-of-school-bus-transportation/" class="more-link">Continue reading Ensuring the Safety of School Bus Transportation →</a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[By Vice Chairman <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches/BLandsberg/Pages/bio_landsberg.aspx">Bruce Landsberg</a>
Fact: Students are safer riding to and from school and school activities on a school bus than in the family car, and far safer than they would be riding in a car with a teenage driver. There should be no doubt that everything possible is being done to keep children safe on school buses. On commercial aircraft, a flight attendant’s primary responsibility is safety and so it is with school bus drivers, whether at the wheel or leading an evacuation.
But emotional response to tragedies like the one described below, may influence some parents to believe that it’s safer for them— or, worse yet, their teenage drivers — to drive their children to school.
NTSB recently completed an investigation of the December 12, 2017, <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/har1901.aspx">school bus fire</a> in Oakland, Iowa, that took the life of the driver and one student passenger. The driver entered a private driveway to pick up his first passenger of the morning. As he did routinely, he backed across the gravel road behind the driveway but on this day the rear wheels dropped into a ditch and the bus became stuck, its exhaust pipe wedged into an embankment. As the driver attempted to free the bus, the turbocharger overheated and a fire began in the engine compartment, engulfing the bus several minutes later.
<figure data-shortcode="caption" id="attachment_4547" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4547" style="width: 498px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="4547" data-permalink="https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/2019/12/16/ensuring-the-safety-of-school-bus-transportation/har1901/" data-orig-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/har1901.jpg" data-orig-size="1108,683" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="HAR1901" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/har1901.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/har1901.jpg?w=474" class="alignnone wp-image-4547" src="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/har1901.jpg?w=1024" alt="HAR1901" width="498" height="307" srcset="https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/har1901.jpg?w=498 498w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/har1901.jpg?w=996 996w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/har1901.jpg?w=150 150w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/har1901.jpg?w=300 300w, https://safetycompass.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/har1901.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 498px) 100vw, 498px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4547" class="wp-caption-text">School bus at final rest in ditch (Source: Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office)</figcaption></figure>
None of the doors were blocked so the driver and his single passenger had ample time to exit. It appears that the student was attempting to help the driver escape and they were both overcome with smoke. Sadly, this driver had mobility challenges although he held a valid medical certificate. He used a cane or a walker and was scheduled for surgery two days after the accident.
The Iowa Administrative Code specifies that drivers must be physically able to help ill or injured passengers off the bus. Additionally, an employer can (and should) evaluate a driver’s ability to assist in an evacuation. This driver, simply, was unfit and could not perform the emergency duties required of him. What’s more, the school district knew the driver was unfit for duty, but he was allowed to continue driving. The transportation supervisor, the school principal, and his coworkers all knew of his physical impairment. The Riverside Community School District had the knowledge it needed to act, yet it did not. In fact, in recent years, it had gone so far as to do away with physical performance tests for drivers.
As a result of this crash, <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/har1901.aspx">NTSB issued and reiterated recommendations</a> which, if acted upon, will result in landmark changes to school bus safety. All new and in‑service school buses should be equipped or retrofitted with fire-suppression systems. Fire-resistant material should separate bus occupants from the engine to ensure that no hazardous gas or flame can pass from the engine compartment, and revise existing standards flammability of interior materials. More robust physical performance testing and maintaining complete records will help to ensure school bus drivers are fit for duty.
The state of Iowa was encouraged to establish a driver safety hotline so anyone could report drivers that may be unfit for the job. Finally, we recommended that every bus driver receive at least annual training on emergency procedures, including evacuation and use of the onboard 911 button. They should demonstrate the ability to operate all exits and assist students off the bus. Likewise, all student riders should be trained on emergency procedures and evacuation – regularly.
We <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=H-15-012">reiterated a recommendation</a> to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to adopt new federal fire safety standards for flammability of interior materials that reflect nearly a half-century of progress. It’s well past time for them to act. Fortunately, school bus manufacturers have adopted flammability resistance test procedures that are more stringent than the federal standards; however, stronger federal standards are important to setting a consistent high bar for school bus fire safety. Get it done!
Students are <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksw67zFnuAE&feature=youtu.be">safest when riding the bus</a>, not the family car. Drivers must be medically and physically fit. Buses should be equipped with critical life-saving technology. School districts should review their policies and ensure compliance of equipment, safety training and driver fitness – NO exceptions. Parents should be asking school districts if they comply. Our children deserve that!
The full investigation report for the Oakland, Iowa, school bus fire is available <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/har1901.aspx">here</a>.
For more information on NTSB school bus investigations and safety recommendations visit <a href="http://www.ntsb.gov/schoolbuses">www.ntsb.gov/schoolbuses</a>.
 
 
 
 
 
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