NTSB releases most wanted transportation safety improvement list

The National Transportation Safety Board wants anyone in South Carolina or elsewhere in the United States sharing the road with drivers to be as safe as possible. This is why the agency has released its biannual Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements. The NTSB has no regulatory power although the independent agency’s suggestions are often influential.

For starters, the NTSB wants to eliminate distracted driving, a common cause of truck and auto accidents in recent years, by urging states to prohibit the use of all portable electronic devices by drivers other than navigation devices. Additionally, the use of technology that can disable phones while vehicles are in motion is recommended by the NTSB. The agency is also asking for access to positive drug and alcohol test results as well as refusal determinations as part of efforts to tackle driver impairment.

Speed limitations for trucks and buses and devices that limit speed in such vehicles is another NTSB request as is automated speed enforcement nationwide. The agency wants to see collision avoidance systems in all highway vehicles. When it comes to reducing fatigue-related crashes, the government group is suggesting the implementation of a program to identify commercial drivers with a higher risk for obstructive sleep apnea. Mandatory screening and treatment for certain rail and highway personnel, forward collision avoidance technology, and automated emergency braking systems installed by all vehicle manufacturers are additional NTSB suggestions.

When a car accident involves personal injuries and possible negligence, an attorney is likely to be consulted. Proving that irresponsible actions were taken by another driver sometimes requires a review of cellphone records to find evidence of device use, witness statements and speed estimates provided by investigators. If negligence can be proven, injured parties may be entitled to fair compensation for medical costs and related expenses.