FRA to reduce rail accidents linked to human error

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) plans to issue regulations addressing human errors that cause train accidents. The FRA is speeding up development of a rule that will focus on reducing the most comman human errors such as improperly lined track switches, shoving or pushing rail cars without properly monitoring for safe conditions, and leaving rail cars in a position that obstruct an adjacent track. The proposed regulations will be published by September 2006. Human factors are the leading cause of train accidents, accounting for 38% of the total, said FRA Administrator Joseph H. Boardman.