NTSB Releases 2021-22 'Most Wanted' Safety List

The National Transportation Safety Board finalized its 2021 – 2022 Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements during a board meeting.

The five-member board voted to include 10 items in the 2021-2022 Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements:

1. Require and Verify the Effectiveness of Safety Management Systems in All Revenue Passenger Carrying Aviation Operations.
2. Prevent Alcohol and other Drug Impaired Driving.
3. Require Collision Avoidance and Connected Vehicle Technologies on All Vehicles.
4. Eliminate Distracted Driving.
5. Implement a Comprehensive Strategy to Eliminate Speeding-Related Crashes.
6. Install Crash Resistant Recorders and Establish Flight Data Monitoring Programs.
7. Protect Vulnerable Road Users through a Safe System Approach.
8. Improve Pipeline Leak Detection and Mitigation.
9. Improve Rail Worker Safety (page/content under development).
10. Improve Passenger and Fishing Vessel Safety (page/content under development).

Since 1990 the NTSB has used its Most Wanted List as the principal advocacy tool to build support for the implementation of NTSB-issued safety recommendations associated with the list.

“Board members of the NTSB and our advocacy team continuously seek opportunities to communicate about items on our Most Wanted List,” said NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt. “As we begin advocacy efforts for the 2021 – 2022 MWL, we call upon our advocacy partners to amplify our safety messages and help us bring about the safety improvements that will make transportation safer for us all.”

Missing from this year’s list is the Positive Train Control mandate (PTC), which was removed after the successful implementation by rail providers at the end of 2020.

“Industry-wide implementation of PTC has been a massive undertaking, achieved only through dedication and innovation by commuter rail operators along with PTC equipment providers, consultants, and the Federal Railroad Administration,” said APTA President/CEO Paul P. Skoutelas in a statement. “Technological systems needed to be developed, customized, and installed to meet the unique operating requirements of each and every rail operator while ensuring that the PTC system was interoperable with other passenger and freight operators that share the tracks with commuter rail operators. Riding commuter rail is 18 times safer than driving an auto, and the commuter railroad’s monumental achievement of PTC certification will make commuter rail service even safer.”

The 2021 – 2022 MWL draws attention to more than 100 safety recommendations associated with the 10 items on the list. These recommendations, if implemented, can save lives, reduce the number and severity of injuries, and prevent transportation accidents and crashes, according to the NTSB. The 2021-2022 MWL features 10 mode-specific safety improvements, unlike previous lists that featured 10 broad, multimodal safety issues tied to hundreds of recommendations.