DOT Seeks Rail Safety Improvements

The Department of Transportation said it is seeking to reduce common mistakes that result in nearly half of all human factor-caused train accidents.

Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said that this is the aim of a new federal regulation that places greater accountability on both railroad management and employees for complying with basic operating rules.

She said relatively simple errors such as improperly lined track switches, shoving rail cars without a person in front to monitor for clear track ahead, and leaving rail cars in a position that obstruct or foul an active track may now result in a violation of federal rail safety rules.

Such mistakes are currently subject only to internal railroad standard operating procedures and addressed through employee disciplinary procedures or other corrective actions.