NTSB Unveils Revises Safety List

The National Transportation Safety Board today revealed its revised Most Wanted safety recommendations list. The new list is a result of the overhaul of the Most Wanted program that was requested by the Board in May. As a result of the review, the Board decided to consider Most Wanted issues in separate meetings in order to maximize effectiveness of the list as a safety tool. The meeting today considered recommendations to federal agencies including the Department of Transportation (DOT), DOT modal administrations and the US Coast Guard. Recommendations to states and industry will be reviewed in a separate meeting next fall. Additionally, issues were assigned a red, yellow or green classification to indicate action and timeliness of progress. Red indicates a classification of "unacceptable response;" yellow denotes "acceptable response, but progressing slowly;" and green marks recommendations with an acceptable response and timely progress. "The Most Wanted List includes safety issues that we believe will make the greatest impact on transportation safety," said Chairman Engleman, "The Board will use this revised safety tool to aggressively pursue safety and achieve safety results." Under the leadership of the Board, NTSB staff joined with federal agencies to create teams called SWAT (Safety With A Team) to address all of the open recommendations. Under the SWAT approach instrumental members of the Safety Board and the appropriate federal agency work in cooperation to implement needed safety improvements. Since March 2003 teams have discussed implementation or compliance with 94 recommendations, and progress continues. As a result of the new focus the Board has closed 111 recommendations since April 1, 2003. "Issuing recommendations is not enough," said Chairman Engleman," "Implementation is the key and the Board will work with its partners in safety to clear languishing recommendations."