Safety recommendations : the engine that drivers change.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) considers that the recommendations it makes to prevent accidents and to improve the safety of the United States transportation system are its most important aim. In its 25 year history, the NTSB has made almost 9,000 safety recommendations covering necessary improvements in all the modes of transportation to more than 1,250 recipients. These recommendations are made to anyone the NTSB believes can make the change that is necessary to improve safety. Recommendations have been directed to federal, state and local government agencies, private transportation companies, labour unions, trade associations and others. Overall, more than 80 percent of the NTSB's safety recommendations have been accepted by the recipients and the changes called for have been implemented. This has had a positive impact on the safety of the U.S. transportation system. The basic foundation and most important reason for this achievement is the NTSB's independence. This paper describes: (1) the NTSB's safety recommendation programme; (2) how it achieves improved safety; and (3) its important elements, such as the most necessary safety recommendation program and the safety recommendation information system.