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On Aug. 19, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued its list of "Most Wanted" safety recommendations for 2003, which includes positive train-control systems.
Since introducing the list in 1990, NTSB updates it annually and tracks recommendations.

The list reviews progress on key problem areas, such as airport runway incursions/ground collisions, fatigue/hours of work policy, automatic recording devices and marine post-accident alcohol/drug testing. The list also recommends improvements to commercial drivers' medical certification process to ensure medically unfit drivers aren't allowed behind the wheel of a truck and implementation of positive train control as regulated by Federal Railroad Administration.

NTSB recently conducted a 30-day review to determine ways the board could get recommendations accepted.

"Issuing safety recommendations alone is not sufficient. Implementation of the recommendations is what will make a real difference," said NTSB Chairman Ellen Engleman in a prepared statement.

The board plans soon to schedule "Most Wanted" meetings to better coincide with congressional and state legislative sessions, closely monitor the timeliness of responses to recommendations, and develop intra-agency advocacy teams and detailed work/event plans.