Sources of Transportation Accident Information

Abstract

Accident investigation reports and related documents provide a wealth of information for rail professionals, even across different modes of transportation. This information can be used to improve operations, maintenance, safety, training, and emergency response. It can also guide the procurement and design of new equipment and infrastructure. At the same time, the historical nature of the information as well as the volume available and variety of sources can be a barrier to effective use. This paper will provide an introduction to some of the sources of transportation accident data and reports, including the variety of topic-specific information and special reports that are available. The discussion will include less-considered sources of accident information including foreign transportation safety boards as well as specialized federal and state agencies. Accidents that were investigated and reported on by more than one organization are also discussed.