Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008

E12215

The Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 is a U.S. federal law that significantly overhauled rail safety regulations, including mandating positive train control systems and strengthening oversight to reduce accidents and improve railroad safety.


Statements (45)
Predicate Object
instanceOf United States federal law
rail safety legislation
aimsTo prevent train collisions
prevent train derailments
protect communities near rail lines
protect rail passengers
protect railroad workers
appliesTo commuter railroads
freight railroads
passenger railroads
areaOfLaw public safety law
transportation law
codifiedIn Title 49 of the United States Code
country United States
establishes new reporting requirements for rail safety incidents
penalties for noncompliance with rail safety rules
focusesOn systemic improvement of rail safety management
technology-based safety systems for railroads
implements federal policy on rail safety modernization
includes provisions on grade crossing safety
provisions on hours of service for railroad employees
provisions on rail safety technology deployment
provisions on railroad worker fatigue management
provisions on track inspection standards
jurisdiction United States federal government
legislativeBody United States Congress
mandates development of railroad safety risk reduction programs
railroad safety training improvements
mandatesImplementationOf positive train control
presidentAtSigning George W. Bush
purpose improve railroad safety in the United States
modernize rail safety regulations
reduce railroad accidents
regulates railroad safety
regulatorStrengthened Federal Railroad Administration
relatedTo Federal Railroad Administration safety regulations
Positive Train Control
requires implementation of positive train control on certain rail lines
installation of positive train control on lines carrying passengers
installation of positive train control on lines carrying toxic-by-inhalation hazardous materials
sector rail transportation
signedBy George W. Bush
strengthens federal oversight of railroad safety
typeOfRegulation transportation safety regulation
yearEnacted 2008


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