§20148 Railroad Car Visibility

Summary

The Secretary of Transportation must review the Department’s rules about how easy it is to see rail cars. As part of the review, the Secretary must gather data from railroads that already use improved visibility features in actual service. If the review shows better visibility would likely make rail travel safer at a reasonable cost, the Secretary must start making rules that require improved visibility on new and rebuilt rail cars. In making rules, the Secretary must consider at least: how cars look to drivers and pedestrians, paint colors, reflective materials, lettering visibility, effects on train crew health and safety, and the cost versus benefit. The Secretary can exempt particular types of trains or operations from a requirement if doing so serves the public interest and still keeps trains safe.