Pete Buttigieg Secretary of Transportation | Facebook Website
WASHINGTON – Led by Secretary Buttigieg, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) continues to prioritize safety and demonstrate the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to delivering results for the American people. Significant progress has been made over the last three years on safety rules and consumer protections that will protect travelers, transportation workers, and communities across all modes of transportation. This follows an eighth consecutive quarter of declines in roadway fatalities reported by NHTSA.
To highlight these efforts, DOT is sharing notable final rules and announcements aimed at improving transportation safety and protecting consumers.
**Final Rules to Improve Safety:**
From air travel to railways to roadway safety, DOT initiated rulemakings starting in 2021, resulting in several key regulations:
- A final rule requiring railroads to provide emergency personnel with real-time information about hazardous material shipments during incidents.
- Two final rules mandating certification and training for train dispatchers and signal employees.
- A rule establishing minimum safety requirements for train crew sizes.
- A regulation requiring emergency escape breathing apparatuses for train crew members exposed to inhalation hazards.
- A new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard making automatic emergency braking (AEB) standard on all passenger cars and light trucks.
- An update to FTA’s Public Transit Agency Safety Plans regulation.
- A requirement for charter airlines, commuter airlines, air tour operators, and aircraft manufacturers to develop a Safety Management System (SMS).
- Updated regulations surrounding the transportation of hazardous materials.
**Consumer Wins:**
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, DOT has expanded airline passenger rights, issued significant fines against airlines for failing consumers, and returned substantial amounts of money in refunds and reimbursements:
- A final rule requiring airlines to provide automatic cash refunds when owed.
- Regulations protecting consumers from surprise airline fees.
- The launch of flightrights.gov dashboard leading major U.S. airlines to guarantee free rebooking and meals during significant delays or cancellations caused by airline issues.
- Returning nearly $4 billion in refunds including over $600 million related to Southwest Airlines' holiday meltdown in 2022.
- Issuing over $168 million in penalties against airlines for consumer protection violations since 2020.
- Partnering with state attorneys general to fast-track consumer complaint reviews.
- Achieving a record low flight cancellation rate under 1.2% in 2023 despite high air travel volumes.
- Launching an industry-wide review of airline privacy practices.
- Collaborating with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on a public hearing regarding airline loyalty programs.
The DOT's ongoing efforts underscore its dedication to enhancing transportation safety standards while ensuring robust consumer protections.
