Bill C-49 Passed Into Law - Allows the Videotaping of Locomotive Crews

Bill C-49 will help rail accident investigators

When a tragic rail accident happens, it is critical for investigators to be able to gather all the facts.  Then they determine what preventable actions can be taken in the future to prevent a reoccurence.

Remember the tragic accident of VIA Rail in Burlington 2012 where three engineers train were killed. An advanced signal was missed by the three engineers and  the train was travelling more than four times the authorized speed. Video evidence from the cab would have helped investigators determine just exactly how this happened.

Now Bill C-49 has been passed into Canadian law. Bill C-49 is an Act to amend the Canada Transportation Act and other Acts respecting transportation and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts. The regulations to suport the act will follow.

Relating to the ability to allow videotaping of the train crew, the act amends the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act to allow the use or communication of an on-board recording, as defined in subsection 28(1) of that Act, if that use or communication is expressly authorized under the Aeronautics Act, the National Energy Board Act, the Railway Safety Act or the Canada Shipping Act, 2001.

Here is a link to the actual BILL-C49.