One independent body to investigate rail, sea and air accidents

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. It creates the Independent Administrative Authority for the Technical Investigation of Rail, Maritime and Civil Aviation Accidents and Incidents. It replaces the three commissions that until now investigated each mode of transport separately.
2. The technical investigation aims to establish the causes of an accident and propose measures to prevent it from happening again. It does not seek to determine liability or blame.
3. The Authority investigates serious rail accidents, very serious maritime accidents, and serious civil aviation accidents and incidents. It may also investigate other events if lessons for improving safety can be drawn from them.
4. The final report must be published within a maximum of 12 months from the accident, extendable in 6-month periods. Its safety recommendations are not binding, but recipients must comply with them or explain why they do not.
5. Victims, their relatives and victims' associations will receive information about the accident and the progress of the investigation, even before that information is made public.
6. Reserved investigation information can only be handed over to courts, the Public Prosecutor's Office or parliamentary committees of inquiry, among other limited cases. Anyone who discloses it faces legal liability.
7. The Authority's Council consists of a President and six board members, two experts per mode of transport. They are appointed by royal decree and the relevant committee of the Congress of Deputies can veto the candidates. Terms last six years with no reappointment.
8. The Authority is funded with a percentage of several transport safety fees, with allocations from the State Budget and with its own assets. Until it is set up, the current commissions will keep working.

Who it affects

• Victims of transport accidents and their relatives: They have the right to clear information about the accident and the progress of the investigation, and will have a family assistance unit.
• Rail, maritime and air transport companies: They must report accidents immediately, cooperate with investigators, and follow safety recommendations or justify why they do not.
• Witnesses and people involved in an accident: Their statements to the Authority are confidential and cannot be used to blame them; they will be informed of their guarantees.
• Air and ship passengers and rail users: They help fund the Authority through small charges within the aviation safety, navigation aid and rail safety fees.
• Judges and prosecutors: They must coordinate with the Authority so technical and judicial investigations do not interfere with each other, and must notify requests for reserved information in advance.

Words worth knowing

Autoridad Administrativa Independiente (Independent Administrative Authority)

A public body with its own legal personality that acts independently from the Government, though subject to parliamentary and judicial oversight.

Cultura justa (just culture)

A principle under which frontline staff are not punished for actions consistent with their experience and training, but gross negligence, intentional violations and destructive acts are not tolerated.

Recomendaciones de seguridad (safety recommendations)

Suggestions the Authority makes after an investigation to prevent future accidents. They are not legally binding, but must be followed or the reasons for not doing so explained.

Deber de reserva (duty of confidentiality)

The obligation not to disclose certain sensitive information obtained during the investigation, such as witness statements or health data.

Red Ferroviaria de Interés General (Railway Network of General Interest)

The set of state-owned rail lines that connect Spanish territory.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries