U.S. Sens. Jack Reed and Susan Collins are urging the country’s Transportation Secretary to ensure that technology designed to prevent train crashes is in place on the nation's rails.

The Rhode Island Democrat and Maine Republican pointed to a series of recent deadly accidents to call for the swift implementation of positive train control.

The technology uses sensors and GPS to prevent trains from colliding or derailing.

Congress mandated the use of positive train control in 2008, but its implementation has been delayed. Rail companies have until the end of this year to put it in place.