Making Our Roads Safer: The Sandy Johnson Foundation

Making Our Roads Safer: The Sandy Johnson Foundation In the highway safety community, we often make reference to the three pillars of our work: safe roads, safe drivers, and safe vehicles. Dean Johnson s Highway Safety Initiative is a remarkable contribution to this landscape, precisely because he explicitly links diverse disciplines into a cohesive, actionable program. The highway safety community has made a commitment to Zero: that is, Zero deaths and life-altering injuries on the nation s roads. To achieve it, we need innovative, cross-cutting approaches. I am confident that the Sandy Johnson Foundation s Highway Safety Initiative will offer seasoned transportation professionals and brand-new drivers alike a refreshing perspective on this issue, and will be integral to eliminating preventable carnage on our roads. Bruce Hamilton Director of Safety & Research Programs, Roadway Safety Foundation

FLASHBACK December 2009 CEAO Winter Conference Presents Driver Conditioning: The Unexpected Killer

You nailed it! This is what s been missing! David P. Brand P.E., P.S.

Cause of Crashes Driver Error Driver Error Driver Error Driver Error Driver Error Personal Responsibility Driver Error Driver Error Driver Error Driver Error Driver Error

Cause of Crashes COULD THERE BE A MORE SUBTLE UNDERLYING CAUSE?

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER!

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER! Why do similar accidents seem to occur at some highway locations time-after-time, while similarly designed locations experience no accidents at all?

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER! Why do similar accidents seem to occur at some highway locations time, after time, after time, while similarly designed locations experience no accidents at all? From the standpoint of saving both time and money, what is the most efficient way to determine the cause of crashes at high-accident sites, without compromising accuracy in the analysis process? How can crashes be stopped quickly and efficiently at a site that experiences a disproportionately high number of crashes?

Overview Foundation History Introduction to Driver Conditioning Influence of Driver Conditioning on Human Behavior What Action can Highway Officials Take to Counteract Driver Conditioning SJF Highway Safety Initiative Examples Questions

Foundation History Dual Fatality February 27, 1956 October 5, 2002 S.R 310 & C.R. 25 in Licking County, OH

Determining the Why? Drove to Location of Crash Interviewed Law Enforcement

Determining the Why? Drove to Location of Crash Interviewed Law Enforcement and EMTs Columbus Dispatch Investigation Six Studies Over 13 Year Period One Major Highway Modification Intersection Became More Deadly Eighth Most Dangerous in State

Determining the Why? Drove to Location of Crash Interviewed Law Enforcement and EMTs Columbus Dispatch Investigation Reviewed ODOT Site Studies No Cause Identified

Determining the Why? Drove to Location of Crash Interviewed Law Enforcement and EMTs Columbus Dispatch Investigation Reviewed ODOT Site Studies Studied Accident Reports

Determining the Why? Drove to Location of Crash Interviewed Law Enforcement and EMTs Columbus Dispatch Investigation Reviewed ODOT Site Studies Studied Accident Reports Interviewed At-Fault Drivers & Other Crash Victims

Conditioning Conditioning had greater influence over driver behavior than did the traffic control devices.

DRIVER CONDITIONING Driver Conditioning is the process through which drivers become conditioned to respond to traffic patterns and road conditions that remain consistent over an undefined period of time or distance.

Defined Driver Conditioning is the process through which drivers become conditioned to respond to traffic patterns and road conditions that remain consistent over an undefined period of time or distance.

How Does Driver Conditioning Influence Human Behavior? Two Mental Processes 1. Mental Compromise 2. Cognitive Disengagement Two Secondary Effects 1. Inattentional Blindness 2. Tunnel Vision

How Does Driver Conditioning Influence Human Behavior Intentional Purposefully shift attention away from act of driving Mental Compromise When we share our driving experience with other things! Unintentional Involuntary attention-shift away from act of driving

How Does Driver Conditioning Influence Human Behavior Cognitive Disengagement Not Consciously Aware of Surroundings Experienced when: Driving in Familiar Areas Not Being Challenged

Effects of Driver-Conditioning Reduced attention to driving environment Mental Compromise & Cognitive Disengagement Creates inability to immediately recognize hazards Causes delayed response time to hazard Negatively impact visual expectations Miss changes in traffic patterns Don t see warning signs Overlook changes in road conditions Fail to detect visibly observable changes

In 2014, 3,179 people were killed, and 431,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers Distraction.gov Driver Conditioning Mental Compromise Cognitive Disengagement Intentional Personal Bad Habits Developed Unintentional Driving + = Distracted Driving Occurs Here!

Two Secondary Side Effects of Driver Conditioning Inattentional Blindness & Tunnel Vision (non-medical)

Two Secondary Side Effects of Driver Conditioning Inattentional Blindness Occurs Frequently Causes us to Look Past Objects in Full View Defined: an event in which an individual fails to recognize an unexpected stimulus that is in plain sight.

Two Secondary Side Effects of Driver Conditioning Inattentional Blindness & Tunnel Vision (non-medical) Occurs Frequently Causes us to Look Past Objects in Full View Defined: an event in which an individual fails to recognize an unexpected stimulus that is in plain sight. Occurs Infrequently Causes a Loss of Vision Outside a Small Area of Focus Defined: the loss of peripheral vision with retention of central vision.

Tunnel Vision (Non-Medical) Traffic Light Oncoming Traffic Intersection LED Stop Sign Oncoming Traffic ALL UNSEEN

Summary of Effects Driver Conditioning Mental Compromise Intentional Unintentional Cognitive Disengagement Inattentional Blindness Tunnel Vision

What Action can Highway Officials Take to Counteract Driver Conditioning? You can not change a driver s behavior without influencing the driving environment! You must change it in a way that gets the driver s attention!

What Action can Highway Officials Take to Counteract Driver Conditioning? If you understand the Why? You know why mistakes are being made? Then you can identify a solution Take action to influence accident-prone behavior!

How to Discover the Why? Current Methods Proposed Method Traffic Accident Report Interview at-fault drivers Cause of specific crash Ask Why did you? Were laws broken Determine the Why? Traffic Engineering Report In-depth site-specific review Cause of multiple crashes Modify Questions on Accident Report!

Coffee and Donuts Pizza and Beverage Ask them to modify the questions when interviewing at-fault drivers!

The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but. Driver Action Intentionally broke the law Had wrong expectation Driver Response Will lie to hide fault Will tell truth to justify action

Discovering Why? Current Methods Proposed Method Traffic Accident Report Interview at-fault drivers Cause of specific crash Ask Why did you? Were laws broken Determine the Why? Traffic Engineering Report In-depth site-specific review Cause of multiple crashes Drive routes on approach to site Look for inconsistencies

After You Understand the WHY? Develop Aggressive Action Plan Notification GET DRIVER S ATTENTION 1. Use of Rumble Strips 2. LED of other Visual Stimuli Education TELL DRIVER WHAT YOU WANT THEM TO KNOW 1. Traditional Signs 2. Non-Traditional Signs

CRASH EXAMPLES The Effects of Driver Conditioning

Driver-Conditioning Traffic Pattern Example Early morning Driver not challenged Stopped focusing on driving Followed diamond design on highway Associated Press/Gene Blythe http://img.coxnewsweb.com/c/00/43/97/image_5597430.jpg

Driver-Conditioning Changing Road Conditions California SR 57 Late 1980 s, design modification Accident rate increased 1991 Study driver error 1993 Study driver error Recognized in 1995 http://hurricanetrack.com/jpegs/us17flood.jpg

Nearly All Crashes can be prevented if our process of identifying a cause, and our correction initiative, were implemented. In the summer of last year I spoke with an Ohio engineer who had been in attendance during the 2009 winter CEAO conference. At conclusion of that seminar a request was made to evaluate two accident locations in order to help determine a cause so that a solution could be developed.

Non-Traditional Signs

SJF Highway Safety Initiative Presented to:

natural beauty

upscale living

natural beauty

Recognized change.

Unseen Crossroad

Recognizing Cause = Solution Cause Inattentional Blindness Solution Rumble strips and Signs

Simple Solutions to Complex Problems Identify Cause Have Law Enforcement ask Why did you? Drive the route Look for changing traffic patterns or road conditionings

Notification Get driver s attention LED or Strobe-Type Lights Rumble Strips Simple Solutions to Complex Problems Notification and Education Education Alert driver to potential problem Site Specific Signs

Bottom Line Driver-Conditioning is THE UNDERLYING CAUSE Driver-Conditioning Reduced Focus Miss Changes Make a mistake Crash + High Speed Reduced Focus on Environment Miss Subtle Changes Subject to Error Possibly cause Crash Death/Serious Injury

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER! Why do similar accidents seem to occur at some highway locations time-after-time, while similarly designed locations experience no accidents at all? ANSWER: Since Driver Conditioning is the primary influence over driver behavior, locations that are inconsistent with their surrounding roadways will typically experience a higher crash rate.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER! From the standpoint of saving both time and money, what is the most efficient way to determine the cause of crashes at high-accident sites, without compromising accuracy in the analysis process? ANSWER: Coordinate with law enforcement to expand the questioning of at-fault drivers to include the question: Why did you? In addition, drive the route other at-fault drivers take in order to identify inconsistencies.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER! How can crashes be stopped quickly and efficiently at a site that experiences a disproportionately high number of crashes? ANSWER: After determining the underlying cause of driver error, initiate an effective Notification device to bring a driver s attention back to the driving experience and implement a satisfactory Educational message (sign) in order concisely express what you want the driver to know.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER! Is it possible to recognize a potential high-accident location before the first incident takes place? ANSWER: Absolutely! Drive to the area in question from all directions. Look for consistency in traffic pattern and road conditions on the approach. Does the site under study maintain that consistency, or is there change? If there is a change, an effective Notification and Education program can be put in place in order to avoid potential driver error.

Recognize Driver-Conditioning Identify cause more easily Create solution more quickly Implement low-cost remedy more efficiently Reduce time! Preserve financial resources! Save lives!

The Sandy Johnson Foundation: Making Our Roads Safer 7500 Placid Avenue, Worthington, OH 43085 (O) 614-848-5100 (M) 614-203-7272 E-mail: djohnson@sandyjohnsonfoundation.org The Sandy Johnson Foundation Highway Safety Initiative Copyright 2009 Dean T. Johnson All rights reserved.

Making Our Roads Safer: The Sandy Johnson Foundation Once a problem has been identified, it should be corrected as soon as possible. Even where long-term solutions are being planned, a short-term improvement that will effectively reduce accidents should be considered. Accident Surveillance System - Caltrans Highway Safety Improvement Program - Dec. 1998

Available for Seminars and Site Evaluations. also Courses available which include an Extensive Review of the Sandy Johnson Foundation Highway Safety Initiative and Sight Evaluation with Review. Includes up to twelve FREE copies of Danger on the Highway for attendees. Email: djohnson@sandyjohnsonfoundation.org

On-line Course Supplemental Driver s Education Program The Hidden Dangers of Driving www.hiddendangersofdriving.info BOOKS AVAILABLE through AMAZON.COM Danger on the Highway Highway Safety Initiative Driver Conditioning: The Unexpected Killer Workbook Alternative to, or reference material for, The Hidden Dangers of Driving

What if you could develop, initiate, and complete a plan of action to correct a deficiency within a matter of days after a crash?

What if you could develop, initiate and complete a plan of action to correct a deficiency within a matter of days after a crash? you could accurately determine the cause of a specific crash within hours of its occurrence?

What if you could develop, initiate and complete a plan of action to correct a deficiency within a matter of days? you could accurately determine the cause of a specific crash within hours of its occurrence? you could identify the cause of a crash before it even takes place? you could predict a crash?

What if you could develop and initiate a plan of action to correct a deficiency within a matter of days? you could accurately determine the cause of a specific crash within hours of its occurrence? you could identify the cause of a crash before it even takes place? you could predict a crash?