Road safety and road user behaviour Focusing on human factors to improve road safety May 14th 2012, Malaysia

Overview Introduction Theoretical Framework Lessons learned Conclusions Dr. Maura HoutenbosRoad safety and road user behaviour2

Introduction Objective Context –Enforcement –Motorbikes (& helmet use) –Alcohol –Speed Dr. Maura HoutenbosRoad safety and road user behaviour3

Theoretical Framework Sustainable Safety & Human Factors Dr. Maura HoutenbosRoad safety and road user behaviour4

Theoretical Framework Crash causes Dr. Maura HoutenbosRoad safety and road user behaviour5 Human: % Vehicle: 4-25% Infrastructure: 12-46%

Proactive system approach (after Reason, 1990) Dr. Maura HoutenbosRoad safety and road user behaviour6 System design Quality control Psychological precursors for unsafe actions Actions during traffic participation Defence mechanisms Latent errors CRASH Unsafe actions

Dr. Maura HoutenbosRoad safety and road user behaviour7 Reasons for unsafe actions and conformity BehaviourCause of violationCause of conformity Intentional Perceived costs < benefits Feeling of comfort Incredible rules Indifferent environment Normative viewpoint Perceived costs > benefits Fear of punishment Unintentional Imitating incorrect behaviour of others Incorrect habits System invites correct behaviour Road layout Vehicle Behaviour of others Road layout and vehicle provoke incorrect behaviour Error Source: SWOV Fact sheet Penalties in traffic

Dr. Maura HoutenbosRoad safety and road user behaviour8 Task capability model (Fuller, 2005; Vlakveld 2001) Calibration Competenties (C) Competences Education Experience Personal characteristics Attitudes Insight Skills Task capability Task demands Road Other road users Vehicle (Weather) situation Task capability Physical conditions Illness Fatigue Psychoactive substances Distraction Psychological conditions Stress

Lessons Learned: Enforcement & penalties Issue: Human behaviour largest cause of crashes "Solution": Enforcement & penalties N.B: Proactive approach Dr. Maura HoutenbosRoad safety and road user behaviour9 Source: SWOV Fact sheet Penalties in traffic

Dr. Maura HoutenbosRoad safety and road user behaviour10 Mechanism of police enforcement Source: Wegman, F. & Aarts, L. (red.) (2006). Advancing Sustainable Safety; National Road Safety Outlook for SWOV, Leidschendam (Figure 8.1 ).

Dr. Maura HoutenbosRoad safety and road user behaviour11 Lessons Learned: Speeding Issue: Speeding "Solution": Reduce speed limit N.B: Credibility Source: SWOV Fact sheet Speed cameras: how they work and what effect they have

Dr. Maura HoutenbosRoad safety and road user behaviour12 Poll

Dr. Maura HoutenbosRoad safety and road user behaviour13 Safe and credible speed management 1.Safe speeds and safe speed limits 2.Credible speed limits 3.Informing drivers 4.Enforcement 5.Dynamic speed limits & ISA Both 50 kph. Both safe? Both credible? Source: SWOV Fact sheet Towards credible speed limits & Measures for speed management

Dr. Maura HoutenbosRoad safety and road user behaviour14 Predictable roads and traffic behaviour as basis for safe traffic Preventing errors by: –Recognizable situations: consistency in road design –Predictable road course: continuity in road design Anticipated result: –More routine traffic behaviour: fewer errors –More predictable behaviour of other road users Through road Distributor road Access road

Dr. Maura HoutenbosRoad safety and road user behaviour15 Credibility features Accelerators: –Open road environment –Wide road –Straight road stretches –High quality road surface Decelerators: –Dense road environment –Narrow roads –Short road stretches –Physical speed reducers –Low quality road surface Source: SWOV Fact sheet Towards credible speed limits

Dr. Maura HoutenbosRoad safety and road user behaviour16 Lessons Learned: Speeding Issue: Speeding "Solution": Lower average speed driven N.B: Greater speed differences could cancel out safety effects! Source: SWOV Fact sheet The relation between speed and crashes

Lessons Learned: Alcohol Issue: Drunk driving "Solution": Higher penalties N.B: Effectiveness Dr. Maura HoutenbosRoad safety and road user behaviour17 Source: SWOV Fact sheet Driving under the influence of alcohol & Penalties in traffic

Lessons Learned: Enforcement Issue: Weak enforcement "Solution": Increase enforcement N.B: Effectiveness ↑ when… Dr. Maura HoutenbosRoad safety and road user behaviour18 Source: SWOV Fact sheet Police enforcement and driving speed

Lessons Learned: Enforcement N.B: Effectiveness ↑ when… –Location with speed related problem –Average speed checks –Clearly visible –Purpose (road safety) = clear Dr. Maura HoutenbosRoad safety and road user behaviour19 Source: SWOV Fact sheet Police enforcement and driving speed

Lessons Learned: Campaigns Issue: Road safety affects entire population "Solution": Campaigns that target entire population N.B: Target specific groups  Effectiveness↑ Dr. Maura HoutenbosRoad safety and road user behaviour20 Source: Hoekstra, T & Wegman, FCM (2011). Improving the effectiveness of road safety campaigns: current and new practices. IATSS Research, 34(2), 80-86

Lessons Learned: Campaigns Issue: Road users’ behaviour "Solution": Education N.B: Road users are not rational! Dr. Maura HoutenbosRoad safety and road user behaviour21 Source: Hoekstra, T & Wegman, FCM (2011). Improving the effectiveness of road safety campaigns: current and new practices. IATSS Research, 34(2), 80-86

Lessons Learned: Young novice drivers Issue: Lack of experience "Solution": Extra training N.B: More inclined to drive in dangerous conditions! Dr. Maura HoutenbosRoad safety and road user behaviour22 Source: SWOV Fact sheet Post-licence training for novice drivers

Dr. Maura HoutenbosRoad safety and road user behaviour23 Lessons Learned: Motorcyclists Issue: High risk for motorcyclists "Solution": Use car instead N.B: Measures Visibility & conspicuousness Extra training (motorcyclist & car driver!) Road environment Protective clothing Source: SWOV Fact sheet Motorcyclists

Dr. Maura HoutenbosRoad safety and road user behaviour24 Lessons Learned: Motorcyclists & Moped riders Issue: Head injury "Solution": Helmets N.B: Wearing Source: SWOV Fact sheet Motorcycle and moped helmets

Dr. Maura HoutenbosRoad safety and road user behaviour25 Conclusions The solution to road safety issues: are not simple! require taking human factors into account require a proactive approach require combined efforts

Dr. Maura HoutenbosRoad safety and road user behaviour26 More information: Factsheets –Up to date information on road safety topics Publications –Reports on SWOV road safety research Library –Netherlands’ largest road safety research catalog Newsletter –Subscribe online (or leave me your business card) Contact: