1. Road safety and road user behaviour Focusing on human factors to improve road safety Bangkok, 18 MayDr. Maura Houtenbos

2. Overview Introduction Theoretical framework Lessons learned Conclusions Dr. Maura HoutenbosBangkok, 18 May

3. Introduction Objective Context –Motorbikes (& helmet use) –Enforcement –Road user behaviour Dr. Maura HoutenbosBangkok, 18 May

4. Theoretical framework Sustainable Safety & Human Factors -The road system should be designed to expect and accomodate human error -In a crash, interaction between vehicle – roadway – human body must be managed so that serious injury likelihood is minimized, if not eliminated Dr. Maura HoutenbosBangkok, 18 May

5. Theoretical framework Crash causes: ‘but, don’t blame the victim’ Dr. Maura HoutenbosBangkok, 18 May Human: 63- 95% Vehicle: 4-25% Infrastructure: 12-46%

6. Proactive system approach (after Reason, 1990) Dr. Maura HoutenbosBangkok, 18 May System design Quality control Psychological precursors for unsafe actions Actions during traffic participation Defence mechanisms Latent errors CRASH Unsafe actions

7. Brisbane, 9 May 2012 Safe System Approach: prevention of system gaps/latent errors System design Quality assurance Psychological precursors of dangerous actions Actions during traffic participation Defence mechanisms Dangerous actions Latent errors

8. Dr. Maura HoutenbosBangkok, 18 May Reasons for unsafe actions and conformity (to laws and regulations) 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

9. Dr. Maura HoutenbosBangkok, 18 May 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

10. Dr. Maura HoutenbosBangkok, 18 May 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

11. Five principles in the Advanced Vision Five Sustainable Safety principles 1.Functionality of roads 2.Homogeneity of masses and/or speed and direction 3.Predictability of road course and road user behaviour by a recognizable road design 4.State awareness by the road user 5.Forgivingness of the environment and of road users Bangkok, 18 May 2012

12. Recognisable road layout Homogeneous and predictable behavior Mental categorisation Requirements for distinction: - sufficient differences among categories - sufficient uniformity within a category Routine behavior Reduction of dangerous errors Reduction of probability of crash How the predictability principle is supposed to work Expectations Preferred or required behavior: - Maximum speed - Range of safe behavior - Allowed manoeuvres Other road users - Type of road users allowed - Maximum speed - Possible manoeuvres Road course and transitions between roads ? Bangkok, 18 May12

13. Dr. Maura HoutenbosBangkok, 18 May 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

14. Dr. Maura HoutenbosBangkok, 18 May 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

15. Lessons Learned: Enforcement & penalties Issue: Human behaviour largest cause of crashes "Solution": Enforcement & penalties N.B: Proactive approach Publicity Dr. Maura HoutenbosBangkok, 18 May Source: SWOV Fact sheet Penalties in traffic

16. Dr. Maura HoutenbosBangkok, 18 May Mechanism of police enforcement Source: Wegman, F. & Aarts, L. (red.) (2006). Advancing Sustainable Safety; National Road Safety Outlook for 2005-2020. SWOV, Leidschendam (Figure 8.1 ).

17. Dr. Maura HoutenbosBangkok, 18 May 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

18. Dr. Maura HoutenbosBangkok, 18 May 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

19. Dr. Maura HoutenbosBangkok, 18 May 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

20. Dr. Maura HoutenbosBangkok, 18 May 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

21. Lessons Learned: Alcohol Issue: Drunk driving "Solution": Higher penalties N.B: Enforcement! Dr. Maura HoutenbosBangkok, 18 May Source: SWOV Fact sheet Driving under the influence of alcohol & Penalties in traffic

22. Lessons Learned: Enforcement Issue: Weak enforcement "Solution": Increase enforcement N.B: Effectiveness ↑ if … Dr. Maura HoutenbosBangkok, 18 May Source: SWOV Fact sheet Police enforcement and driving speed

23. Lessons Learned: Enforcement N.B: Effectiveness ↑ if… –Location with speed related problem –Average speed checks –Clearly visible –Purpose (road safety) = clear Dr. Maura HoutenbosBangkok, 18 May Source: SWOV Fact sheet Police enforcement and driving speed

24. Lessons Learned: Campaigns Issue: Road safety affects entire population "Solution": Campaigns that target entire population N.B: Target specific groups  Effectiveness↑ Dr. Maura HoutenbosBangkok, 18 May Source: Hoekstra, T & Wegman, FCM (2011). Improving the effectiveness of road safety campaigns: current and new practices. IATSS Research, 34(2), 80-86

25. Lessons Learned: Campaigns Issue: Road users’ behaviour "Solution": Education N.B: Road users are not rational! Dr. Maura HoutenbosBangkok, 18 May Source: Hoekstra, T & Wegman, FCM (2011). Improving the effectiveness of road safety campaigns: current and new practices. IATSS Research, 34(2), 80-86

26. Lessons Learned: Young novice drivers Issue: Lack of experience "Solution": Extra training N.B: More inclined to drive in dangerous conditions! Dr. Maura HoutenbosBangkok, 18 May Source: SWOV Fact sheet Post-licence training for novice drivers

27. Dr. Maura HoutenbosBangkok, 18 May Lessons Learned: Motorcyclists Issue: High risk for motorcyclists "Solution": Use car or public transport instead N.B: Measures Visibility & conspicuousness Extra training (motorcyclist & car driver!) Road environment Protective clothing Source: SWOV Fact sheet Motorcyclists

28. Dr. Maura HoutenbosBangkok, 18 May Lessons Learned: Motorcyclists & Moped riders Issue: Head injury "Solution": Helmets N.B: Wearing Source: SWOV Fact sheet Motorcycle and moped helmets

29. Dr. Maura HoutenbosBangkok, 18 May Conclusions The solution to road safety issues: are not simple! require taking human factors into account require a proactive approach require combined efforts

30. Dr. Maura HoutenbosBangkok, 18 May More information: www.swov.nlwww.swov.nl 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:fred.wegman@swov.nl andfred.wegman@swov.nl and maura.houtenbos@swov.nl