Driving behaviors

The somewhat controversial theory of risk homeostasis is relevant to a discussion of risk taking. RHT was developed initially in the area of driving behavior (Wilde, 1984). The theory states that accident rates are not determined by actual levels of intrinsic risk but by the levels of risk acceptable to individuals in the situation. The theory implies that people adjust their risk-taking behavior to maintain a constant level of perceived risk. Thus, if improved safety measures are introduced (e.g., better guarding, improved protection systems then individuals will behave in a more risky fashion in order to maintain their accustomed levels of risk. 

In 104 cases carisoprodol and its metabolite meprobamate were detected in the blood of car drivers who were either involved in accidents or arrested for impaired driving (1). In many of these cases, either alcohol or other nervous system depressants were also found. In 21 cases cariso-prodol/meprobamate were the only drugs detected. Symptoms and reported driving behavior were similar in all cases. Impairment of driving ability appeared to be possible at any concentration of these two drugs. However, the most severe driving impairment and most overt symptoms of intoxication were noted when the combined concentration of carisoprodol and meprobamate exceeded 10 mg/1. 

Landauer AA, Milner G, Patman J. Alcohol and amitriptyline effects on skills related to driving behavior. Science (1969) 163, 1467-8. 

Wills R A, et al. 2006. Comparing safety climate factors as predictors of work-related driving behavior. Journal of Safety Research 37 375-383. 

Safety starts with management leadership and commitment. Without these, the efforts of others in the organization are almost doomed to failure. Leadership creates culture, which drives behavior. 

Simon expressed the view that the culture drives behavior and that a culture change is required for success in behavior-based safety. Simon s speech became a paper that was published by the American Society of Safety Engineers in the Proceedings—A Behavioral Safety Symposium, 1998. These are excerpts from Simon s paper titled The Culture Change Model of Behavioral Safety. ... 

Simons-Morton, B., Lerner, N. Singer, J. (2005) The observed effects of teenage passengers on the risky driving behavior of teenage drivers. Accident Analysis Prevention, 37,973-982. 

Performance measures drive behavior in any system. The selection of performance measures is crucial inside a firm and throughout the supply chain. Managers coordinate behavior of their employees and of their partners in the supply chain by the use of performance measures. It is through the use of measures that we are able to determine if we are making progress towards our goals. 

One of your drivers is involved in his third accident in the last 12 months. This time a big one, involving two other vehicles and several injuries. A review of his DQ file reveals a history of unsafe driving behavior includ-... 

In addition to rewarding drivers for safe behavior, the questionnaire sought management reaction to the use of disciplinary actions in view of unsafe driving behavior. 

Section 4 Encouraging and Reinforcing Safe Driving Behavior — On the subject of encouraging and reinforcing safe driving behavior, motor carriers rely on two basic management principles, 1) safety rewards, and 2) driver discipline ... 

Driver discipline — Carriers feel that disciplining drivers is more important or equally important as rewards in encouraging and reinforcing safe driving behavior. Carriers discipline drivers for poor safety performance when drivers violate Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, violate company safety policies, or demonstrate generally unsafe driving performance. 

The annual review process was developed as a safety management tool. As your organization s safety manager, you need to be kept informed of any driver who becomes disqualified or is exhibiting unsafe or aggressive driving behavior (e.g. multiple speeding tickets and accidents). 

How do you go about identifying these drivers In the case of drivers unwilling to drive safely, watch out for the following driving behavior red flags ... 

Note The list describes certain unsafe driving behaviors. When examining them, remember that behaviors are developed over time and are repeated. 

Drivers involved in repeated negative road observations are demonstrating a pattern of unacceptable driving behavior that adversely impacts our corporate image and is contrary to company policy. Drivers will be subject to the following schedule ... 

If the driver is wilhng to demonstrate such driving behavior at the company s facility, how does he or she drive out on the road ... 

Predicting which driver will be involved in a future crash has always been one of the more difficult tasks of the safety pro. The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRl) may have provided some help in this matter. In 2005 ATRl released the results of a study entitled Predicting Truck Crash Involvement Developing a Driver Behavior-Based Model and Recommended Countermeasures. ATRl provides insight into which driving behaviors tend to lead to an increased chance of future crash involvement. The study also determined what companies with low crash rates are doing to prevent behaviors that lead to crashes. 

A final word on drivers who are unwilling to conform to your safe driving behavior requirements, values, and policies. Any information you receive is data. And all data has value. How you use it is up to you. 

Finally, encourage the development of a safety culture. Adopt policies and procedures that encourage drivers, and all employees for that matter, to become actively involved in the safety of your workplace. Treat employees fairly, set up safety committees, confer with employees on safety issues, and encourage and reward the reporting of safety problems, or imsafe driving behaviors. 

Defensive driving behavior actually begins before your drivers ever hit the road. The preparation that your drivers put into their day will help determine if they are ready for the many uncertainties while on the road. Consider the following in respect to defensive driving ... 

Two or more accidents might indicate a risk-taking or aggressive driving behavior. Where are you going... 

An applicant who has incurred more traffic violations than this standard has demonstrated a pattern of unsafe driving behavior which The Company finds unacceptable in any prospective driver associate. 

Screening safety-conscious drivers isn t as difficult or time-consuming as it may sound. Can safe driving behavior and performance be predicted at the screening level Absolutely ... 

This might be a sign of a hard-charging, dedicated driver, but does the company really want to recognize this kind of unsafe driving behavior ... 

Antin, J., Lee, S., Hankey, J., Dingus, T. (2011). Design of the in-vehicle driving behavior and crash risk study. In Support of the SHRP 2 Naturalistic Driving Study. Report SHRP2 S2-S05-RR-1, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. 

In many cases safety-oriented learning is not possible because the dangers involved in the behavior to be imitated are not adequately represented. This applies, for example, in those behavioral fields where self-teaching can lead to inappropriate behavior. As can be seen in the case of driving behavior, models can be taken whose behavior may seem to indicate proficiency, but which in many cases is unsafe. Such models are likely to undermine the efforts of a teacher to instill safe behavior in his pupils. 

How do you spot a driver who is under the influence of alcohol Watch for these driving behaviors ... 

The Index asks practice-based, qualitative questions togauge environmental sustainability performance and drive behavior for improvement. It is based largely on the Eco Index and Nike s Apparel Environmental Design Tool however it has been significantly enhanced through a pilot testing period. Gap is one of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition s foimding members. 

The degree of success of a plant engineer wiU be measured not by his or her ability to recite equations, balance bndgets, complete capital projects, or maintain equipment, but by the ability to lead others in the face of insnfficient personnel, resources, and time to do the job comfortably. In years past, internal workloads determined our pace of progress. Today, external information and customer demands drive behavior and pace. In order to successfully manage information and lead people, plant engineers must ... 

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