Impact of Behavior-Based Safety Techniques on Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers (2007)

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35 This synthesis presents findings from a number of studies supporting the view that BBS techniques are an effective safety-management method for reducing at-risk driving and non-driving safety behaviors and increasing safe behaviors. However, the survey results from fleet safety managers did not always echo the results found in the published studies presented in this report. This discrepancy underlines the most significant problem in using BBS techniques in a CMV setting: fleet safety managers may not be correctly implementing behavioral management techniques. While behavioral man- agement techniques have been successful in other industrial settings, there have been few scientific studies of these tech- niques used with CMV drivers. Further, while the use of spe- cific behavioral management techniques in CMV operations is prevalent, few survey respondents reported using a compre- hensive BBS program. Instead, they implemented behavioral techniques in a piecemeal fashion, which may have affected their results. The survey results presented in this synthesis highlight the need for more research. Several authors (see Knipling, Hickman, and Bergoffen, 2003; Krause, Robin, and Knipling, 1999) have advocated research be conducted in assessing the efficacy of BBS programs in CMV setting. While there have been several well-controlled, piecemeal research studies assess- ing behavioral management techniques in CMV operations (see Hickman and Geller, 2003b; Krause, 1997; Olson and Austin, 2001), a more comprehensive long-term study assess- ing the potential safety benefits of BBS in CMV operations is greatly needed. BBS techniques are relatively easy to implement, but this ease of use leads managers with little knowledge or experience to implement them haphazardly. While at-risk driving behaviors were rated as strongly related to crash and injury risk, the BBS methods and techniques employed by fleet safety managers did not always coincide with rec- ommended practice. Clearly, a significant need is to develop a set of accepted practices and guidelines for implementing and using BBS techniques in CMV operations. This synthesis outlines some of those recommended practices and guidelines but is in no way a comprehensive guide to achieve the desired results. One aim of this synthesis was to assess potential barriers for implementing BBS techniques. As most respondents did not view the list of barriers presented in the survey as significant detriments in implementing BBS techniques, more research should be conducted to assess why BBS techniques have not been widely accepted in the CMV industry. This synthesis describes the promise of BBS but also high- lights obstacles that must be overcome. There are many fun- damental research questions relating to the potential safety applications of BBS techniques in CMV operation: • Common BBS myths: There should be studies exploring why behavioral safety-management techniques are not widely used in CMV fleet safety. The result of such research would be a manual delineating common myths held by safety managers and others, as well as describing how these techniques should be properly applied. • Efficacy of BBS techniques in CMV operations: A broad- based, long-term naturalistic study assessing the efficacy and applicability of using BBS techniques in CMV opera- tions is needed. The study would determine if current BBS techniques can be readily applied in CMV operations or whether these BBS techniques need to be adapted. The study could assess the applicability of a traditional peer- observation and feedback approach and self-management techniques. The result of such a study would be a standard- ized manual describing the necessary and sufficient tech- niques to be used in CMV operations. • Research vs. practice: This synthesis found discrepancies between fleet safety manager practice in the real world and published research. The reasons for these discrepancies should be assessed before any large-scale study assessing BBS techniques in CMV operations. Are these discrepancies the result of poor communication, lack of training, or Research and Development Needs

36 noteworthy difficulties in implementing BBS techniques in the real world? • Process-based vs. outcome-based incentives: No studies have compared the relative effectiveness of process-based (e.g., driving safety behaviors) and outcome-based (e.g., crash involvement) incentive programs. Most prior research and this synthesis indicate that outcome-based incentives programs are the most common programs in CMV opera- tions. The behavioral approach suggests process-based incentives programs are likely to be as effective as outcome- based incentive programs with less negative side effects. A study comparing the two could also aid in the development of a comprehensive, easy-to-use manual for fleet safety managers. • BBS and OBSM devices: A study assessing the efficacy of incorporating OBSM technology with BBS techniques is needed. OBSM is the only systematic and reliable method for gathering observational data on CMV driver behaviors and thus is likely a necessary component of any comprehensive BBS application in CMV transport. • Effectiveness of OBSM devices: Given the relative novelty of using OBSM devices in safety management, field or naturalistic driving studies should assess the effectiveness of various OBSM technologies. These studies could also aid in – Developing guidelines/benchmarking OBSM data for optimal safety benefits, – Assessing generalization or spread of effect to other driving behaviors not directly targeted by OBSM, – Overcoming driver resistance to OBSM technologies, and – Developing techniques for incorporating established behavioral safety-management techniques with existing and emerging OBSM technologies. • Time expenditure of OBSM devices: Many OBSM devices require significant time expenditures in processing the data because of the large amounts of data generated by these sys- tems. Procedures and related software for reducing the time required to analyze the data should be explored. • Safety placards: Given the lack of rigorous experimental methods in assessing the effectiveness of safety placards, well- designed studies assessing the benefits of safety placards should be implemented. Most notably, such studies should use control groups to prevent regression to the mean effects from being incorrectly perceived as true safety benefits. These studies could also assess how feedback is provided to drivers and how managers conduct corrective follow-up activities.