Human Error and Road Transport: Phase Two – A framework for an error tolerant road transport system

Monash University Accident Research Centre - Report #257 [2006]

Authors: Salmon, P. M., Regan, M. A. & Johnston, I.

Full report in .pdf format [816KB]

Abstract

Within complex, sociotechnical systems, human error has consistently been implicated as the major causal
factor in a high proportion of accidents and incidents. For example, recent research within the road
transport domain indicates that driver error contributes to as much as 75% of all roadway crashes. This
report represents the second phase of a research program of which the aim is to promote error tolerant
intersections in Victoria and an error tolerant road transport system in Australia. Based on a review of the
human error-related literature, a review of the human error-related research conducted to date and of the
error management techniques that have previously been employed in other complex socio-technical
systems, a conceptual framework for an error tolerant Australian road transport system was proposed. The
proposed framework contains appropriate methods for the collection and analysis of human error-related
data within the Australian road transport system, and also a number of error management approaches and
strategies that could potentially be used to reduce or manage road user error and the conditions that lead
to it. It is proposed that the framework for error tolerance be used during the next phase of this research
program to inform the design of a pilot study of road user error and error-causing conditions at
intersections in Victoria.

Sponsoring organisation - Baseline Research Program for which grants have been received from: Department of Justice, Roads Corporation (VicRoads) and the Transport Accident Commission