Risk factors for the severity of injury incurred in crashes involving on-duty police cars

Applying systems thinking to improve the safety of work-related drivers: A systematic review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

Light vehicles (<4.5 tons) driven for work purposes represent a significant proportion of the registered motor vehicles on our roads. Drivers of these vehicles have significant exposure to the dangers of the road transport environment. To optimize safety for these workers, it is critical to understand the factors contributing to risk of being involved in an incident. This information can then be used to inform the review and revision of existing risk controls and the development of targeted prevention activities.

METHOD

The aim of the study was to undertake a systematic review of the literature to identify the factors associated with work-related driving incidents. The factors identified in the review were represented within an adapted version of Rasmussen's risk management framework (Rasmussen, 1997). Fifty studies were analyzed following data screening and review of full text. The highest proportion of risk factors were categorized at the lower levels of the system, including the 'Drivers and Other Road Users' level (n = 20, 44.4%) and the 'Equipment, Environment, and Meteorological Surroundings' level (n = 19, 42.2%). There were no risk factors identified at the 'Regulatory and Government Bodies' levels of the framework, confirming the narrow investigative scope of past research and the need to acknowledge a broader range of factors within and across higher levels of the system.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study inform the direction of future research and design of targeted prevention activities capable of creating system change for the safety of work-related drivers.

Protect the protectors: a qualitative study on OSH in conjunction with unwanted side effects for the work performance of frontline police officers

Objectives. Occupational safety and health (OSH) measures for frontline police officers are developing rapidly in many western societies. Various organizations, such as police forces and unions, view this development as necessary in the face of increasing numbers of assaults, knife crime, rampages and terrorist attacks. Also, current research seems to promote a progressive aggregation of OSH focusing on frontline officers on the beat. This article aims to explore possible side effects of the current development, based on a recent qualitative small-scale research project with the participation of 12 highly experienced frontline police constables in Hampshire, England, all having around 24 years of service. Methods. As a clearly explorative study, semi-structured interviews were deployed. While using inductive theorizing and understanding the participating police constables as humans at work, the identification and collection of inner context components such as the participants' perceptions, motivations, emotions, beliefs, values or attitudes have been intentionally put at front. Conclusions. Particularly, emphasizing individual risk assessment and risk perception, current research has identified that an organizational over-reliance on standardized risk management processes might trigger police officers' risk averseness, overall leading to a habitual over-worrying about things and bringing safety culture and occupational cop culture into disagreement.

Effect of Secondary Tasks on Police Officer Cognitive Workload and Performance Under Normal and Pursuit Driving Situations

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of single and multiple secondary tasks on officers' performance and cognitive workload under normal and pursuit driving conditions.

BACKGROUND

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of police line of duty injuries and deaths. These crashes are mainly attributed to the use of in-vehicle technologies and multi-tasking while driving.

METHOD

Eighteen police officers participated in a driving simulation experiment. The experiment followed a within-subject design and assessed the effect of single or multiple secondary tasks (via the mobile computer terminal (MCT) and radio) and driving condition (normal vs. pursuit driving) on officers' driving performance, cognitive workload, and secondary task accuracy and reaction time.

RESULTS

Findings suggested that police officers are protective of their driving performance when performing secondary tasks. However, their workload and driving performance degraded in pursuit conditions as compared to normal driving situations. Officers experienced higher workload when they were engaged with secondary tasks irrespective of the task modality or type. However, they were faster but less accurate in responding to the radio as compared to the MCT.

CONCLUSION

Police officers experience high mental workload in pursuit driving situations, which can reduce their driving performance and accuracy when they are engaged in some secondary tasks.

APPLICATION

The findings might be helpful for police agencies, trainers, and vehicle technology manufacturers to modify the existing policies, training protocols, and design of police in-vehicle technologies in order to improve police officer safety.

Life-threatening alcohol-related traffic crashes in adverse weather: a double-matched case-control analysis from Canada

IMPORTANCE

Drunk driving is a major cause of death in North America, yet physicians rarely counsel patients on the risks of drinking and driving.

OBJECTIVE

To test whether the risks of a life-threatening alcohol-related traffic crash were further accentuated by adverse weather.

DESIGN

Double matched case-control analysis of hospitalised patients.

SETTING

Canada's largest trauma centre between 1 January 1995 and 1 January 2015.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients hospitalised due to a life-threatening alcohol-related traffic crash.

EXPOSURE

Relative risk of a crash associated with adverse weather estimated by evaluating the weather at the place and time of the crash (cases) compared with the weather at the same place and time a week earlier and a week later (controls).

RESULTS

A total of 2088 patients were included, of whom the majority were drivers injured at night. Adverse weather prevailed among 312 alcohol-related crashes and was significantly more frequent compared with control circumstances. The relative risk of a life-threatening alcohol-related traffic crash was 19% higher during adverse weather compared with normal weather (95% CI: 5 to 35, p=0.006). The absolute increase in risk amounted to 43 additional crashes, extended to diverse groups of patients, applied during night-time and daytime, contributed to about 793 additional patient-days in hospital and was distinct from the risks for drivers who were negative for alcohol.

CONCLUSIONS

Adverse weather was associated with an increased risk of a life-threatening alcohol-related traffic crash. An awareness of this risk might inform warnings to patients about traffic safety and counselling alternatives to drinking and driving.