WTI

Rural EMS Driver Safety Research Program Phase 1

Primary Investigator Contact Information

External Project Contact(s)

Report(s)

There are no reports associated with this project.

Project Objective

This project will evaluate the feasibility of (a) gathering baseline data on behavioral crash factors associated with rural ambulance crashes as well as (b) measuring the potential safety benefits of an onboard driving quality feedback systems (QFS) within a rural ambulance fleet.

Project Abstract

In the U.S. there are on average more than 6500 ambulance crashes each year. The occupational motor vehicle fatality rate for emergency medical personnel is four times the U.S. average for other occupations. Rural ambulance crashes in particular are of great concern, in part because they are usually much more severe than urban crashes. Ambulance crashes occurring on rural roadways are more likely to result in death to emergency medical personnel, the patient and occupants of other vehicles. Several factors may contribute to the increased risk of ambulance crashes generally, and rural ambulance crashes specifically. In rural areas the preponderance of the emergency medical services is based on a volunteer workforce... The volunteer status may result in infrequent and irregular exposure to operating the ambulance, and therefore limited opportunity to gain experience and sustain skills. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Emergency Medical Services recently convened a group of industry experts to address issues in ground ambulance safety. Through this project, WTI and the Critical Illness and Trauma Foundation (Bozeman, Montana) will develop a research agenda to pursue the safety strategies identified by the NHTSA. Specifically, this project focuses on the feasibility of (a) gathering baseline data on EMS driving behaviors associated with rural ambulance crashes as well as (b) measuring the potential safety benefits of an onboard driving (QFS) within a rural ambulance fleet. Strategically, it is expected that this proposal will also support several future research paths in the areas of EMS safety and naturalistic study capabilities

Task Descriptions

1. Analyze EMS Tasks and Performance Standards.
   1. Researchers will conduct a literature review to determine the functional requirements for driving an ambulance in emergency and non-emergency modes. In addition, an observational process employing “ride-alongs” with a local EMS agency may be conducted. The purpose of this task is to describe standards for optimal driving performance.
2. Analyze EMS Crash Factors.
   1. Researchers will analyze literature and data from crash reports and databases, in order to identify specific crash scenarios and human factors including culpable driver action and driving behavior. This task will further identify critical behaviors that should be recorded by the data collection system.
3. Demonstrate Onboard Driving Quality Feedback Systems (CIT).
   1. Two quality feedback systems (QFC) from different vendors will be purchased and installed in three ambulances. These ambulances will then be used to solicit driver and management opinion about the usability and effectiveness of the candidate systems.
4. Review and Specify Data Collection Systems (WTI).
   1. Researchers will review a range of Data Collection Systems through contact with vendors, product demonstrations, and interviews with other research institutions, including hardware, software, personnel, and operating protocols. In addition, this task will provide a scope for a future work plan to execute a naturalistic study.
5. Design EMS Naturalistic Driving Study and Evaluation Method.
   1. The preceding tasks will culminate with a project report to support the Phase II and III proposals. This report will summarize the work completed and formally document the proposed methodology for the full-scale EMS naturalistic study and evaluation of the QFS program (including DCS specifications).
6. Prepare Conference Proceedings
   1. The Rural and Frontier EMS and Trauma summit (Summit at the Lake, May 2008) provides an important opportunity to describe and elicit support for Phase II based on the content of the feasibility report. As part of this task, a conference proceedings document will be produced summarizing the findings of this project.

Milestones, Dates, Schedule

Student Involvement

True

Relationship to Other Research Projects

True

Technology Transfer Activities

False

Transportation Research Board Keywords

Rural ambulance crashes, emergency medical personnel, quality feedback systems, human factors

Partners

USDOT, Research and Innovative Technologies Administration (University Transportation Center program)