Title
What employees do today because of their experience yesterday: Previous exposure to yellow:number aspects as a cause for SPAD incidents
Author
Burggraaf, J.
Groeneweg, J.
Sillem, S.
van Gelder, P.
Publication year
2022
Abstract
When a train passes a red aspect, this is called a Signal Passed at Danger event or SPAD. Sometimes it is easy to identify the SPAD cause but in other cases it is unclear why the incident occurred, especially if the system operated as usual and the train driver was trained and experienced just like his or her colleagues. In previous research, train driver deceleration behaviour has been shown to be influenced by frequent exposure in the previous 14 days to less restrictive and visually similar signal aspects in the same location. Previous exposure can contribute to SPAD causation unless the initial insufficient deceleration is corrected in time. Six years of SPAD data and red aspect approaches in the Netherlands was used to test whether previous exposure to yellow:number aspects corresponds with a statistically significant increase in SPAD incidents if there is a small window for correction available to drivers. The permitted track speed and signal distance influence the size of this window. The results provide evidence for previous exposure as a cause for SPADs and details to identify locations with increased SPAD probability. Changes in infrastructure and timetable design or adding safety measures for these locations can prevent future SPADs.
Subject
Human factors
Rail safety
Driver training
A-train
Driver deceleration
Incidental learning
Netherlands
Rail safeties
Signal
Signals passed at dangers
SPAD
Track signals
Train drivers
Location
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http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:2fb32b63-e2b6-4690-8b58-a65724e5c4a7
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrtpm.2022.100332
TNO identifier
980660
ISSN
2210-9706
Source
Journal of Rail Transport Planning and Management, 23 (23)
Document type
article