Shared Information: October 2013 Meeting TC 3.2 in Poland (link the document: AASHTO OCT 2013 PIARC POLAND TC 3 2 MEETING.pdf)
The TC 3.2 committee has met several times starting since the spring 2012 kickoff session in Paris, France. The work program established for TC 3.2 consisted of developing road safety strategies for vulnerable road users (Subcommittee 3.2.1); establish revisions to the accident investigation guidelines (Subcommittee 3.2.2); and developing strategies for driver distraction and fatigue (Subcommittee 3.2.3). In addition the technical committee is assisting in the development of the new Road Safety Manual (RSM).
TC 3.2 has met at the following times and locations to further dialog the work program; October 2012 in Portoroz, Slovenia, May 2013 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and, most recently, end of September 2013, in Warsaw, Poland. The Technical Committee meetings provide direction on PIARC objectives for this work cycle and status reporting for the subcommittee work program. Each Technical Committee member volunteered to serve on one of the three subcommittees in the development of each assignment as noted above.
Mr. Cota volunteered to assist with the Subcommittee 3.2.3 (Driver Distraction and Fatigue). The first phase of the subcommittee’s assignment was to complete a search of research driver distraction and fatigue. This phase consisted in a literature search and review of pertinent documentation as to the human factor. This first phase was recently completed prior to the recent Poland meeting, which allowed for the draft development of the general issues for the cause and effect of driver distraction and fatigue. The next phase is to develop specific strategies that a designer will be able to use to address these issues. The Subcommittee work plan consisted of tele-conference once a month to discuss progress and issues. The use of tele-conference through the PIARC site has proven to be very useful and effective in addition to exchange of information through the internet with the team members.
At the recent meeting in Warsaw, Poland, the Technical Committee met with the Steering Committee for the RSM and provided feedback on the development of three chapters for the new document.
The next meeting is being planned for spring (April) 2014 in Brussels, Belgium. The fall 2014 meeting is still being discussed with possible meeting locations in Argentina, South America or in Southeast Asia (Thailand, South Vietnam, etc.). The spring 2015 meeting is tentatively planned for Scotland with the final session in the fall of 2015 at the World Congress in Seoul, Korea. (Keith A. Cota)
2012
PIARC TC 3.2 Subgroup 3 Committee Members on Driver Distraction and Fatique's first action for Subgroup 3.2.3 was to commence literature review for research and case studies associated with causes of driver distraction or fatigue, relevant Human Factors information, crash data and statistics, definitions and terminology, and visual overload. As can be expected in USA, there is a significant amount of past research starting with the transit systems, through the National Highway Transportation Safety Agency and National Academy of Science. Google search engine is available for research review by all the States. You will find a wealth of information by just typing in ‘distracted driver.’
