Driver Behavior Study Released By CVVFA/ERSI
Supported by roadway safety outreach initiatives of the United States Fire Administration and the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) National Institute of Justice (NIJ), the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association has announced the release of the report and training program entitled DETERMINING THE RELATIVE IMPACT OF PSAs AND BROCHURES UPON GENERAL PUBLIC DRIVERS INTERFACING WITH EMERGENCY SERVICE VEHICLES. This project was completed by VFIS Education, Training, and Consulting.
This project was undertaken to better understand if Public Service Announcements have value in educating drivers to safety issues and whether or not they may make a difference in safe driving practices. Specifically there is concern that there is a lack of consistency, agreement, and understanding of the minimum competencies (knowledge, skills, and abilities) necessary for all emergency services personnel operating in or near moving traffic; and the general public lacks understanding of the role of emergency service personnel engaged in traffic control. Even their own colleagues in the fire, EMS, law enforcement, and other emergency services sometimes fail to appreciate the serous hazards routinely faced by those engaged in traffic control activities.
“The problem statement has captured the two elements of this ‘perfect storm’, often resulting in injuries and fatalities to first responders, said CVVFA President Michael Sullivan. “The public safety announcement for the general public will only fix part of the problem. Adopting and enforcing guidelines and regulations - to reinforce proper behavior – will also be needed.”
The assumption of the project was The viewing or reading of information suggesting a driver move over and slow down when encountering an emergency vehicle on the highway, will result in more responsive actions by the vehicle operator. The literature review and related field testing findings using driving simulation supported the hypothesis, thus suggesting continued and expanded use of literature and public service announcement visual messaging to protect emergency responders on the highway
In conclusion, it was found that:
“Slow Down Move Over” is an effective and easy to remember safety phrase that should be included in all relevant PSAs.
Continue and expand use of PSAs in communicating slow down and move over practices when encountering emergency responders and vehicles on the highway.
Monitor the results of accidents and PSA impacts to determine programmatic/message modifications in the future.
Conduct research into the impact of distractions on driving behaviors when interfacing with emergency responders and vehicles.
USFA was pleased to work in partnership with the DOJ/NIJ and CVVFA to develop the roadway safety outreach initiatives that supported this project effort," said U.S. Fire Administrator Ernest Mitchell.
“Effective roadway safety projects such as this, supports the safety of law enforcement officers and firefighters,” said John H. Laub, Director of the National Institute of Justice.
This CVVFA project was able to validate the use of PSAs to communicate this important message, and that it was found effective.