This Week in Cognitive Ergonomics: Road Safety Lecture
Introduction
- Focus on road safety
- Cognitive ergonomics plays a significant role
- Automotive industry potential for cognitive ergonomics experts
Role of Cognitive Ergonomics in Automotives
- Interface design: touchscreens, voice systems, buttons
- Job avenues: human factors engineer, UX engineer
- Development and testing of car systems
- Address issues like driver distraction and fatigue
Safe System Approach
- Part of the Vision Zero framework
- Originated in Europe in 1990s
- Goal: Zero fatalities, zero crashes
- Adopted by municipalities in North America
Principles of Safe System Approach
- Traffic Deaths
- Traditional: Inevitable
- Vision Zero: Preventable
- Human Behavior
- Traditional: Needs perfection
- Vision Zero: Humans make mistakes, prevent fatal injuries
- Preventing Collisions
- Traditional: Prevent all collisions
- Vision Zero: Focus on preventing fatal and severe injuries
- Responsibility for Road Safety
- Traditional: Individual responsibility
- Vision Zero: System approach needed
- Cost of Saving Lives
- Traditional: Expensive
- Vision Zero: Not expensive
Importance from a Cognitive Ergonomics Perspective
- Humans make mistakes; focus on preventing severe injuries
- Role in developing safe technology
- Importance of understanding human behavior and cognition
- Development of technology that complements human limitations
Current Research and Initiatives
- Collaboration with Windsor Police on driver distraction study
- Use of red light cameras as part of Vision Zero
- Identifying high prevalence areas of driver distraction
Broader Applications
- Road safety principles applicable in healthcare and manufacturing
- Human error in high-distraction environments
- Work with Atlas Copco on safer, less distracting tools
Lab and Research Opportunities
- Human Systems Lab (HHS Lab) website
- Focus on vehicle automation, virtual reality, cognitive load assessment
- Active research and collaboration with industry and government
- Opportunities for students interested in cognitive ergonomics research
Conclusion
- Importance of Vision Zero and safe system approach in real-world applications
- Encouragement for student involvement in research
These notes provide a high-level summary of the lecture and can serve as a useful reference for revisiting the key topics discussed.