Distracted Driver Hits Train

The AP reported(7-25-09) that “Police in Anchorage say a motorist struck the side of a train while fishing for his cell phone. The Anchorage Daily News reports that the man told police he had dropped his phone and was trying to find it when he lost control of his vehicle.”  The vehicle jumped a median, crossed oncoming traffic, and struck the side of a passenger train.”  No injuries were reported, and the vehicle was totaled.

The natural reaction is to search for it.  Why? It is nearby, and one wants the object returned to its rightful place.  And it will only take a second to find the phone.  What if someone calls and the phone is not at hand.  That would be tragic. The lessons are plain:  stop using the phone while driving; an object dropped while driving needs to remain there or you need to stop and retrieve it; and be aware that the majority of other drivers are doing acts that are distracting them.

Posted August 10th, 2009 in Human Factors, In the News

Human Error – Occurring Regularly

One can sign up for a “Google alert” on any word or subject.  Each Monday, I receive an e-mail with all the occurrences of “human error” on the Internet during the past week.  There are eight to ten examples each week.  The examples range from industrial accidents to academic grades being posted inaccurately.  What do you do when you make an error?  Or when an error occurs in your organization?

It is a poor societal sign when train operators, and others, are texting while on the job.  That is not an error or a mistake; that is negligence and a violation of work standards.   Who is responsible:  the individual or the organization?  Is there a shared responsibility?

I have had the good fortune to help organizations and individuals understand that human error is part of the human condition.  And it is rewarding to help people reduce their errors and improve their performance.  I intend to keep learning from my mistakes and the mistakes of others.

Posted August 10th, 2009 in Human Factors, In the News