Developing a Near-Miss Reporting System for Roadside Responders

Introduction

Motor vehicle towing and roadside service providers are at risk of being struck by passing motorists while they are working at the roadside. However, at present, efforts to protect this vulnerable group of road users are limited by a lack of comprehensive, high-quality data regarding these crashes. Data from near-miss incidents have been identified as a major gap towards a more robust understanding of risks faced by roadside response personnel and ways to protect them. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is working with researchers at the University of Alabama to identify the elements needed for a successful near-miss reporting system for roadside responders.

Project Goal and Plan

This project will involve several tasks to achieve the overall aim of identifying the elements needed for a successful near-miss reporting system for roadside responders. This project will examine and document existing near-miss reporting systems used in other domains, such as firefighting and aviation, to inform the design of such a system for roadside responders. Through interviews with developers or managers of existing reporting systems, the project team will identify the challenges, barriers, and opportunities for developing a near-miss incident reporting system for roadside responders. Perceptions and attitudes regarding near-miss reporting will also be gathered from roadside workers though focus groups and surveys.   

Collectively, these tasks will help the project team assess the data needs associated with a near-miss reporting system and to develop recommendations for a successful reporting system, from system design through to deployment.