Conference paper
Trouble in paradise: Systems analysis of beach driving fatalities on Fraser Island (K'gari)
Proceedings of the 2015 Australasian Road Safety Conference, pp.1-10
Australasian Road Safety Conference (ARSC): Taking Action Together, 2015 (Gold Coast, Australia, 14-Oct-2015–16-Oct-2015)
Australasian College of Road Safety
2015
Abstract
Beach driving remains a necessary form of transport in Australia, however it is not without incident. Between 2002 and 2015 there were over 160 reported 4WD crashes, including 4 fatalities on Fraser Island (K'gari), off the Queensland coast, Australia. Although beach driving provides a unique driving environment, there is little research investigating the causal nature of such crashes. The paper first reviews the cornerstone areas of the National Road Safety Strategy, in light of this unique driving environment. It also considers the guiding principles of the associated Safe System approach, before describing the results of applying two sociotechnical systems analysis approaches to this complex driving environment and a fatal crash. First, Cognitive Work Analysis was used to describe the K'gari beach driving 'system' along with constraints impacting driver behaviour. Second, Accimap was used to describe the contributory factors involved in a fatal 4WD beach driving accident that occurred in April 2009. The findings show that beaches present as complex roadway environments with a range of often conflicting priorities. Further, the analyses show that beach driving collisions likely involve a larger range of systemic failures than previously identified. In conclusion, the paper discusses the possibilities of Safe Systems interventions in light of the outlined sociotechnical systems approach. The details of current beach driving research are provided, while an overview of the ongoing research agenda is articulated. This agenda seeks to enhance our understanding of cultural, economic, environmental and social implications of off-road and beach driving to improve safety and stakeholder coordination.
Details
- Title
- Trouble in paradise: Systems analysis of beach driving fatalities on Fraser Island (K'gari)
- Authors
- Nicholas J Stevens (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts and BusinessPaul M Salmon (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts and BusinessNicholas Patorniti (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts and Business
- Publication details
- Proceedings of the 2015 Australasian Road Safety Conference, pp.1-10
- Conference details
- Australasian Road Safety Conference (ARSC): Taking Action Together, 2015 (Gold Coast, Australia, 14-Oct-2015–16-Oct-2015)
- Publisher
- Australasian College of Road Safety
- Date published
- 2015
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2015 The Author. Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. This paper can be found in the online database of papers for this conference at http://acrs.org.au/publications/conference-papers/database/
- Organisation Unit
- Bioclimatic and Sociotechnical Cities Lab; Centre for Human Factors and Systems Science; School of Social Sciences - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Law and Society
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99449118902621
- Output Type
- Conference paper
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