Reforming the road freight transportation system using systems thinking: An investigation of Coronial inquests in Australia

S Newman; Natassia Goode; Paul M Salmon; Mark Stevenson

doi:10.1016/j.aap.2017.01.016

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Reforming the road freight transportation system using systems thinking: An investigation of Coronial inquests in Australia

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Reforming the road freight transportation system using systems thinking: An investigation of Coronial inquests in Australia

S Newman, Natassia Goode, Paul M Salmon and Mark Stevenson

Accident Analysis and Prevention, Vol.101, pp.28-36

2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2017.01.016

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Abstract

road freight transportation

systems thinking

safety

workrelated driving

crash investigation

Road freight transport is considered to be one of the most dangerous industries in Australia, accounting for over 30% of all work fatalities. Whilst system reform (i.e., change to policy and practice) is needed, it is not clear what this reform should be, or what approaches should be used to drive it. This article argues that road freight transportation reform should be underpinned by a systems thinking approach. Efforts to understand crash causation should be focused beyond the driver and identify contributing factors at other levels with the road freight system. Accordingly, we present the findings from a study that examined whether Australian Coronial investigations into road freight crashes reflect support appropriate system reform. Content analysis was used to identify the contributing factors and interrelations implicated in the road freight crashes described in publicly available Australian Coroner's inquest reports from the last 10 years (2004-2014; n = 21). The results found evidence to suggest that the Coronial inquests provide some understanding of the complex system of factors influencing road freight transportation crashes in Australia. However, there was a lack of evidence to suggest an understanding of system-based reform based on the identification of reductionist-focused recommendations. It is concluded that researchers and practitioners (ie., government and industry) need to work together to develop prevention efforts focused on system reforms. Systems thinking based data collection and analysis frameworks are urgently required to help develop this understanding in road freight transportation.

Details

Title: Reforming the road freight transportation system using systems thinking: An investigation of Coronial inquests in Australia
Authors: S Newman (Author) - Monash University
Natassia Goode (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts, Business and Law
Paul M Salmon (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts, Business and Law
Mark Stevenson (Author) - University of Melbourne
Publication details: Accident Analysis and Prevention, Vol.101, pp.28-36
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd.
Date published: 2017
DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2017.01.016
ISSN: 0001-4575
Organisation Unit: Centre for Human Factors and Systems Science; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Law and Society
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450807602621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Ergonomics; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary; Transportation

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