John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)

Battelle Human Factors Transportation Center

Tech Report

Prospectus

United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

NTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-SAFETY AND SECURITY ; NTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Human Factors ;

This prospectus identifies and discusses a series of human factors

issues which are critical to transportation safety and productivity, and

examines the potential benefits that can accrue from taking a multi-modal

approach to human factors research.

It is now recognized within the Department of Transportation that human-

related factors are the largest contributors to transportation accidents.

Efforts to moderate the influence of such factors need to be increased given

that additional challenges to the safe operation of transportation systems are

developing. Examples of such challenges include increasing congestion in the

skies, on public roads, and in navigable waters.

Research in transportation human factors has been characterized by a

lack of integration across the various modes. A strong case can be made that

the efficiency and impact of human factors research can be enhanced by a

systematic examination of what the transportation modes share in terms of

human factors needs. In the conduct of research, a multi-modal formulation

will encourage the adoption of a programmatic orientation towards longer-term

and large-scale issues. Such an approach will provide the government with a

long-range technical agenda that will guide research planning. The prospectus

recognizes that not all human factors research areas readily lend themselves

to a cross-modal approach and provides illustrative examples.

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Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference Center