Psy 409a: Driving Psychology

Psy 409a: Driving Psychology February 1, 2006

How to Organize and Save Lives

By Mitchell West

Peter Rothe, Editor (2002). Driving Lessons: Exploring Systems That Make Traffic Safer. (Edmonton: University of Alberta Press) Francescutti, Louis. Hugo, Hoque, Mohammed. Naseemul and Rothe, Peter. J. Innovations In Injury Control(From Crash to the Community)

Instructions for this activity are found at:

http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy24/g24-oral1.htm

Instructor: Dr. Leon James

I. Innovation in Injury Control

A. Motor vehicle-related injuries are the leading cause of unintentional death and injury in most economic countries.

This is why in Alberta Canada they have put together a unique thing called the Collaborative Injury Analysis Program.

EMS

Police

Trauma Physicians

Medical Examiners

B. These departments are most commonly involved in every aspect of a severe accident. Some of the responsibilities of these

departments are as followed. EMS is typically the first medical authority on the scene and gives an official diagnosis as to the

level of severity.

Police are the typically the first people on the scene and along with crash investigators can relay valuable info about what caused

The damage and what type of force was involved during impact.

Trauma Physicians have the tough job of fixing and diagnosing the patient once they arrive at the hospital.

Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death and the extent of not only injuries but common patterns.

C. A model for collaborative injury biomechanics and prevention was installed to tie all of theses aspects together.

The result was called a IAT for injury analysis team. This team was like a command unit. They set up a central hub and relayed

Valuable info to other parts of the team.

II. Collision Summary

A. Mazda 626 vs. Light post was the name of one of the first uses of IAT. This story started when a 17 year old was driving way to fast and tried to cross four lanes of traffic to make an exit. He could not make the turn and his car jumped the curb colliding head on with a light pole.

B. Injury prevention was learned from this accident.

Break away light pole was implemented

Was determined that a lap belt was not worn by the only woman that died

Also a VCR had flown from the back dash and done some serious to the fatally wounded woman’s skull.

C. My thoughts about this topic: I really thought that this type of response team sounded very well thought out. I know that we have a similar type of system in the US, but I think the big difference is responsibility. In this system each department knows

And understands their responsibility and duty. Some times in the US we are blurred on our responsibilities in an accident

Situation causing delays that may cause a person valuable minutes.