Motor Vehicle Accidents (MVA)

1. Motor Vehicle Accidents (MVA) Office of Corporate Safety Analysis January 12, 2010

2. Considerable data exist showing that Motor Vehicle Accidents (MVA) contribute to deaths and are a significant cost to our economy • In 2008, there were an estimated 5,811,000 police-reported MVAs, in which 37,261 people were killed and 2,346,000 people were injured; 4,146,000 accidents involved property damage only. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) (Traffic Safety Facts, 2008 Data) • In addition to being a leading cause of death for Americans, MVAs drain more than $230 billion from the economy annually. (NHTSA’s NHTSA Brochure, 2002) • The most comprehensive data set is the Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) database. • However, FARS only collects reports involving fatalities • Non-fatal crash statistics are estimates based on probability sampling of crashes. • There are various other sources of data and analysis: • National Automotive Sampling System’s (NASS) • Crashworthiness Data System (CDS) • General Estimate System (GES) • AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety • Insurance Institute for Highway Safety • According to the World Health Organization (WHO),|MVA injuries account for 22.8% of all injury deaths worldwide. (2002) Source: WHO Global Burden of Disease project, 2002, Version 1

3. Fatalities Due to Work-Related Motor Vehicle Accidents Are Significant • According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), roadway accidents killed 1347 civilian workers and accounted for more than 23% of all workplace fatalities. (2000 Data) • Although other workplace fatalities have declined during the 1990s, the number of worker deaths from roadway crashes increased steadily.(NIOSH Hazard Review Work-Related Roadway Crashes) • Of the $230 billion previously referenced, in 2000 lost wages and benefits for crash victims (occupational and non-occupational) accounted for $61 billion. Costs to employers, due to the loss or absence of an employee from work, accounted for $4.6 billion more. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

4. Motor Vehicle Accidents Are The Single Largest Cause of DOE Fatalities • From 1999 to 2008, DOE experienced 188 motor vehicle related injuries as reported in CAIRS. (Roughly 2% of all injuries.) • During that period, there were 11 fatal vehicle accidents resulting in 12 deaths; or 50% of the 24 Complex-wide, work-related fatalities. • There is no centralized DOE database that houses financial information related to all complex-wide motor vehicle accidents. Why Do We Care? MVAs account for only 2% of all DOE injuries. MVAs account for 50% of all DOE deaths.

5. Texting while driving is the most dangerous activity because it involves all three types of distractions. (Distraction.gov) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Suggests Best Practices Reducing Crash Risk • Long Haul • Regular schedule/night rest/taking rest breaks • General • Seatbelts/familiarize with vehicle controls/map out route in advance • Distracted Driving • Cell phone use/eating/drinking/other (NIOSH Hazard Review Work-Related Roadway Crashes) Educate work force on the 3 types of distracted driving • Manual: Taking hands off the wheel • Visual: Taking eyes off the road • Cognitive: Taking mind off of driving (NIOSH Hazard Review Work-Related Roadway Crashes)

6. Major Corporations Have Recognized and Are Addressing The MVA Issue • Dow Chemical Case Study • To address the MVA problem, they created an MVA project team. After creating a project charter, which defined the project's timelines and objectives, the team began to collect information on the variables associated with MVAs. These variables included factors related to the accident, the driver, and the vehicle driven, along with details of the accident itself. • Johnson and Johnson Case Study • Successful safe driving programs include at least three common characteristics: • Routine driver training • Mandatory seatbelt usage • No cell phone use policy

7. Many Federal Programs Are Also Addressing the MVA Issue • The Navy Traffic Safety Program(File at Box.net) • US Air Force Traffic Safety Program (working draft) • DOE Summary of Self-Reported Motor Vehicle Information for Federal Employees for FY 09(File at Box.net) • The Department of Defense, the largest Executive Branch Organization, prohibited all cell phone usage in a moving vehicle (except hands-free devices), effective December 1, 2005. The White House issued Executive Order 13513 effective Dec 30, 2009: Federal employees shall not engage in text messaging (a) when driving GOV, or when driving POV while on official Government business, or (b) when using electronic equipment supplied by the Government while driving. "Texting" or "Text Messaging" means reading from or entering data into any handheld or other electronic device, including… texting, e-mailing, instant messaging, obtaining navigational information, or engaging in any other form of electronic data retrieval or electronic data communication.

8. The use of Passive Safety Systems to mitigate loss from MVAs has long been recognized and publicized • Mandatory seat belt usage • Mandatory use of motorcycle helmets • Child restraint/booster seats • Air bags • Other passive vehicle safety devices

9. Illegal Behaviors Contributing to Accidents Are Well-Known and Well-Regulated • Alcohol/drug consumption • Aggressive driving/tailgating • Speeding • Moving traffic violations While they cannot be ignored, these types of behaviors have already been publicized at length.

10. Inattentive driving behaviors present the best opportunity for a DOE Awareness Campaign • The effects of drowsy, emotionally upset, and/or distracted driving have recently come to the forefront as advances in technology present increased opportunity for inattentive driving. • Relinquishing manual, visual, or cognitive focus while driving • Drowsiness • Emotionally upset • Cell phone usage • Texting/web surfing/GPS • Eating /reading/grooming, etc. • Vehicle dynamics • Road/Weather conditions • External distractions • Nationwide, nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted or inattentive driver, and more than 500,000 were injured. (NHTSA)

11. There Are Collateral Benefits of a Distracted/Inattentive Driving Campaign • Injuries and errors are often attributable to inattention. • Between 1999 and 2008, roughly 3% of all ORPS events reported a cause related to “Inattention” or Mental Lapse” or “Too Much Activity.” • Slips, trips, and falls resulting in injuries and days away from work are frequently the result of inattention to surroundings. (Roughly 15% of all CAIRS cases between 1999 and 2008 involved slips, trips, or falls to the ground.) • A DOE-wide, distracted/inattentive driving awareness campaign, either by design or as a collateral benefit, may result in workers paying greater attention in all aspects of their work life.