Abstract
Recent accidents in commuter rail operations and analyses of rule violations have highlighted the need for better understanding of the contributory role of distraction and attentional errors. Distracted driving has thoroughly been studied in recent years, but distraction during rail operations has been less extensively examined. This Discussion Panel involves four speakers who will examine different aspects of the distraction issue. Topics will include a systems analysis of rail operations, analysis of rule violations and surveys of locomotive engineers, description of a high-fidelity rail simulator, and results from a two-part study using this simulator to examine distraction and attentional errors in commuter rail operations. Implications of the findings for reducing major rule violations and improving the safety of rail operations will be discussed.
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