Human Aspects Of Driving Flashcards
5 main elements of advanced driving and higher mental processing abilities
- Observation
- perception
- decision making
- judgement forming
- action monitoring
7 specialised elements of particular importance in police driving?
Time sharing -ability to carry out several tasks at same time to equally high standard
Attention distribution - facility to distribute attention Over a wide range so can deal with all aspects of task systematically and methodically
Situational awareness - acquire a keen sense of awareness about himself, his vehicle and surroundings. Employ all senses to gather info and build up accurate mental picture of the situation
Plan formulating - able to formulate precise plan of action and make accurate rapid decisions during difficult phases of driving
Anticipation - develop exceptional powers of anticipation, using observation skills and experience to predict how situation is likely to unfold
Judgement making - possess keen powers of judgement so in stressful operations your driving is appropriate accurate and safe
Alertness - bring a high degree of alertness vigilance and concentration so that no potential hazards are missed and nothing is left to chance
What can you do to counteract the limitations on the brain and assist the brain to process information?
- maintain regular practice of driving techniques
- ensure the brain is provided with as much info as possible about he surroundings by sharpening up observation and perceptual skills and develop a keen sense of awareness
- make use of the ‘system’ of car control and keep scan of attention as wide as possible to enable you to negotiate hazards
Definition of stress (in relation to driving)
The perception by the driver I the demands placed upon him and his ability to cope with these demands
What categories of operational stress may emergency drivers be exposed to?
Anticipatory responses Alarm reception Task related stress Life threatening stress Cumulative incident stress Post error dwell reaction Work related stress
Anticipatory responses?
The anticipation of facing difficult or demanding tasks (ie nerves such as like before an exam!)
Alarm reaction?
Familiar response to the sudden startle of an arm bell/ emergency phone call or call out by control to attend an incident as an ‘I grade’
Symptoms of alarm response
Dry mouth
Sweaty palms
Pounding heart
Increase in rate and depth of breath
Task related stress
Anticipatory stress responses to an operation
Can include stress caused by:
- Weather conditions on road
- Obstacles / hazards on road
- Problems locating incident
- Lack of detail about incident conditions
- Pressure to reach incident on short space of time
- Anxieties about need to carry out tasks which are less familiar (ie first aid)
- Overloading of input
Symptoms of task related stress
Sweaty palms
Increased heart rate
Faster and deeper breathing
Tension of back and neck muscles which may induce headache and back pain
Muscle tremor
Behavioural affects of task related stress
Omission- driver fails to response To situation
Error - driver responds but takes action which is inappropriate or dangerous
Approximation - driver delays decision when faced with multiple tasks until workload decreases to acceptable level
Coning of attention - driver reduces span of attenuation and concentrates on one narrow aspect of task, missing potentially Serious hazards
Symptoms of anticipatory responses?
Vomiting Needing wee Loose Bowles Nausea Gas Loss of appetite Difficulty sleeping
Life threatening stress?
When a fast drive / certain driving situations may pose threat to the well being and safety of self, other occupants of vehicle, members of public or other road users
Symptoms of life threatening stress
Freezing on the spot - unable to respond , escape or take evasive action (state of muscle rigidness)
OR
Blind panic - risk management and judgement taking are completely abandoned - motor programmes associated with escape go into automatic operation. Persons runs round in uncoordinated and Uncontrolled manner
Cumulative incident stress?
Repeated exposure to distressing circumstances. Unpleasant or distressing images may be recalled and interfere with normal interpretation of an event
