SPAD RISK 1: ECS Driving [Empty Coach Stock] Flashcards
What is ECS Driving
Empty Coach Stock Driving [includes light loco]
Why IS ECS Driving awareness important?
Because it is in ECS and light loco that has a disproportionate amount of SPADS.
What are the the 7 contributing factors that leave a driver vulnerable to a ECS SPAD?
- Signal Type
- Signal Sighting
- Driver Experience
- Route Knowledge
- Changing Ends
- Job and Finish
- Likelihood of encountering red signals
Explain why ‘signal type’ as a contributory factor to ECS SPADS?
Passenger trains in service would not normally be controlled by position lights, therefore when driving and ECS the driver is not as experienced or used to following position light signals and thus increase the like hood of complacency or mistakes, such as missing one.
Explain why ‘signal sighting’ as a contributory factor to ECS SPADS?
Position light signals at ground level are more likely to be obscured by foliage and it could be that signals that do not control passenger trains get less attention for signal sighting issues, therefore more likely to be obscured and difficult to see.
Explain why ‘driver experience’ as a contributory factor to ECS SPADS?
High rate of ECS SPADS with drivers in the 0-2 years’ experience range.
- less route knowledge
- less likely to challenge signaller if something doesn’t feel right
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Explain why ‘route knowledge’ as a contributory factor to ECS SPADS?
More complicated nature of some
movements to and from depots, and perhaps less emphasis on learning these types of movements
compared with knowledge of the main line. Therefore, less precise knowledge will lead to increased risk of mistakes and SPADS.
Explain why ‘changing ends’ as a contributory factor to ECS SPADS?
Movements to and from depots and when shunting are much more likely to involve the driver changing ends than when driving passenger trains. There are many reasons why changing ends can be a factor in SPADs including:
- Driver distraction: changing ends fragments his task and causes a distraction
- Poor signal sighting: When getting in new cab he may be positioned in such a way that he cant see the starting away signal clearly.
- Driver observed incorrect signal when moving through the train and mistook it for his.
Explain why ‘job and finish’ as a contributory factor to ECS SPADS?
The culture of finishing the diagram and going straight home has lead to the potential for drivers to rush the last part of their job to finish on time or early, therefore not entirely concentrating and thus increases the risk of mistakes and SPAD’s, especially when ECS movements are fall at the end of a drivers shift.
Explain why ‘likelihood of red signals’ as a contributory factor to ECS SPADS?
ECS are given a lower priority than active passenger trains, therefore they are more likely to encounter delays and red signals. This in itself increases the chance of a SPAD, but also coupled with ‘job and finish’ the level of risk increases significantly, impatient, frustrated drivers fall victim to complacency.
What time of day are SPAD’s more likely to occure?
Evening when coming to the end of a shift. The result of drivers wanting to get finished and start thinking about plans for that evening.
