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            In This Section
        eLearning: Attention
                The Attention Game
                Attention & Distraction
                                Attention: Definition and Examples
                Tasks & Demands
                Distraction: Definition and Examples
                Strategies to Manage Distractions
                The Cost of Distraction
                                First person: Distraction and its Consequences
                Attention Related Accidents
                BNSF coal train collision
                Metrolink 111 collision with UP. Chatsworth. Sept 2008
                Canadian National collision, Two Harbors MN Sept 2010.
                HiRail collision, Rockville, MD. Jan 2010
                Rear end collision, Mineral Springs NC
                Pedestrian fatality, West Jordan, UT
                Rear end collision, Westville IN
                Derailment, Bronx NY Dec 2013
                Port Authority collision, Hoboken NJ, May 2011
                Santiago de Compostela derailment, July 2013
                Amtrak 188 Derailment May 2015
                Bad Aibling, GER Collision, February 2016
                Human Systems Integration
                                Overview
                Human Factors Engineering
                Safety
                Training
                HSI Topics
                                User Centered Design
                Examples of Well-Designed Process & Technologies
                HSI Guidelines
                                Rail
                Air
                Road
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                HSI Methods
                                Overview
                Field Observation
                Link Analysis
                Functional Analysis
                Activity Analysis
                Workload Assessment
                Cognitive Task Analysis
                Verbal Protocol Analysis
                Rapid Prototyping
                Experimentation
                Usability Assessment
                
                Strategies to Manage Distractions
    

    
    
          A man drives a train.Used by permission of Transdev, Inc.**System D**evelopers

Those who build displays and workstations match the amount, pace, and layout of information with what operators need. Overloading with too much information can be as much of a problem as having too little information.

Rail companies use participatory design to include operators in the adoption and installation of new systems to best match system improvements to operator needs.



Operators

Here are some ideas on how operators manage distractions. You may actually be using some of them already because a number of these suggestions come from using safe driving habits. Most of us have experience with that. Even when suggestions seem fairly obvious, people often don’t comply with them. We hope to add some new ones to your toolbox! Keep these safe practices at the front of your mind, using whatever method works for you.

Turn off and stow your cell phone
	Refrain from eating, drinking, reading, grooming, smoking, and any other activities that may compromise your attention
	Avoid emotional or stressful conversations and thoughts
An example of a cheat sheet.Use memory aids (e.g. annotate your route sheet to create a “cheat sheet”) See example at right.
	Use environmental cues to support attentional focus. For example, one engineer said, “When I can smell the dog food factory, I should be off the throttle and transitioning to dynamic. When I can *see* the dog food factory, I know I should be breaking on dynamic and into minimal reduction on air brakes.”
	One engineer said, "I call my conductor after every stop."
	Get enough rest
	Be mindful of your health and avoid medications that may affect your response time while in the workplace
              Sources
      
                              
                  
                  Nemeth, C., Papautsky, L., Grome, A. & Fallon, C. (2014). Computer-Based Training in Human-Systems Integration . Technical Report. Federal Railroad Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Washington, DC. 20590
	Traffic Safety Facts. Research note, Distracted Driving 2011. (April 2013). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, DC.
	Strayer, D.L., Cooper, J.M., Turrill, J., Coleman, J. Medeiros-Ward, N., Biondi, F. (June 2013). Measuring Cognitive Distraction in the Automobile, AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, Washington, DC.
      
    
          Last updated: Tuesday, December 3, 2019 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

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