Efficient passage to incident Positive unambiguous recognition In - PDF document

� Accidents & research � Siren limitations � Human Vision � Vehicle markings � International livery � Warning lights A safer workplace or a flawed corporate vision? Rapid detection & perception over long and short distances Efficient passage to incident Positive unambiguous recognition In vicinity of ambulance on-scene Maximum visibility Around the entire scene � Day & night For transport or return phase � Adverse traffic & weather Location � Size � Safe recognition distance Shape � is Speed � 250 – 300 meters Intended path � ALLOWS A TIMELY APPROPRIATE SAFE RESPONSE

Rear-end Head-on 9% 15% Angle or sideswipe 56% Other object 20% Pre-hospital Emergency Care July/September 2001 6pm to Midnight Frozen Wet midnight to 6am 8% 23% 24% 17% Noon to Dry 6pm 69% 39% 6am to noon 20% Pre-hospital Emergency Care July/September 2001 Pre-hospital Emergency Care July/September 2001 Minor Moderate 8% 25% None 2% Averaged Statistics 6,500 ambulance crashes per year 10 people injured every day Severe Fatalities average 2-3 month 65% 74% - Ambulance is striking vehicle Pre-hospital Emergency Care July/September 2001 Pre-hospital Emergency Care July/September 2001

41% High risk driver* Speeding 22% Prior accidents Fatigue 19% Speeding Inadequate driver training 8% Suspensions Flawed dispatch procedures 1% DUI Ambulance driver distraction 11% Other vehicle convictions Pre-hospital Emergency Care July/September 2001 Pre-hospital Emergency Care July/September 2001 Fatal 6pm to Injury Midnight 2% midnight to 6am 20% 24% 7% Towed 51% Noon to 6pm 35% 6am to noon 33% Monash University Accident Research Centre 2005 Monash University Accident Research Centre 2005 21% Speeding afternoon 1% Fatigue dry roads 0% DUI clear weather 0.6% No seatbelt at intersections Monash University Accident Research Centre 2005

“It is 35 times more • Increasing litigation – driving research dangerous per capita to be • More operators being found at fault • Vehicle litigation is 10x more than in an ambulance in America malpractice than it is in Australia!” • Most cases settled out of court • intersection accidents = no insurance • Speeding proven, sinks any defence. Dr Nadine Levick • Response times are being questioned Safety researcher – Harlem Hospital • Dispatch procedures faulty Siren penetration – 60 kph 115 db 82 db 85 db � • Windows up 15 15 metre tres • Radio on Stephen Solomon • Air conditioner � Siren penetration–100 kph 8-12 m � 115 db 82 db 90 db � • Windows up 2 metr metres es • Radio louder De Lorenzo & Eilers + US DoT • Air conditioner Stephen Solomon

Age Experience & expectation Adaptation State Optical correction Arousal level Eye conditions Uncertainty Medication, drugs & alcohol Stephen Solomon Stephen Solomon Pupil Size Pupil Size Difference Contrast Factor Age Day (mm) Night (mm) (mm) 40 35 20 4.7 8.0 3.3 Amount of light 32x 30 30 4.3 7.0 2.7 25 40 3.9 6.0 2.1 20 16x 15 50 3.5 5.0 1.5 10 8x 60 3.1 4.1 1.0 5 4x 2x 1x 70 2.7 3.2 0.5 0 80 2.3 2.5 0.2 20 30 45 50 70 85 Age Green & Senders

Size Shape Age 20 Age 60 Colour Brightness Motion Age 80 Distance Visual Field location Duration Masking/camouflage Glare “Anything that lengthens reaction time increases the chance of an unwanted event” Stephen Solomon

� Decreases red sensitivity � Attenuates orange perception � Increases blue response � Green – yellow unchanged “The multicoloured (patterned) ambulance • Different colours force the eye to while distinctive, may change focus suffer decreased • Slows reaction time conspicuity because of the • Makes depth perception more difficult effects of camouflage” • Can directly affect braking distance • Dark colours + white are worst De Lorenzo & Eilers • Horizontal scanning pattern of eye • Vertical or slanted lines disrupt and slow the recognition of shape

Patterns, vertical stripes and 12 diagonal designs 10 8 Confuse size & shape 6 4 Slow object recognition 2 Waste reaction time 0 All types Daytime Intersection Tow Injury Red/White Lime-yellow/white Stephen Solomon • Reflectance = peak eye sensitivity • Best resolution • Rare colour in nature • Contrasts in rural & urban backgrounds, especially dusk & dawn • Unaffected by the Krovkov affect • Least chromatic aberration with white 82m 43m � � 27m � Lateral peripheral vision Stephen Solomon

Yellow green • Retro reflective/Fluorescent stripes over 10% of total surface area Chrome or Euro yellow • Absence of complex pattern • Reflective outline of ambulance White • Minimal badges, text & signs Additional colour should be about • Text in upper & lower case and black, dark blue or green 10% of total surface area

UK Battenberg + Euro Yellow RAL 1016 KKK-A-1 822 Enhanced visibility Standardised colour Resale value P aint-matching repairs Heat reflection Ease of cleaning

� Flashing & steady lights � Conspicuous � Colour � Recognizable � Visually co-ordinated � Define size and shape � Adequate light output in daylight & adverse weather � Indicate course & speed � Controlled to prevent glare � Generate appropriate response Incandescent • Loss of night vision by other drivers Halogen • Caused by glare from warning lights Gas Discharge (strobe) • Accident occurs after ambulance passes LED • Difficult to quantify in research Electroluminescence • Also happens at large road incidents Flashing RED lamp • Standardisation of colour > 50% believed stationary light was moving • Different types should not be mixed away = Increased risk of rear end collision • Lights should be synchronised • On time > off time Flashing BLUE lamp • Glare should be controlled 26% - 31% of believed stationary light was • Include steady burn lights approaching Berkhout

• Not perceived as quickly as steady lights • Attract and hold attention, once seen • Require increased light output over steady lights • Difficult to track when in motion • Often produce slower reaction times “Fewer lights, flashing slower & less brightly” Stephen Solomon • Most researchers agree • Increased safety at scene • Define a singular size and shape • One or two vehicles with flashing lights • Better indication of direction and speed • Other vehicles display yellow steady light • Isolates individual vehicles within groups • Shows individual vehicles among group • Difficult to achieve with current systems • Reduces the “wake effect” John.Killeen@act.gov.au