An optimal solution for enhancing ambulance safety:​ implementing a driver performance feedback and monitoring device in ground emergency medical service vehicles

Levick, Nadine R.; Swanson, Jon

Affiliations

¹Maimonides Medical Center, New York, NY

²MetroEMS Executive Director, Little Rock, AR

Abstract

A prospective study was conducted to determine if emergency vehicle driver risk behavior could be improved with an onboard computer-monitoring device, with real time auditory feedback. Data were collected over 18 months from 36 vehicles in a metropolitan EMS group, with >250 drivers. In >1.9 million recorded miles, performance improved from a baseline low of 0.018 miles between penalty counts to a high of 15.8 miles between counts. Seatbelt violations dropped from 13,500 to 4. There was a 20% saving in vehicle maintenance costs within 6 months. This technology demonstrated sustained cost savings in regards to vehicle maintenance as well as minimal retraining of drivers.

Cited Works (2)

Year	Entry
2001	Levick N, Li G, Yannaccone J. Development of a dynamic testing procedure to assess crashworthiness of the rear patient compartment of ambulance vehicles. In: Proceedings of the 17th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 4-7, 2001; Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
2001	Levick NR, Donnelly BR, Blatt A, Gillespie G, Schultze M. Ambulance crashworthiness and occupant dynamics in vehicle-to-vehicle crash tests: preliminary report. In: Proceedings of the 17th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 4-7, 2001; Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Cited By (1)

Year	Entry
2007	Levick N, Wiersch L, Nagel ME. Real world application of an aftermarket driver human factors real time auditory monitoring and feedback device: an emergency service perspective. In: Proceedings of the 20th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 18-21, 2007; Lyon, France.