Learning by Impact Driving Training: A Case Study from Ecuador

Abstract

Road traffic incidents are ranked by the World Health Organization (WHO) among the top 10 causes of fatalities worldwide. According to reports from the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP), driving-related incidents continue to be the single largest cause of fatalities in the oil and gas industry. With an increase in driving-related activities in its operations in Ecuador, an oilfield services company reinforced its approach for driving training in that country by developing a "Learning by Impact" component. Based on the principle that people learn by repetition and impact, the approach represents a change of focus compared to the previous training, which was mostly theoretical. The objective of the "Learning by Impact" initiative was to encourage safe driving behavior combined with good driving skills training in order to further improve driving safety performance. The training program implements real-life situations such as rollover, frontal crash, seatbelt and motorcycle convincer simulator devices, reaction stick (using a cell phone), vehicle pre-inspection and role-plays. The training is consistent with IOGP 365 guidelines for driver safety improvement. Equipment was custom designed and built to provide simulators of vehicle accident situations. These simulators are portable, enabling the training program to be easily moved to multiple locations in the country wherever driver training is required. This paper describes how the program was developed and implemented, and how the approach, with its focus on practical experience of simulated real-life situations, is considered to have been successful in increasing drivers' awareness of their behavior and its potential impact of driving incidents.