research for winter highway maintenance Defensive Driving for Snowplow Operators Final Report Virginia Tech Transportation Institute Project 1031541/CR18-01 June 2020 Pooled Fund #TPF-5(353) www.clearroads.org Defensive Driving for Snowplow Operators Final Report Prepared by: Matthew C. Camden, Jeffrey S. Hickman, Scott Tidwell, Susan A. Soccolich, Rebecca Hammond, & Richard J. Hanowski Virginia Tech Transportation Institute Center for Truck and Bus Safety 3500 Transportation Research Plaza Blacksburg, VA 24061 Submitted: June 15, 2020 Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No 3. Recipient’s Catalog No CR 18-01 4. Title and Subtitle 4. Report Date Defensive Driving for Snowplow Operators June 2020 5. Performing Organization Code 7. Authors 8. Performing Organization Matthew C. Camden, Jeffrey S. Hickman, Scott Tidwell, Susan A. Report # Soccolich, Rebecca Hammond, Richard J. Hanowski CR 18-01 9. Performing Organization Name & Address 10. Purchase Order No. Virginia Tech Transportation Institute 3500 Transportation Research Plaza 11. Contract or Grant No. Blacksburg, VA 24061 1031541 12. Sponsoring Agency Name & Address 13. Type of Report & Period Clear Roads Pooled Fund Covered Minnesota Department of Transportation Final Report; 395 John Ireland Blvd [March 2019 – August 2020] St. Paul, MN 55155-1899 14. Sponsoring Agency Code 15. Supplementary Notes Project completed for Clear Roads Pooled Fund program, TPF-5(353). See www.clearroads.org. 16. Abstract An often-overlooked aspect of winter maintenance operations is snowplow operators’ risk of a crash. The goal of this project was to examine key causes of collisions involving snowplows, identify defensive driving strategies snowplow operators can use to prevent crashes, and develop two comprehensive and engaging snowplow operator training modules on safe and defensive driving. Questionnaires, interviews, and crash data were used to develop the two modules to provide snowplow-specific information that operators can use to prevent crashes. The first module includes strategies the snowplow operator can use to prevent crashes caused by another vehicle. The second module focuses on general safe driving practices that the operator can use to prevent crashes often caused by the snowplow operator. Winter maintenance agencies can use the modules to help snowplow operators become better defensive drivers and avoid collisions with other vehicles and objects. 17. Key Words Distribution Statement Snowplow, defensive driving, crash prevention, No restriction. This document is available to the operator, training public through the Clear Roads Organization and the Minnesota Department of Transportation. 19. Security Classification 20. Security Classification 20. No. of pages 21. Price (this report) (this page) 79 -0- Unclassified Unclassified Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page is authorized Defensive Driving for Snowplow Operators Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................................... VI METHODS ................................................................................................................................................................ VI Crash Data Collection ........................................................................................................................................ vi Questionnaire Data Collection ........................................................................................................................... vi Interview Data Collection ................................................................................................................................... vi Content Analysis ................................................................................................................................................ vii RESULTS ................................................................................................................................................................. VII DEFENSIVE DRIVING TRAINING MODULE ............................................................................................................... VII SAFE DRIVING TRAINING MODULE ....................................................................................................................... VIII CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................................................................... VIII INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................................... 1 PROJECT OBJECTIVE .................................................................................................................................................. 2 LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................................................................... 3 ASSESSING CRASH CAUSATION ................................................................................................................................. 3 PRIOR EFFORTS TO TRAIN SNOWPLOW OPERATORS .................................................................................................. 4 DEFENSIVE DRIVING TRAINING ................................................................................................................................. 5 CURRENT DEFENSIVE DRIVING TRAINING SOURCES ................................................................................................. 5 PURPOSE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF VIDEO EXAMPLES IN EDUCATION AND TRAINING ................................................ 7 CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................................................................................... 8 METHODS ................................................................................................................................................................... 9 QUESTIONNAIRE DATA COLLECTION ......................................................................................................................... 9 SNOWPLOW CRASH DATA ....................................................................................................................................... 10 INTERVIEW DATA COLLECTION ............................................................................................................................... 10 CONTENT ANALYSIS ................................................................................................................................................ 11 QUESTIONNAIRE AND INTERVIEW RESULTS .............................................................................................. 12 QUESTIONNAIRE RESULTS ....................................................................................................................................... 12 Snowplow Crashes ............................................................................................................................................. 12 Snowplow Crash Contributing Factors .............................................................................................................. 12 Current Safety Training for Snowplow Operators ............................................................................................. 13 Recommended Snowplow Operator Safety Training Topics .............................................................................. 13 INTERVIEW RESULTS ............................................................................................................................................... 14 Fixed Object Strikes ........................................................................................................................................... 14 Run-off-Road Crashes ........................................................................................................................................ 14 Backing Crashes ................................................................................................................................................ 14 Rear-ended by Another Vehicle.......................................................................................................................... 14 Wing Plow Strikes .............................................................................................................................................. 15 DEFENSIVE DRIVER TRAINING FOR SNOWPLOW OPERATORS ............................................................ 16 DEFENSIVE DRIVING TRAINING ............................................................................................................................... 16 Slide Summary.................................................................................................................................................... 16 SAFE DRIVING TRAINING ......................................................................................................................................... 18 Slide Summary.................................................................................................................................................... 19 CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................................................................................ 22 Page | i