Recovering Time or Chasing Rainbows? Exploring Time Perception, Conceptualization of Time Recovery, and Time Pressure Mitigation in Train Driving

Abstract

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONS The effects of performance pressure were explored by investigating how train drivers (i.e., Locomotive Engineers) perceived time, conceptualized its loss and recovery, and mitigated time pressure. Different perspectives of time as a fixed or an uncontrollable entity were identified, but the perception that time was being patrolled (i.e., policed) was unanimous. Mitigations associated with reprioritizing tasks and molding time were identified and related specifically to the different views. This study illustrates the problems associated with self-regulation when the contributing risk factors are a normal and everyday part of the organization and task environment. This study also provides new information regarding how train drivers view the time requirement in their task and manage their interactions with other functional groups. The results may be used as a basis for further work to glean insights into the types of error that find their way into the ‘driver misjudged’ category of critical failures.TECHNICAL ABSTRACT Background: A signal passed at danger happens when a train passes a rail signal set to a stop indication and encroaches into a railway where it does not have authority to be. In this respect, it is rather like a car going through a red light. Signal passed at danger events continue to impact safety-risk on railways, despite the introduction of technologies aimed at addressing their cause and effect. Previous work has identified time pressure and certain aspects of the way train drivers (Locomotive Engineers) and controllers (Dispatchers) interact as key risk factors. Exposure to these could give rise to distraction and/or inattention from safe driving, distort service delivery requirements, and fundamentally alter the driver's perception of risk. Purpose: This study undertook a new and more specialized analysis of existing data to investigate how drivers perceived time and conceptualized its loss and recovery within their driving task, and how they mitigated time pressure. Methods: Focus groups were conducted with train drivers from eight urban passenger rail organizations across Australia and New Zealand using a generative scenario simulation task. Results: Drivers had varying perspectives of time, either as a fixed aspect of the task, or as something that was uncontrollable. However, every driver perceived time as an aspect of the task that was being patrolled. Time pressure mitigation strategies associated with reprioritizing tasks and molding time were identified, both of which had specific relationships with other themes. A conceptual model is given integrating the findings of this study to previous work. Conclusions: Train drivers have diverse perspectives of the time requirement of their task, which influences their understanding of time loss and recovery. While some strategies to mitigate time pressure aim to reprioritize sub-tasks, others aim to remove time requirements from service delivery goals altogether. The three time-related themes and related mitigated strategies were novel to the study conducted and reported in this article.