Abstract
This article discusses the issues related to the safety for the transport of dangerous goods by road. Research on accidents in transport unambiguously points to the human factor, which is the most responsible for causing accidents. Determining the causes of driver unreliability in the human−vehicle−environment system requires thorough research. Unfortunately, in this case, experimental research with human involvement is limited in scope. This leaves modeling and simulation of the behavior of the human factor, i.e., the driver transporting dangerous goods. The human being, because of its complexity, is a challenging element to parameterize. The literature presents various attempts to model human actions. Herein, the authors used heuristic methods, specifically fuzzy set techniques, to build a human factor model. In these models, human actions were specified using a verbal or linguistic description. The specificity of the fuzzy sets allowed for “naturally” limiting the “precision” in describing human behavior. The model was built based on the author’s questionnaire and expert research, based on which individual features were selected. Then, the traits were assigned appropriate states. The output parameter of the model was λL—the intensity of human error. The obtained values of the intensity of the accident caused by the driver’s error were implemented into the author’s method of risk assessment. They constituted one of the factors determining the probability of an accident in the transport of dangerous goods, which allowed for determining the optimal route for the transport of these goods characterized by the lowest risk of an undesirable event on the route. The article presents the model’s assumptions, structure, and the features included in the model, all of which have the most significant influence on shaping the intensity of human error. The results of the simulation studies showed a diversified effect of the analyzed characteristics on the driver’s efficiency.
Highlights
In recent years, priority has been given to measures aimed at ensuring safety in both passenger and freight transport, and, in the latter case, in particular, the transport of dangerous goods
The study was the inspiration for the development of a new method of risk assessment taking into account the human factor and intended for use in the transport of dangerous goods
The estimation of the parameter λL is a component of a model called the band model, by means of which it is possible to generate the probability of an accident occurring in the road transport of dangerous goods, and to propose the optimal route for the transport of dangerous goods with the lowest risk of an adverse event
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. On the map of Poland, there are places characterized by a high intensity of accidents and incidents in road transport, including those involving goods with hazardous properties. It is extremely important to have a comprehensive approach to analyzing the causes of dangerous events, taking into account the main elements of the transport process, namely: man (driver), technology (vehicle), and environment. The systems approach maintains that most errors made in complex systems are caused by hidden or error-producing conditions (e.g., inadequate equipment and training, poor design, maintenance errors, and ill-defined procedures) This approach is important in road transport. The study was the inspiration for the development of a new method of risk assessment taking into account the human factor and intended for use in the transport of dangerous goods.
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