Nashville MTA:Safety

Bob BaulsirMetropolitan Transit Authority

General Manager of Administration

Nashville, TN

The Facts

• Distraction from cell phone use while driving (hand held or hands free) extends a driver's reaction as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent. (University of Utah)

• The No.1 source of driver inattention is use of a wireless device. (Virginia Tech/NHTSA)

• Drivers that use cell phones are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. (NHTSA, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)

• Driving while distracted is a factor in 25 percent of police reported crashes.

• Driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37 percent   (Carnegie Mellon)

(www.nationwide.com/newsroom/dwd-facts-figures)

Risk of using cell phone while driving

Cell Phone Task Risk of Crash or Near Crash Event

• Light Vehicle/Cars– Dialing 2.8 times as high as non-distracted driving– Talking/Listening 1.3 times as high as non-distracted driving– Reaching for object 1.4 times as high as non-distracted

driving

• Heavy Vehicles/Trucks– Dialing 5.9 times as high as non-distracted driving– Talking/Listening 1.0 times as high as non-distracted driving– Reaching for object 6.7 times as high as non-distracted

driving– Text messaging 23.2 times as high as non-distracted driving

(Source: VirginiaTech Transportation Institution Study)

Managing Distractions

• Personal Electronic Devices– Zero Cell Phone Tolerance– Includes hand held radios

• Passenger Distractions– Avoid unnecessary communications. If

conversation cannot be avoided do so while maintaining focus on the safe operation of the vehicle.

– Anytime the conversation impacts safe driving, pull the vehicle off the road to finish the conversation.

MTA Policy

• Zero Cell Phone Tolerance– Implemented on November 2009

• Use of any hand held electronic, including radio hand-set, by any employee operating a

revenue vehicle is in motion is strictly prohibited• Violation will result in termination of employment

• All drivers must place hand held device in Phone Blox when entering the vehicle and before starting engine.

Phone Blox- What is it?

• A device engineered to restrict cell phones and the distractions they cause– Designed to keep the focus of the driver on

the road

Phone Blox- How does it work?

• Before staring vehicle, operator places all personal mobile devices inside padded interior of Phone Blox.

• While ignition is on, Phone Blox remains locked. Mobile devices are held safely inside of Phone Blox and will not send or receive signals. An LED light indicates the unit is locked.

• When vehicle is at complete stop and engine is turned off, Phone Blox unlocks, allowing operator to retrieve mobile devices.

Phone Blox-Fast Facts

• Supervisors can easily check to see that operators are using Phone Blox

• No need to turn off cell phone while inside Phone Blox, all signals blocked by the box

• Passive Device - FCC compliant and will not interfere with passenger mobile phones

• Redundancy – can block signals in absence of power

• Easy to install – simple to use

Phone Blox installed on dashboard

Phone Blox activates when engine starts – Green light turns on

Back image: secured by cable wire

MTA Training Program

• All new operators receive defensive driving course for 8 hours.

• Operators receive 4 hrs. refresher classroom defensive driving course once a year on anniversary start date

• Operators receive 4 hrs. refresher live behind the wheel course

• Pass written defensive driving test

Other Safety Standards

• Cameras installed on all buses (3 to 6 cameras per bus)

• Sticker placed in all buses “Please do no distract drivers when bus is moving. Safe operation requires their full attention.”

“Do not distract drivers” sticker

Summary

• Safety Statistics:

– Zero distracted driving related accidents

Questions?

Contact Information

• Ginny Foster(314) 960-1645gfoster@redlineelectronics.com

• Electrical Engineering studentParks College of Engineering, Aviation, and TechnologySaint Louis University3450 Lindell BoulevardSt. Louis, Missouri 63103

• Bob Baulsir • Robert.baulsir@nashville.gov•