Is there a link between SPADs and post-qualified drivers?
Industry concerns about a possible connection between SPADs and PQ drivers has led to further research. RSSB’s Joe Wilson reports.
There are concerns throughout the industry about a potential increase in SPADs involving post-qualified (PQ) drivers. People are also asking whether Covid has affected driver training, pushing up SPAD rates. To find out, RSSB took a deep-dive into SPAD data for 2021/22 and 2022/23. We also surveyed PQ drivers. These are our findings.
Data shows that the proportion of SPADs involving PQ drivers is fairly consistent, at around 20% for the period analysed. This is also similar to the percentage of PQ drivers within the companies who supplied data. Therefore, the number of SPADs do not seem disproportionate in relation to the number of PQ drivers.
Covid caused more breaks in training, which meant it took longer to complete courses. Additionally, more training was done online or remotely. In the survey, PQ drivers whose training was impacted by the pandemic reported slightly lower confidence. They also said they were slightly less satisfied with the support they received during training.
PQ drivers said the main reasons they would be involved in SPAD events are:
a lack of knowledge about a route, specific route risks or track conditions
inexperience or a lack of exposure to different scenarios or conditions on the route
over-confidence and a greater chance of becoming distracted.
These issues and potential mitigations should be considered as part of driver training and the management of the transition to PQ driver status.
PQ drivers are more likely to pass signals that have been passed before, shows our analysis. This points to the training, route learning and route knowledge that PQ drivers require.
No connection has been found between PQ drivers and time of the day the event occurred.
Rail companies can make the following changes to help PQ drivers:
Increasing exposure to out-of-the-ordinary occurrences (such as a tree on the line).
Ensure frequent driving.
Strengthen relationships with support staff. Having informal meetings/assessments with managers and ride-outs, increase visibility of PQ support staff.
Operational learning: sharing experiences between PQ and experienced drivers, including the immediate and underlying causes of events.
Coaching: hold skills workshops, in-person briefings, personal development session (on non-technical skills, for example).
Training: accommodating different learning styles, increasing refresher training, utilising technology in a blended learning approach.
Fatigue, health and wellbeing: take into account experience, increase welfare check-ins, and improve responses to reports of fatigue.
Our research findings will be published in May. Sign up to our Safety News newsletter to make sure you get them.
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