What inspired Munich Re and Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association (TMA) to host our first Vision Zero Workshop
Like most professionals, a good portion of my day is dedicated to my daily commute. This daily commute through backroads and the infamous “Route 1 Corridor” has many challenges. As someone that has spent most of my life in New Jersey, you could say that my natural driving style is on the aggressive side. However, I have been experimenting with various apps and aftermarket technology that has taught me some things, and even beeped at me to possibly prevent a crash. I have learned where posted speed limits are lower than I thought, why I should not follow as close, and even how to earn rewards for “smooth maneuvers.”
This got me thinking, how many people would benefit from improving their driving behavior and how many more crashes could be prevented if everyone had access to this aftermarket technology? By chance, I met with a local official and we talked about how her municipality could benefit from the work we are doing at Munich Re to increase safety and reduce crashes. Inspired by this discussion, I partnered with Cheryl Kastrenakes and Jerry Foster of the Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association, to organize Central New Jersey’s first Vision Zero workshop on May 3, 2018. I really appreciate the time from the speakers that shared their experience and knowledge:
- Leigh Ann Von Hagen PP, AICP - Senior Researcher, Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center, Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
- Kim Wiley-Schwartz - Assistant Commissioner for Education and Outreach, New York Department of Transportation
- Georges Jacquemart - Principal, BFJ Planning
- Moran David - General Manager for North America, Mobileye
- Ed Dubens - Executive Vice President, eDriving
Vision Zero is the Swedish approach to road safety. It can be summarized in one sentence: No loss of life is acceptable. The workshop gathered township officials, planners, engineers, police officers, health officers to learn about Vision Zero and two of the technologies offered by our Smart Mobility program that can help municipalities reduce crashes.
There were many takeaways from the meeting, however three key items stood out for me:
- According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration’s National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey, 94% of crashes are due to human error. We all need to be asking, how many of these crashes are preventable?
- Achieving the Vision Zero goal in any one city, municipality etc. requires the right mix of “ingredients” from the following fields: engineering, planning, technology, health, safety and education to develop the best solution for reducing crashes in a respective jurisdiction. There is no single "right" answer.
- There are many people passionate about reducing crashes. By partnering with communities we have the ability to make a difference right here, right now.
Read more about how our Smart Mobility program utilizes LossDetect™ to determine just how many potential losses could be prevented by implementing technology solutions and how we can work together to make Vision Zero a reality.
Taking the balance of 2023 as a slow burn!
6yI find that when all the people get in a room they complicate the problem. There is a tendency to fractionate the problem into it's constituent parts - engineering, health, roads, planning etc and so on. We create what's called a 'wicked problem'. One that is impossible to solve because of its incomplete, contradictory and changing requirements. If human error is responsible for 94% of the problem the big win is 1) remove the humans (Uber just pulled up stumps on that one) 2) get people to realise that driving is a complex high order cognitive activity that requires vigilance all the time. So many people drive tired, hungover, absent mindedly, dehydrated, preoccupied with some thing else. It is a high vigilance activity and we often treat it a a break between meetings. My view is that we can measure our driving via things like YouToggle ( disclaimer : not a shareholder) and educate children that bad driving habits cause long tail injury, social catastrophe and unbearable grief. For an example look at www.roadwhyz.com.au. Education (roadwhyz) + Technology (YouToggle) + Insurance Innovation (https://goo.gl/agdjKe) = Step Change in Road Trauma
Transit Industry Consultant at Robotic Research, LLC
6yMike, Kudos to Munich Re and Greater Mercer TMA for the Vision Zero workshop. Helping to save lives!
Programs like Liberty Mutual's RightTrack program offers discounts based on driving behaviors during a 90-day observation period. Certainly makes you think twice about how you (make that I) drive.
Thanks for sharing, Mike....
Strategic business leader with extensive professional services practice management experience. Small business owner and active member of local business associations and networking groups.
6yGreat stuff, Mike.