Two Studies of Military Vehicle Operator Selection and Safety

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Two Studies of Military Vehicle Operator Selection and Safety

G. J. Medsker / J. L. Burnfield / D. J. Knapp / P. J. Legree

The objective was to identify characteristics commanders can use to select safer drivers from among soldiers. This project involved a literature review on accident predictors, statistical analysis of soldier characteristics and accidents, testing of new measures for predicting accidents, and development of practical guidelines leaders can use to select drivers. The majority of this project focused on conducting two empirical studies. Study 1 used Project A selection, personnel, and 1983-98 U.S. Army Safety Center (USASC) accident records for 60,500 soldiers who accessed in 1986-87. Study 2 used personnel data and 1983-98 USASC accident records, combined with responses from a new 1998 data collection involving 551 soldiers. Predictors included aptitude, temperament, driving behavior, transient, and demographic variables. Predictors' relationships with eight accident criteria were analyzed: costs, injuries, fatalities, work days lost, severity, total accidents, at-fault accidents, self- report accidents, and USASC accidents. The most useful predictors included perceptual aptitude, following regulations/orders, tacit knowledge tests, use of alcohol/drugs, moving violations tickets, a rugged individualism interest profile, attitudes toward Army discipline, stress, fatigue, seatbelt use, speed, time of accident, and being on post or duty.