ABSTRACT
In September 2008 there was a train accident in California, USA in which 25 people were killed. It was the result of a train passing a red signal because the driver was distracted by sending text messages on his mobile phone. This prompted work to examine the risk from mobile phone distraction within the Great Britain (GB) rail industry.
Quantitative risk analysis showed that approximately one third of incidents where a red signal was passed were associated with distraction or inattention. Twelve out of 1,021 signals passed at danger were associated with mobile phone use in a three-year period. Literature review and task analyses were used to predict the performance decrements that might be expected in train driving when using a mobile phone.
The convenience of communication offered by mobile phones is also important to consider. In-cab radio is not available on all trains. Freight and engineering train operations rely on the flexibility afforded by mobile phone communications. Workshops with operational experts were conducted to explore the operational constraints relevant to rail-industry-wide mobile phone policy.
