Driver Habits for Safe Driving and Accident Prevention

Have you ever had a close call while driving in the evening, blinded by the intense setting sun?

Or perhaps you have had a minor misunderstanding in a conversation with a colleague that nearly escalated into a major problem?

In our driving duties and daily work, we are constantly living side-by-side with the risk of human error.

When a problem occurs, we tend to get emotional and start looking for someone to blame, asking,
“Who made the mistake?”
“Whose responsibility is it?”

However, what is truly important is to think about
“Why did the error occur?”
“How could it have been prevented?”

As long as we are human, it is impossible to completely eliminate human error.

That is why knowing the “traps of error” that everyone is prone to falling into and taking countermeasures is the first step toward safety.

Here are two specific examples of human error that often occur in the field.

The first is a mistake caused by reduced visibility while driving.

There is a case where a driver, squinting because the setting sun was too bright, misread a height restriction sign and nearly collided with a railway bridge girder.

Especially during the time when the sun is setting and light enters directly into the field of vision, not only do signs become invisible due to the glare, but squinting also causes the field of vision to narrow significantly, leading to many accidents.

The second is a misunderstanding caused by ambiguous instructions.

There is a case where a suspicious object was found on a bus, and when an instruction was given to “take a photo of the suspicious object,” the recipient misunderstood it as being told to “take (pick up with hands)” it, and directly touched the dangerous item.

In tense situations, words that sound the same are easily misunderstood, and a lack of confirmation or assumptions can trigger errors.

In the past, there has even been a terrifying incident where a foreign object caught on a high-voltage power line was removed with bare hands due to a similar misunderstanding.

To prevent human error, we need not just willpower, but “concrete actions” based on an understanding of human characteristics and “environment creation” to break the chain of linked errors.

This is because humans are creatures whose judgment and attention easily decline due to stress such as environmental changes or impatience.

When factors like glare and tension overlap, we unconsciously commit mistakes that we would never make under normal circumstances.

For example, to prevent reduced visibility caused by the setting sun, it is effective to make good use of sunglasses or sun visors.

Using these makes it easier to clearly perceive the outlines of pedestrians and vehicles even in strong sunlight.

However, sun visors can block your upper field of vision, and sunglasses can cause a phenomenon where your surroundings suddenly appear dark when entering tunnels or shaded areas (dark adaptation), which carries the risk of overlooking hazards; therefore, it is essential to use them appropriately according to the situation.

Also, to prevent misunderstandings of words, it is important to make instructions more specific.

Choose words that cannot be interpreted in other ways, such as using 'photograph' instead of just 'take a picture'.

Furthermore, the person receiving the instructions must always repeat the content aloud to ensure thorough confirmation.

If the other person is flustered and lacks mental composure, showing consideration by first saying something to calm them down can also help prevent errors.

In this way, the use of concrete tools to compensate for human weaknesses and the thorough implementation of clear rules to prevent miscommunication are the most effective means of preventing human error.

We at Takizawa Logistics, as logistics professionals, make safety and accident prevention our greatest mission, and we strongly desire to be a company that can maintain the highest level of trust by enhancing our knowledge, skills, and humanity.

When problems or troubles occur, we aim to be an organization that views them as opportunities for growth, takes firm measures, and does not repeat the same mistakes.

In our daily work, we want to build a strong bridge of trust called teamwork by keeping in mind friendly greetings with a smile (Wagan), using thoughtful and kind language (Aigo), and thoroughly practicing reporting, communicating, and consulting.

Now, as you read this article, have you ever had a close call in your daily driving or work due to your own assumptions or ambiguous word choices?

From tomorrow, why not prepare sunglasses for the setting sun within reach, or try changing your instructions to colleagues to use 'slightly more specific language'?

Human error is caused by 'human weakness,' but it is our 'wisdom and consideration' that prevents it.

Instead of blaming someone for a mistake, think about and practice how everyone can work safely and comfortably.

We believe that the accumulation of such common-sense actions builds genuine trust and a safe society.

Let's incorporate small improvements we can make starting today and aim for safe and secure days.