System Thinking Approach in Road Crash Analysis: A Catalyst to Improved Road Safety in Zambia

Evans Mwamba¹, Gift Masaiti² and Francis Simui^3,

¹Institute of Distance Education, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia

²School of Education, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia

³Institute of Distance Education, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia / University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa

Cite this paper:
Evans Mwamba, Gift Masaiti and Francis Simui. System Thinking Approach in Road Crash Analysis: A Catalyst to Improved Road Safety in Zambia. Journal of City and Development. 2022; 4(1):1-10. doi: 10.12691/jcd-4-1-1

Abstract

Road Safety is currently one of the major problem for both developed and developing countries due to its negative impact on the economy. Although many scholars have advocated for numerous approaches in accident analysis, there seems to be an increase in road crashes every year. This study analyses two road crashes and one driver behavior case studies using system thinking analysis approach. The objective of this study was to develop models that could help in grasping the complexity in the underlying causes of road crashes in Zambia with the use of three case studies. Further in this discourse, we review literature to elicit discussion on the concept of ‘System Thinking’ in road crashes as a catalyst to improved road safety in Zambia. The case scenarios applied in the study illuminate how system thinking application can mitigate road crash investigation with the application of Swiss cheese accident causation and human factors analysis and classification system (HFACS) models. In addition the study focuses on how the application of system dynamics models with the use of causal loop diagram could help in understanding complex systems in road transportation and identify factors that contributes to road crashes. It is therefore concluded that adopting system thinking approach in road crash analysis could lead to greater understanding of the underlying factors and latent conditions in road crashes. This in turn will help inform the development of interventions, policies and strategies that will mitigate road safety challenges in road transport domain in Zambia and beyond.

Keywords:
active failure latent failure safe systems systems thinking causal loop diagram Zambia

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]	Manchishi, P.C., Simui, F., Ndhlovu, D., & Thompson, C.L. Tracing the Experiences of an Inaugural Postgraduate Distance Education Alumni cohort of the University of Zambia. Multidisciplinary Journal of Language and Social Sciences Education. 2020, 3 (1), 131-157.
[2]	Simui, F. Lived Experiences of Students with Visual Impairments at Sim University in Zambia: A Hermeneutic Phenomelogical Approach. Lusaka: University of Zambia. Unpublished PhD Thesis. 2018. http://dspace.unza.zm/handle/123456789/5884.
[3]	Simui, F., Kasonde-Ngandu, S., Cheyeka, A. & Kakana, F. Unearthing dilemmas in thesis titles: Lived experience of a novice researcher in Sub-Saharan Africa. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development, 2018, 5(4), 99-105. Journal of City and Development.
[4]	Simui, F., Kasonde-Ngandu, S. Cheyeka, A.M., Simwinga, J., and Ndhlovu, D. Enablers and disablers to academic success of students with visual impairment: A 10-year literature disclosure, 2007-201. British Journal of Visual Impairment, 2018. 36 (2), 163-174.
[5]	WHO. Global status report on road safety, Geneva. 2015.
[6]	Reason, J. Human error, Cambridge university press, Cambridge, UK. 1990.
[7]	RTSA. Zambian annual road traffic crash statistics report. Road Transport and Safety Agency, Zambia. 2019.
[8]	Richmond, B. Systems Dynamics/Systems Thinking: Let’s Just Get On With It. In International Systems Dynamics Conference. Sterling, Scotland. 1994.
[9]	OECD. International transport forum; Impact report. 2018.
[10]	Thaller C, Nieman, F, Dahmen, B, Clausen, U,. Leerkamp, B,. Describing and explaining urbn freight transport by system dynamics, Transportation research procedia, Volume 25, 2017.
[11]	Salmon, P.M., Lenne, M.G., Miles away or just around the corner? Systems thinking in road safety research and practice. Accid. Anal. Prev. 2015.
[12]	Hox, J.J., Multilevel Analysis: Techniques and Applications. 2nd ed. Routledge, New, 2010.
[13]	Tillman, W.A and Hobbs, G.E The accident prone automobile driver: A study of the psychiatric and social background, The American Journal of Psychatry. 1949.
[14]	Read, G., Beanland, V., Lenne, M., Stanton, N., Salmon, P. Integrating Human Factors Methods and Systems Thinking for Transport Analysis and Design. CRC Press. 2017.
[15]	Younginer N, Blake C, Jones S. Conflicting perspectives on the SNAP program and its participants: cost, health, individualism, and fraud. 2016.
[16]	SFMTA. Vision Zero San Francisco. Safe speeds San Francisco evaluation summary. San Francisco. 2020.
[17]	Hauer E, Bonneson JA, Council F, Srinivasan R, Zegeer C. Crash modification factors: foundational issues. Transport Res Rec 13. 2012.
[18]	Norton P. Four paradigms: traffic safety in the twentieth century United States. Technol Culture. 2015.
[19]	Törnberg A. Combining transition studies and social movement theory: towards a new research agenda. Theory and Society. 2018.
[20]	McAdam D, Tarrow S, Tilly C. Dynamics of contention. Cambridge Studies in Contentious Politics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2001.
[21]	National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Summary of motor vehicle crashes. Washington (DC). 2017.
[22]	Collaborative Sciences Center for Road Safety. What is a Safe Systems approach. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 2020.
[23]	Rasmussen, Jens Risk management in a dynamic society: A modelling problem. Safety Science, 1997, 27(2): 183-213.
[24]	The International Transport Forum. Towards zero: ambitious road safety targets and the Safe System approach. Paris: Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Publishing. 2008.
[25]	Reason, J. Managing the risk of organization accidents. Aldershot, Ashgate. 1997.
[26]	Leveson, Nancy G., System Safety Engineering: Back to The Future (tentative title). Unpublished draft. 2009.
[27]	Reason, J. Human error .Models and management. British medical Journal. 2000.
[28]	Shappell, S, A and Douglas, A. Wiegmann. The human factor analysis and classification system-HFACAS. Washington, DC, US department of Transport. 2000.
[29]	Otutu, F., and S. Agba. Incident analysis using root causes; Tripod Beta methodology, an SPDC experience paper presented at Nigera annual international conference and exhibition, Abuja. 2003.
[30]	Goh,Y M, Brown, H, and Spickett, J. Applying system thinking in applying concepts in analysis of major incidents and safety culture. Safety Science. 2010.
[31]	Bennet, Simon. The benefits of a system thinking Approach to Accident investigation. 2016.
[32]	Gall, M. D., Gall, J. P., & Borg, W. R. Educational research: An introduction. Boston: Pearson Education, 2007.
[33]	Mooka G. Mukelabai, Gistered Muleya & Francis Simui. Illuminating Impediments in Pre-Service Teachers preparation for Inclusive Pedagogies: A phenomenological approach at Mufulira College of Education, Zambia. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) Vol. 5 (4), 266-273. 2021.
[34]	Ary, et al. Introduction to Research in Education. Wadsworth: Cengage Learning, 2010.
[35]	Creswell, J. W. Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2007.
[36]	Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. Paradigmatic controversies, contradictions and emerging confluences. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), The landscape of qualitative research: Theories and issues (2nd ed., pp. 253-291). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. 2003.
[37]	Burnham, John C. The syndrome of accident proneness (Unfallneigung): Why psychiatrists did not adopt and medicalize it. History of Psychiatry, 2008; 19(3): 251-274.
[38]	Heinrich, Herbert William. Industrial accident prevention: A scientific approach. New York. McGraw-Hill. 1931.
[39]	Boateng, F.G. Why Africa cannot prosecute (or even educate) its way out of road accidents: insights from Ghana. Humanit Soc Sci Commun 2021; 8, 13.
[40]	Mwamba, E., Masaiti, G., and Simui, F., Dynamic Effect of Rapid Urbanization on City Logistics: Literature Gleened Lessons for Developing Countries. Journal of City and Development. 2021; 3(1): 37-47.