Systemic Failures and Underlying Causes-An Analysis of the Heavy Vehicle Socio-Technical System

Abstract

The heavy vehicle transport industry has been described as one of the most dangerous occupations with a high death rate. It is part of a complex socio-technical system with many interacting parts which can adversely influence a drivers decision leading up to a crash. Drivers continued to be blamed for crashes without the underlying causes being identified as investigation methods do not take these causes into consideration. This paper explains the complexity of the socio-technical system and suggests it is necessary to look beyond a driver’s behavior and focus on the actions and inactions of other actors that have influenced the driver’s behavior to understand what has caused a crash.