Accident investigation encompasses the analysis of the facts that occurred during an accident. For transit, accidents generally mean vehicle crashes and employee and/or rider injuries, and other incidents. An investigation of an accident is conducted to identify the primary (root) cause of the crash (or incident) to make recommendations or take corrective actions to prevent the future occurrence of the same or a similar event, i.e., to learn, identify, control, and prevent hazards, risks, and potential consequences. When properly conducted, accident investigations also help expose deficiencies in a transit agency’s policies, procedures, training, and transit assets; reduce injury and workers’ compensation costs; and maintain and improve employee morale, as well as an agency’s safety culture.

This GDOT training session will introduce attendees to the benefits of effective transit accident investigation. Those benefits include: (1) early intervention by determining what occurred; (2) an opportunity to address or improve corrective measures; (3) enforcing agency policies and the safety culture; (4) encouraging employee communication, reporting, and safety data analysis; and (5) reduce or eliminate liability for injuries and property damage.