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TCRP A-33A Final Report 7 CHAPTER 1 Background 1.1 Problem Statement and Research Objectives Problem Statement Navigating the public transit system appears simple for frequent riders during routine times, but in an emergency the transportation system can bewilder all riders. In emergencies â no-notice or short-notice events â every aspect of communication becomes more difficult, particularly for people who canât understand spoken or written English. Studies of human brain response show that no one in an emergency has full capacity to receive information, apply reasoning, and make and act on sound decisions. (Galea 2010) Critical information must be far more concise and compelling than in normal circumstances. For especially vulnerable audiences, information must be conveyed so that it leaps communication barriers, including lack of language proficiency; physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities; age (very old or very young); and specific cultural orientations or other limiting factors. This research will explore issues raised by previous work in TCRP A-33 about providing direction to people who are unable to read or speak English as well as to usually competent English-speakers whose emergency-related responses (e.g., fear, haste, distraction) are barriers to understanding and action. Pictograms are picture-based communication tools that use illustrations with few or no words to communicate critical information. Pictograms can be advantageous when used because they are more noticeable than written communication; provide the public with concise, instantaneous information; improve comprehension of critical messages for people with functional needs; and reduce the need for message translation. Research Objectives The objectives of this research project include: 1. Locate and review especially relevant exemplars of existing information and research on driver communication with passengers and passenger behaviors in emergencies, particularly focused on bus transit and paratransit and including best or promising practices. 2. Develop and test with diverse audiences a set of pictograms around a pre-selected scenario, such as a weather disaster or terrorist attack. 3. Apply findings by conducting a pilot program around pictograms in emergency situations. Research tasks include the following: Task 1: Scan of relevant case studies, emerging practices, and reported failures with regard to using picture-based communication for wayfinding and behavior modification. Task 2: Interviews with transit providers to identify fundamental emergency messages to bus or paratransit passengers that would need to be conveyed in virtually every emergency transportation circumstance.
TCRP A-33A Final Report 8 Task 3: Interviews with experts who provide services to vulnerable populations to identify groups most likely to need pictograms. Task 4: Selection of a scenario useful for developing and testing messages (e.g., a weather evacuation). Task 5: Interim report. Task 6: Development of and testing a set of pictograms for selected scenario. Task 7: Pilot program with transit organizations to sample the effectiveness of pictograms to convey transportation information in routine and emergency situations. Task 8: Draft final report. Task 9: Final report 1.2 Scope of Study The scope of A-33A was limited by available funding and by time, as all parties involved believed the need for the research conclusions was pressing enough to warrant an accelerated schedule. While pictograms have potential relevance to many kinds of circumstances and audiences in the transportation environment, the scope of this study was limited to bus transit; pictograms presented by a driver (not affixed to the bus or part of a dynamic messaging system) on a stopped bus; an emergency scenario that did not involve an immediate life-safety event; and passengers with diverse barriers to communication, some involuntary (limited English proficiency, deaf or hard of hearing, cultural behaviors, etc.) and some voluntary (the use of personal digital sound devices). The research team drew on critical previous experience accrued from several recent and relevant projects. First, the literature review, field interviews and body of research for TCRP A-33: Communication with Vulnerable Populations: A Transportation and Emergency Management Toolkit (TCRP Report 150) provided to the team a number of resources to draw on in the identification of case studies and sources of information for this project. Additionally, as a part of the research team for NCHRP Project 20-59(32): A Transportation Guide for All-Hazards Emergency Evacuation (NCHRP Report 740), members of this team have interfaced with and have established relationships with transit and paratransit organizations throughout the United States that have proven extremely valuable as conduits to interview sources for interviews with transit providers. Additionally, NCHRP 20-59(32) research provided background and information helpful to setting the parameters for scenario selection. Finally, the research team relied on the pictogram research conducted for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of Strategic National Stockpile and Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services/Department for Public Health. This previous research and the work in development and testing of pictograms with populations experiencing communication barriers has proved valuable in accessing experts who provide services to vulnerable populations. In addition to the previous relevant experience of the research team, members of the project panel and project officer have
TCRP A-33A Final Report 9 served as sources of information related to identification of case studies, emerging practices, and recently released TRB study reports that brought added layers of information to the project team.
