The workshop covered principles of design thinking, creative problem-solving and structured crash investigation using a Root Cause Analysis Matrix (RCAM) designed by CoERS
IIT Madras’ Centre of Excellence for Road Safety (CoERS) conducted a programme from Sept.6 to 9, for the Greater Chennai Traffic Police (GCTP) on ‘Training on Structured Crash Investigation using Root Cause Analysis Matrix (RCAM)’. The programme sought to impart design thinking skills to the investigation officer (IO) to adopt a human factors or empathy-based approach in identifying the root causes of an accident. This comprehensive systems approach to scientific enforcement, powers them to communicate their hypothesis effectively.
Conducted in two parts, the workshop consisted of a 3-day hands-on training session at IIT Madras followed by application of the learnings on field by the IOs in live cases and presenting their findings after a two-week period. The workshop aimed to equip the IO’s of the traffic police with the practical skills required for on-field data collection, collation, and analysis in a structured format.
Explaining the need for the programme, R.Sudhakar, IPS, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Greater Chennai Police, said, “This course will have immense value for the police. We sometimes miss the human aspect when investigating traffic accidents, but this will help us understand that, by instituting a mind-set change in how we conduct investigations. With a change in approach of our investigative methods, we hope to achieve a better closure rate which in turn will help us in bringing out more meaningful interventions to prevent future accidents from occurring.”
Prof. Venkatesh Balasubramanian, Head of CoERS and RBG Labs, Department of Engineering Design, IIT Madras, said, “By following a structured analysis, data-driven interventions can be formulated to prevent repetition and overlapping of activities. Often, the human element is forgotten when investigating a crash. Through this course, we are trying to initiate a mind-set change where investigating officers will have more empathy.”
