https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/95m8ok/im_dennis_collins_a_highway_accident_investigator/
created by NTSBOfficial on 08/08/2018 at 14:00 UTC*
200 upvotes, 63 top-level comments (showing 25)
2: https://instagram.com/ntsbgov
3: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ntsb/
4: https://facebook.com/ntsbgov
5: https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/
6: https://youtube.com/user/ntsbgov
7: https://flickr.com/photos/ntsb
Dennis
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hi, I’m Dennis, a Senior Accident Investigator at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every US aviation accident and significant accidents in other modes of transportation, including highway, to improve future safety. NTSB investigators like me are launched to major accidents soon after they occur to begin investigations on-scene.
In my capacity as an NTSB investigator, I investigate the human factors of highway accidents across the United States, including distraction, fatigue, training, licensing, and toxicology. The study of human factors is where engineering and psychology overlap, and because investigating how humans interact with vehicles is key to improving traffic safety, the NTSB uses human factors specialists in its investigations.
Since joining the NTSB in 2001, I’ve investigated over 100 accidents across the country, including:
- Biloxi, MS (bus-train collision)
- Davis, OK (truck collision involving synthetic marijuana)
- Cooper Township, MI (truck-cyclists collision)
- Cranbury, NJ (fatigue, Tracy Morgan)
- Santa Monica, CA Farmer's Market (pedal misapplication)
- Minneapolis, MN (I-35W Collapse)
- Munfordville, KY (cell phone use)
- Boston, MA (the Big Dig)
- Mount Vernon, WA (pilot car bridge collapse)
- Orland, CA (motor coach fire)
I have an M.S. and a B.S. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech and I’ve been studying the human factors of driving for over 18 years. Thanks for having me, Reddit—AMA!
9: https://truepic.com/p0svp8q9/
10: https://truepic.com/p0svp8q9/
11: https://imgur.com/gallery/uOvEifM
12: https://imgur.com/gallery/uOvEifM
Follow NTSB on social media for more: twitter.com/ntsb, instagram.com/ntsbgov, facebook.com/ntsbgov, youtube.com/user/ntsbgov, flickr.com/photos/ntsb, https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/[13][14] and check out our website for investigation reports and updates: ntsb.gov[15]
13: https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/
14: https://safetycompass.wordpress.com/
Comment by [deleted] at 08/08/2018 at 14:12 UTC
41 upvotes, 1 direct replies
[deleted]
Comment by jacquigreene123 at 08/08/2018 at 14:25 UTC
21 upvotes, 1 direct replies
How many car accidents are caused by human error versus mechanical malfunctions ? Asked by Randolph ES students
Comment by brisetta at 08/08/2018 at 14:26 UTC
15 upvotes, 1 direct replies
What is the most unexpected cause for a major incident that you have ever found as a result of an investigation?
How does it feel to have such a fascinating job which gives families the answers they need after something tragic happens?
Has anyone ever disagreed with you strongly enough to make a huge fuss about it or are your conclusions generally accepted without too much convincing required?
Which case has had the biggest impact on you personally?
Thank you for what you do! I think you provide a service for which the value can never be measured highly enough. And a special thank you for reading and/or replying to my comment. Have an incredible day!
Comment by plainrane at 08/08/2018 at 14:08 UTC
30 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Do you/would you ride a motorcycle?
Comment by Kirkland_Sig at 08/08/2018 at 14:25 UTC
11 upvotes, 1 direct replies
First of all thank you for the great work you and the NTSB does. You guys do amazing, important work that I don’t think gets recognized enough. On to the question(s):
-I imagine a lot has changed with human factors since you started in 2001. What has changed the most in what’s causing crashes and making them more or less survivable in the last 17 years? What hasn’t changed / still needs to be done that needed to be done in 2001? Medical fitness?
-Distracted driving due to cell phones and other tech is obviously an epidemic that has come about during your career - do you see this getting better soon?
-Automation is an upcoming technology in motor vehicles. Although it’s been around for decades in aviation it still requires frequent crew interaction and correction in order to maintain safety. What kind of growing pains / solutions do you anticipate with the rise of automation on highways?
Comment by emcee_gee at 08/08/2018 at 14:31 UTC
31 upvotes, 0 direct replies
How do you feel about the movement to stop using the word 'accident' in the context of transportation crashes? (e.g. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/23/science/its-no-accident-advocates-want-to-speak-of-car-crashes-instead.html[1][2])
Comment by jacquigreene123 at 08/08/2018 at 14:22 UTC
12 upvotes, 1 direct replies
What do you do with a car after a crash? What happens to the vehicle? Asked by Randolph ES student
Comment by Elbynerual at 08/08/2018 at 14:11 UTC
22 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Have you been involved in any plane crash investigations, and if so can you give an overall timeline of how those go? I don't think the general public really grasp the full scope of how those are done?
Simple follow up: what's your stance on self driving cars? I imagine once the technology gets the bugs worked out, they'll drastically lower accidents across the nation/world.
Comment by [deleted] at 08/08/2018 at 14:27 UTC
9 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Hi Dennis, thanks for the taking the time. I have always had a fascination with the anatomy of an accident, whether it be on the ground or in the air.
When you started pursuing your education did you know that you wanted to be with the NTSB?
How does one find themselves in a position to be an investigator?
Thank you for your time!
Comment by [deleted] at 08/08/2018 at 15:12 UTC
8 upvotes, 1 direct replies
How do you drive differently based on the accidents, and the reasons for the accidents you've seen?
Comment by CollinWoodard at 08/08/2018 at 15:35 UTC
8 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Cars from the '50s and '60s (heck, even the '80s) were way less safe than they are today, but for some reason, people still commonly claim "they don't build 'em like they used to." Why do you think this misconception still exists, and what role do you think federal and state agencies should play in changing that perception?
Since cars are so expensive, a lot of people exclusively buy used or keep the same car until it no longer runs. Among mainstream cars, do you see major differences in crash safety between a brand new car and one that's five years old? What about 10 or 20?
What safety features do you think someone shopping for a used car should put on their must-have list?
Comment by mrmoto1998 at 08/08/2018 at 14:34 UTC
8 upvotes, 0 direct replies
What's your opinion on the elderly and driving? Does any state do licensing for the elderly better than all the rest?
Comment by J5o5s at 08/08/2018 at 14:37 UTC
9 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Hi! What are your opinions regarding driver-less cars/trucks? Do you see self-driving vehicles replacing current vehicles in the near future?
Comment by pjpekala at 08/08/2018 at 14:16 UTC
13 upvotes, 1 direct replies
As cannabis is legalized across the country, an argument against it's legalization is the lack of ability to determine impairment like there is with alcohol. What is the NTSB doing to ensure that law enforcement has an accurate way to determine the impairment of drivers under the influence of marijuana, as the active compounds can linger in the body for some time after use and does not accurately reflect level of impairment?
Comment by brenadance at 08/08/2018 at 14:22 UTC
16 upvotes, 1 direct replies
What is your most memorable story from your time working for the NTSB?
Comment by Steady_P at 08/08/2018 at 14:43 UTC
7 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Hey Mr. Collins, I want to say that I have the upmost respect for the well run and efficient NTSB. The evidence based conclusions the auditors and investigators come to are always a good read. I used to work on self driving cars in Silicon Valley and I now do auditing/analytics for another executive agency. My question is what is the best way to get your foot in the door at the NTSB? As someone who has always thought that would be a dream position.
Comment by OTPh1l25 at 08/08/2018 at 14:51 UTC
6 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Hi Dennis, how long are you usually working a case once you start? We hear about how NTSB investigators are the first ones out at the scene, but how long are usually at the scene examining what may have gone wrong? How much of it is researching facts and searching for similar incidents in records? I guess if I split it down to a simpler version, how much work is done on scene versus how much is done doing "less glamorous" fact legwork?
Comment by GTimekeeper at 08/08/2018 at 14:31 UTC
5 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Which new technologies do you think could best help prevent road crashes?
Comment by [deleted] at 08/08/2018 at 14:39 UTC
6 upvotes, 0 direct replies
What rule/law would you add/remove/change to make roads safer?
Comment by Teddygrams31 at 08/08/2018 at 15:49 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Do airbags have an "expiration" or a point where the components in the airbag degrade to the point to where they're unsafe? I'm asking this because my entire family drives cars from the late 90s to early 2000s, and don't want them to shoot shrapnel into my family like takata airbags.
Comment by tharussianphil at 08/08/2018 at 15:55 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Do you feel as though the government should legislate against the use of the word "autopilot" and similar terms by automakers? Ex: Tesla claims their system is autopilot when they have a bunch of safety disclaimers in small text elsewhere.
Comment by BhingSooJang at 08/08/2018 at 14:26 UTC
8 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Do you believe that speed limits protects drivers, even if it is set significantly below the usual flow of traffic?
Comment by kryndon at 08/08/2018 at 14:41 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
What are your personal thoughts on left-lane hogging and in general occupying the leftmost lane without the aim to overtake? I've driven across many European countries and the left lane is almost exclusively used solely to overtake. Whereas in the States, at least from what I've seen thru social media, movies and even games, everyone simply drives wherever they want.
In a case of someone hogging the left lane and I want to overtake, do you think it's reasonable for me to pass him on the right if he doesn't move over?
Comment by 54H60-77 at 08/08/2018 at 15:00 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I imagine human factors is going to be a large part of any accident investigation, and with regards to those findings, how often are recommendations made that result in changes to legislation?
Comment by TheNick0matic at 08/08/2018 at 15:16 UTC
5 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Having investigated incidents all across the country, do the idiosyncrasies of different state or local road designs and signage play a role in the human factor?
I've driven all over the lower 48, and unfamiliarity with local traffic patterns has confused me more than once!