TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --
When the Air Force started replacing new fire engines in
2011, modernized technology complemented these vehicles to provide better
functionality and designated safety systems.
One such safety system in the new vehicles is a data
recorder, a system built in specifically for seatbelts and seatbelt warnings.
On the driver’s side, a screen displays each seat in the
vehicle and shows seats that are occupied, using seatbelts or vacant.
The technology records the status of each person and
records violations of each seat. If the emergency brake is off, for example,
the system records who isn’t wearing a seatbelt. If the seatbelt is not
fastened after 30 seconds of driving, that, too, is a violation. If the
seatbelt is buckled, but someone is sitting on top of it, another violation is
detected.
Nathan Schooling, with Tinker Fire and Emergency Services,
explained that the new technology gives both a visual and audible reminder.
“We knew it was happening, but it wasn’t something we were
monitoring,” Mr. Schooling said.
Rather than enforcing disciplinary actions as
repercussions, the Fire Department elected to drive their hyper-competitive
spirit.
Summer 2015, Mr. Schooling explained, the department began
downloading the data off each recorder to broadcast where each engine ranked in
violations.
“In the first month, we saw over 200 violations,” he said.
“The next month, we saw a 70 percent reduction. In three months, we went from
200 violations to four. It took about six months before an engine saw zero
violations, but that trend has continued.”
“A change of culture has overwhelmed the
department,” the chief remarked. “A different attitude can come into play when
there is too much negative feedback; choosing to play to the strengths of the
competitive natured men and women in the department has proven to be a
successful method of implementing change and progress.”