Road crashes are the most common cause of work-related injury, death and absence in Australia. Previous interventions have primarily focused on improving driving skill, but there is limited evidence to support the effectiveness of this approach. An alternative approach for sustainable improvement in driver behaviour, particularly reducing distracted driving and improving attention, self-awareness and self-control, is through mindfulness.
Mindfulness has been shown to improve focus and emotion management, and reduce distraction. Mindfulness training has also been shown to significantly improve sustained attention, working memory, distractibility, emotional reactivity, behavioural regulation, empathy and prosocial behaviours – all of which have important implications for safe driving behaviour.
This webinar will outline research conducted by the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) and Monash University mindfulness experts that has demonstrated mindfulness is significantly associated with improved driving behaviours.
It will also touch on return on investment and productivity benefits of mindfulness for organisations, and outline an innovative proposal to develop a driving-specific mindfulness training program to improve the driving behaviour of work-related drivers.
We have three incredible panellists for this webinar:
- Associate Professor Craig Hassed OAM, has worked in the Faculty of Medicine at Monash University since 1989 and is coordinator of mindfulness programs across Monash. His teaching, research and clinical interests include mindfulness, mind-body medicine, lifestyle medicine and integrative medicine.
- Dr Richard Chambers, Clinical Psychologist & Mindfulness Consultant
- Associate Professor Sjaan Koppel, holds a PhD in Psychophysiology and works at the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC). Within this role, Sjaan has conducted innovative research that explores the safe mobility of vulnerable road users.