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Miscommunication and lack of situational awareness are significant contributors to runway incursions related to human factors. Effective communication is essential in the aviation environment, where multiple parties—pilots, air traffic controllers, and ground personnel—must clearly convey instructions and information. Misunderstandings can lead to wrong actions on the runway or taxiway, increasing the risk of incursions.

Similarly, situational awareness involves understanding one's surroundings and the current state of operations. A lack of awareness can result in failing to recognize the location of an aircraft or vehicle on the runway, or the current actions of surrounding traffic. When individuals are not fully aware of their environment or do not accurately interpret the information and cues being presented, it can lead to critical mistakes that compromise safety on the airfield.

In contrast, while excessive speed and reckless driving may seem relevant, they are often symptoms of deeper issues related to awareness and communication. Equipment malfunction and maintenance issues, as well as pilot error and weather conditions, do contribute to operational challenges, but they do not predominantly stem from human interaction factors as miscommunication and situational awareness do. Therefore, the emphasis on human factors such as communication and awareness best captures the leading causes of runway incursions in this context.