An assessment of the relationship between driving skills and driving behaviors among Chinese bus drivers

Nuoya Ji,Zuobo Zhang,Tianshan Ma,Wenying Zhu,Zhe Hu

doi:10.1177/1687814018824916

Abstract

To provide helpful suggestions to bus companies regarding reducing the number of bus accidents and improving public transportation safety, we further researched the relationship between driving skills and driving behaviors; bus drivers from six bus companies of the Hefei Bus Group were investigated. The reliability and validity of the Driver Behaviour Questionnaire, the Driver Skill Inventory, and 287 valid questionnaires were tested; the relationships between the Driver Behaviour Questionnaire and Driver Skill Inventory factors were explored; and their influence on traffic accidents was analyzed by structural equation modeling. Significant positive associations were found between driving experience and safety motive, whereas negative relationships were found between errors and safety motive. Safety motive has a negative effect on violations, and violations are the most important factor leading to traffic accidents. Therefore, bus companies should enhance safety education, and interventions should not only directly relate to the involvement of bus drivers in traffic accidents but also consider the role played by violations.

Highlights

Buses are commercial vehicles designed and equipped for urban and suburban transportation
This study explores the relationship between driving skills and driving behavior in a group of bus drivers and reveals the factors leading to bus traffic accidents
The results show that age and driving experience are significantly correlated with safety motive, and safety motive has a negative impact on violations

Summary

Introduction

Buses are commercial vehicles designed and equipped for urban and suburban transportation. Buses are among the most important means of public transportation for urban residents living and working in China.[1] In recent years, the Chinese government has introduced a series of policies to encourage the development of public transportation and has prioritized public transport. As a kind of urban transportation mode that can adapt to sustainable development, public transportation must provide safe, fast, and comfortable travel conditions for urban residents. Buses can carry numerous people, and in 2015, 76.54 billion passengers were transported by public transport lines in China.[2] Buses are a relatively slow mode of transport over short driving distances, because of the large number of bus passengers, in the event of a traffic accident, numerous casualties and substantial economic losses could occur.

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