Abstract
Background: Human factors are widely acknowledged as major contributors in road traffic collision (RTC) involvement. The aim of the present study, using secondary data analysis was to analyse associations between job characteristics, mental health, personality, fatigue and driving behaviour and their potential connection to RTCs, as well as their potential links with some of the risk factors as outcome variables (driving behaviour, driver fatigue and risk-taking).
 Methodology: This study used a cross-sectional approach, with 2856 clients of an insurance company completing an online survey in which they were asked about their driving and a range of other factors, such as personality, job characteristics and mental health.
 Results: The results revealed that whereas the extant literature points to personality traits as directly causal of RTCs, they actually impact driving behaviour and risk-taking behaviour. In addition, an association was found between higher salary and risk-taking (the latter predictive of RTC involvement). Using the Demands, Resources and Individual Effects model (DRIVE) it was possible to examine associations between particular job characteristics and driving behaviour, driver fatigue, and risk-taking. Associations between poor levels of driving behaviour and high levels of decision making, perceived job stress, long working hours and issues of work-life balance were uncovered. Moreover, a combined effects approach revealed a 16.73-fold increase in driver fatigue for younger, single drivers who often drive in heavy traffic, on the motorway and in adverse weather, with stressful, noisy, pressurised jobs, lower in levels of respect (typical of the blue-collar worker).
 Conclusion: Based on the current findings, further longitudinal research is recommended to assess causality.
Highlights
Driving is a complex task, and it is perhaps unsurprising that human factors and their association with road traffic collisions (RTCs) have received considerable research attention
The nature of such research requires that drivers disclose behaviours which are illegal, and as such, there is a potential for socially desirable responding which may lead to an underestimation of the magnitude of association between risky driving behaviours and RTC involvement
In line with the work of Smith [31], a factor analysis of the driving questions revealed that these variables loaded on three separate factors, driving behaviour (DB), driver fatigue (DF) and risk-taking (RT)
Summary
Driving is a complex task, and it is perhaps unsurprising that human factors and their association with road traffic collisions (RTCs) have received considerable research attention Factors such as personality, stress, fatigue, risktaking, gender, age and marital status (to name but a few) have been studied extensively in the remit of their potential impact upon collision causality. The aim of the present study, using secondary data analysis was to analyse associations between job characteristics, mental health, personality, fatigue and driving behaviour and their potential connection to RTCs, as well as their potential links with some of the risk factors as outcome variables (driving behaviour, driver fatigue and risk-taking). Associations between poor levels of driving behaviour and high levels of decision making, perceived job stress, long working hours and issues of work-life balance were
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