Train drivers’ subjective perceptions of their abilities to perceive and control fatigue

Abstract

Issues about train driver fatigue are important in the safety of railway systems. This study investigates the subjective perception of fatigue of conventional railway system drivers. The multidimensional Rasch model was used to measure two subjective latent constructs, namely, perceived fatigue awareness and perceived fatigue control. Analytical results show that 21% of the train drivers are unable to control fatigue. Randomly assigned vehicles with various cabin control systems for work shifts is the most unlikely scenario for drivers to perceive and control fatigue. Our results demonstrate that a driver who is unmarried, holds a university degree and has limited driving experience exhibits a low perceived ability to control fatigue. Thus, segmented programs for fatigue risk mitigation should be developed for specific drivers. The findings of this study can help railway safety managers and government regulators in developing and evaluating a management system for driver fatigue risk.