Commercial Vehicle Drivers Research Articles

Development and testing of culturally adapted road hazard communication designs

This study was conducted to assess comprehension of existing road hazard communication designs (RHCDs) in relation to culturally adapted designs among commercial vehicle drivers using a two-part study. In study 1, nine participants were recruited and their comprehension of 20 existing RHCDs was tested. Results of the analysis revealed that only 50% of the designs met the acceptance criterion of 67% set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Culturally adapted symbols were then developed for the 10 symbols which failed to meet the ISO acceptance criterion through a longitudinal focus group discussion involving the nine participants. In study 2, 226 commercial vehicle drivers were drawn from four bus terminals. Results of a paired-samples t test showed that comprehension of the culturally adapted designs was significantly better than comprehension of their equivalent existing designs. The findings are discussed in the context of extant literature and practice.

Assessment of Tire Safety Knowledge among Private and Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers in Nigeria

<p><em>It is estimated that road traffic crashes account for the death of about 1.25 million people each year, and it is the leading cause of death among youth between ages 15-29 years (WHO, 2016). Low and middle-income countries have about half of the world’s vehicle, and yet account for 90% of the world’s fatal accidents (WHO, 2016). Among the key risk factors for road accidents are speed, drink-driving, motorcycle helmets, seat-belts and child restraints, distracted driving (WHO, 2016). Tires maintenance or factors relating to the tire were not identified as risk factors by WHO. However, in Nigeria, it was estimated that between the years 2011 and 2015, tire bursts accounted for 7.8% of total causes of traffic crash in Nigeria (FRSC, 2016). </em></p><p><strong><em>Objective:</em></strong><em> This research aims to assess whether private vehicle drivers have better tire safety knowledge than commercial vehicle drivers in Nigeria. </em></p><p><strong><em>Methodology:</em></strong><em> The research employed a cross sectional study design on 454 motor vehicle drivers (commercial vehicle drivers n=233 and private vehicle drivers n=221). A simple, well-structured questionnaire was applied to them and data collected.</em></p><p><strong><em>Data analysis:</em></strong><em> The result was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). </em></p><p><strong><em>Result: </em></strong><em>The result showed an evidence supporting a relationship between driver’s category and possession of tire safety knowledge. We conclude therefore that private vehicle drivers in Nigeria are more likely to have adequate tire safety knowledge than commercial vehicle drivers.</em></p>

High risk of obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, and daytime sleepiness among commercial motor vehicle drivers.

We investigated the prevalence of sleep problems, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), insomnia, and daytime sleepiness in commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers compared with that in the general population. This is a cross-sectional study comparing sleep habits and sleep problems in 110 truck drivers with 1001 matched controls from the general population. The assessment was based on self-administered questionnaires that included the Berlin questionnaire, the insomnia severity index, and the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS). Multivariate regression analysis was performed to determine whether CMV drivers were independently associated with these sleep problems compared with controls. The prevalence of a high risk of OSA and insomnia was 35.5% and 15.2%, respectively, in CMV drivers, which was significantly higher than in controls with a prevalence of 12.2% and 4.1%, respectively (P < 0.001 for both). Although CMV drivers showed higher ESS scores than controls, the prevalence of daytime sleepiness did not differ between the two groups (19.1% vs. 16.8%, P = 0.54). After adjusting for covariates, CMV drivers had 3.68 times higher odds (95% CI 2.29-5.84) of OSA and 2.97 times higher odds (95% CI, 1.46-6.06) of insomnia compared with controls. However, the degree of daytime sleepiness was not independently associated with CMV drivers. The prevalence of OSA and insomnia in CMV drivers was higher than that in the general population. Daytime sleepiness was associated with increased BMI, depression, OSA, and short sleep duration, regardless of CMV driving as an occupational factor.

Demographics and Health Profiles of Inter-City Commercial Drivers in Kwara State, Nigeria

Motorized road transport among others has changed the face of employment, trade, family life and health care, bringing benefits that were unimaginable 100 years ago. However, the price being paid as a result of road traffic crashes (RTC) compared with the benefits is too high. The objective of the study was to determine demographics and health profiles of Inter-City Commercial Drivers in Kwara State, Nigeria.The study design was descriptive cross-sectional, in which multi-stage sampling method was adopted to select 410 inter-city commercial vehicle drivers in Kwara State. Data was collected using pre- tested interviewer administered questionnaire. Data analysis was done using EPI INFO version 3.5.1 An appropriate test of significance (Chi-square, t test) were used to test statistics and the level of significance was predetermined at less than 0.05 at 95% confidence level.The mean age of the respondents was 46.78 ± 11.27 years. Men constituted 99.8% of the respondents. Less than two-thirds of the respondents, 249 (60.7%) had ever done a medical checkup. About a third of the respondents 146 (35.6%) had raised blood pressure and 178 (43.4%) reported medical history of hypertension. Eleven percent had poor vision among the respondents.Law enforcement agencies, trade unions, road transporter associations and licensing authorities should ensure basic medical test and assessment are done at regular interval and before issuance of driving license. This will not only detect unnoticed disease or medical conditions but will provide opportunity for only those who are fit to be certified commercial drivers.Key words: Demographic, Health, Profile, Commercial, Driver, Nigeria

Sleep-disordered breathing in occupational places: from screening to Health and Productivity Management

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), represented by sleep apnea, is highly prevalent in the general population and is associated with alcohol intake and obesity. Since SDB is further associated with hypertension, diabetes, and future cardiovascular diseases, as well as accidents and injuries in workplaces, there is a need for complete SDB assessment in workers, including screening and the application of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Currently, it appears that SDB assessment is not sufficiently conducted, even among commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers, despite CMV drivers with SDB being at a high risk of serious traffic accidents. Based on a discussion conducted in The Study Group for Sleep Disordered Breathing in Work Places, we summarized the current situation in Japan and tried to elucidate the bottleneck of these approaches. Then, the situation in Japan was compared with that in South Korea; Professor Chol Shin substantiated that the situation in South Korea was similar to that in Japan. However, recently published data on CMV drivers in the United States showed that appropriate treatment of SDB reduced the risk of traffic accidents among CMV drivers. This will encourage the implementation of the required processes, from screening to maintenance of treatment. We propose a new approach based on "harmonizing work with treatment and prevention" and "Health and Productivity Management (HPM)" as a solution for implementing SDB programs.

Auditory effect of noise exposures among commercial and non-commercial light motor vehicle drivers: A comparative cross-sectional study in Lucknow city.

Context:Noise-induced hearing loss, one of the most common and preventable occupational hazard, occurs due to repeated and continuous exposure of loud noise, A single exposure of an impulse of noise at the level of 130--140 dB or long and repeated exposures to loud sounds to an average level of 85 dB or higher for an 8-h period can cause permanent loss of hearing.Aims:To study and compare hearing loss over different audiometric frequencies among autorickshaw and non-commercial institutional personal car drivers.Settings and Design:This was a cross-sectional comparative study conducted at a tertiary medical college, located in Lucknow during October 2017–November 2018.Methods and Materials:The sample size was calculated using EpiInfo7. We took a sample size of 300 drivers, out of which 150 three-wheeler autorickshaw drivers (Tempo), that is, group I and 150 non-commercial car drivers, that is, group II were selected.Statistical Analysis Used:For statistical analysis, “Chi-square test of independence” and student's t-tests were used.Results:The mean age at which drivers in group I and group II started work was 23.91 ± 7.63 years an d 23.60 ± 5.58 years, respectively. The mean hearing loss in Group I was 21.15 ± 8.65 dB and in group II it was 13.34 ± 5.79 dB.Conclusions:Autorickshaw drivers who were exposed to louder noise, that is, autorickshaw drivers in group I had more sensory neural hearing loss than the non-commercial car drivers, that is, group II.

Prevalence and Factors Associated With Hazardous Alcohol Consumption Among Motorcycle Taxi Riders in Kinondoni District, Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background:Hazardous alcohol consumption is a significant public health problem contributing to road traffic accidents in nearly all countries. Despite the fact that motorcycles are involved in more than half of all road traffic accidents in Tanzania, little has been reported about hazardous alcohol consumption among motorcyclists. This study investigated the prevalence and factors associated with hazardous alcohol consumption among motorcycle taxi riders in Kinondoni District, Dar es Salaam.Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Kinondoni District in August 2018 among motorcycle taxi riders. Multistage sampling was applied to select the study participants. Data were collected using structured self-administered questionnaires incorporating the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Analysis was done using IBM SPSS version 20.Results:A total of 210 individuals participated in the study. Within the study sample, the prevalence of hazardous alcohol consumption was 61.5% (n=128). Hazardous alcohol consumption was positively associated with a positive family history of alcohol consumption (odds ratio [OR] 11.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.14 to 26.79; P<.001). Protective factors were younger age (OR 0.09; 95% CI, 0.02 to 0.40; P<.001), having a secondary level of education (OR 0.21; 95% CI, 0.04 to 0.99; P=.034), having a primary level of education (OR 0.06; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.26; P<.001), and being employed (OR 11.74; 95% CI, 5.14 to 26.79; P<.001).Conclusion:A high prevalence of hazardous alcohol consumption among motorcycle taxi riders was reported along with several associated factors. Interventions to mitigate hazardous alcohol consumption among commercial motor vehicle drivers must be developed and implemented.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of first aid among the commercial drivers in the Kumaon region of India.

Background:First aid assistance is one of the important life-saving skills. According to World Health Organization, over 50 million people are injured or disabled and over 1.2 million people die following Road Traffic Accident (RTA) every year. Providing the basic care until emergency medical services arrive is the essence of first aid, which will prevent a number of RTA-related mortality and morbidity.Aim:To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding first aid among the commercial vehicle drivers operating in and from Haldwani.Method:This was a cross-sectional study conducted among the commercial drivers operating in and from Haldwani Block of Uttarakhand, from November 2018 to January 2019. Participants were selected using consecutive sampling technique. The questionnaire used for data collection was semistructured and pretested.Results:All participants were male with the mean age (standard deviation) of 40.4 (8.7) years. Overall 96.4% and 81.7% had heard about first aid and the “Good Samaritan” law. Among participants, 96% knew that first aid should be provided immediately and 90.5% were willing to be trained in first aid. First aid kit was available in 84.9% of the vehicles. In total, 211 (91%) participants had attended RTA victim/s in the past, and 192 (91%) of them provided assistance to RTA victims.Conclusions:Although the study showed a positive attitude toward giving first aid to RTA victims, the knowledge and practice of first aid was not universal.

Sleep Status and the Risk Factor of Drowsy-Related Accidents in Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers

Sleep Status and the Risk Factor of Drowsy-Related Accidents in Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers

Harmonizing work with the treatment and prevention of sleep disordered breathing in commercial motor vehicle drivers: implications for health and productivity management.

The desastrous traffic accidents to date have provided the relevance for promotion of harmonization of work with treatment and prevention of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in transport sectors. SDB is highly prevalent in commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers and is one cause of cognitive impairment and consequent traffic accidents, potentially costing billions and leading to many deaths. Various screening, diagnostic, and therapeutic approaches, some well established, are explored in this paper. Although drivers with SDB need to be appropriately diagnosed and treated, some are reluctant to continue their treatment or never submit to screening because of a lack of information. Thus, CMV drivers need to be well informed and screened, in addition to being encouraged to continue the treatment. The harmonization of work with treatment and prevention aids these objectives, providing benefits not only for individual health but also for transport companies, and further being an essential step towards uptake of “health and productivity management” in the transport sectors.

Health and wellness of Canadian commercial motor vehicle drivers

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to solicit perspectives from stakeholders concerning health, environmental and operational challenges among Commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers in Canada (truck and bus drivers).Design/methodology/approachTwo focus groups and one interview were conducted with key industry, government and advocacy groups representing or working with CMV drivers. Perspectives pertaining to working conditions, health issues, driver recruitment and retention, and other key issues in the CMV sector were obtained.FindingsThe findings show that undesirable working conditions are primary issues that impact recruitment and retention, as well as health and wellness (H&W), and productivity of drivers in both the truck and bus sectors. Compared to our US counterparts, finding parking areas and rest stops were seen as a major issue for Canadian truckers (particularly in the north). Unfortunately, there is limited or out-dated information on drivers and companies in Canada. Stakeholders stated the need for more information from both carriers/companies and from drivers themselves (particularly long-haul drivers).Research limitations/implicationsThis study identifies gaps and key priority research areas pertaining to the H&W of the CMV sector in Canada that require further investigation.Originality/valueCMV drivers are considered a vulnerable sector of the population. While drivers themselves have reported on undesirable work conditions leading to poor health, prior studies have not assessed the awareness or perspective of stakeholders involved in the CMV sector. This is the first study to capture stakeholder perspectives of the working conditions and health outcomes of CMV drivers.

Tyre related risk assessment in the middle belt region in Nigeria: information for policymakers

Objective: It has been reported that defective, worn-out and under-inflated tyres were responsible for many road crashes. The objective of this study was to assess the safety profiles of tyres used by inter-city commercial vehicle drivers in Ilorin Kwara State, Nigeria.Methods: It was a descriptive cross-sectional study in which simple random sampling technique by ballot method was adopted to select 300 commercial vehicles. Two tests were performed on each vehicular tyre viz: visual inspection of tyres for tread wear indicator (TWI), manufacturing date to determine the expirydate and the depth of tread of vehicle tyres by one penny US coin. Data analysis was done using SPSS data analysis package.Results: Ninety-two vehicles (30.7%) had all the four tyres expired and 80 (26.7%) did not have extra tyre. Of all the 300 vehicles inspected, 120 (40.0%) had all the four tyres worn-out. Additionally, 104 (34.7%) of the vehicles failed the coin test. Only four vehicles (1.3%) had all their four tyres pass all the three tests conducted on them.Conclusion: There is need to scale up the study so that the magnitude and contribution of tyre safety to road crashes can be determined in the country to provide basis for informed and evidence-based interventions.Keywords: Tyres, risk, assessment

Challenges in Hazard Detection for Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers: A Driving Simulator Training Study

There are few research studies that have assessed the hazard detection (HD) challenges of experienced, skilled drivers. This paper presents the pilot study results of an HD training program, Commercial Driver Assessment and Training System (CDATS), developed for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The training involved simulation-based videos that highlight potential vehicle, pedestrian, and visually hidden hazards during unprotected intersection maneuvers: left-turn, right-turn, and straight-thru. Low-fidelity driving simulations were designed to reinforce video lessons and increase the expectation and detection of potential hazards. Training efficacy was assessed using a driving simulator HD task presented to short-haul CMV drivers ( N = 16) at pre-/post-assignment to CDATS training or a control condition. Results suggested that CMV drivers had highest HD task accuracy (% correct) for vehicle hazards and lowest accuracy for visually hidden hazards. Performance for pedestrian hazards was dependent on the intersection maneuver, with performance decreases for left-turn, right-turn and straight-thru intersections, respectively. Post-test results suggested overall HD improvement in the CDATS training group with no change in the control group; however, there was no significant change in relative hazard type by intersection maneuver pattern. Similar to prior research, experienced CMV drivers may also exhibit challenges in HD, particularly for visually hidden and visible pedestrian hazards, and may benefit from HD training.

Development of technical solutions for development of a commercial vehicle driver assistance systems

As the world’s stock of cars is growing, the number of road accidents per each 100000th resident is going up as well. To avoid road accidents or to mitigate their consequences nowadays driver assistance systems are used. Pre-requisites and first steps of driver assistant systems development and integration in series-produced vehicles are presented in this article. Review of current solutions is given and technical regulation development trends in this field are considered. An option of driver assistance systems integration on the platform of GAZelle NEXT is offered. It has also been detected that current series-produced GAZelle NEXT vehicles provide no opportunity of external control over actuating devices. This factor hinders development of domestically made vehicles and reduces their export potential. Force and kinematic analysis of the steering system is presented in MSC ADAMS/View program package. Also a number of system designs is presented for further mounting on “GAZ Group” vehicle family, having a feature set of recognizing vehicles, road signs, pedestrians, road marking and traffic lights; warning of possible head-on clash and leaving the traffic lane. Field research of the developed driver assistant system has been carried out. Ways of further integration of driver assistant systems in series-produced “GAZ Group” vehicles are mapped out.

A Policy Analysis of Mandatory Obstructive Sleep Apnea Screening in the Trucking Industry.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a chronic condition characterized by occlusion of the upper airway during sleep resulting in daytime sleepiness. Drivers with OSA are at a two- to sevenfold increase in risk of motor vehicle crashes (MVCs). Approximately, 13% to 28% of commercial motor vehicle drivers (CMVDs) are thought to have OSA. Obstructive sleep apnea is a significant issue in the transportation industry. Currently, The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association (FMCSA) does not mandate OSA screening. Federal regulations only specify that CMVDs be free of "respiratory dysfunction" that would impair driving. Untreated OSA is a public safety concern. The purpose of this article is to use Bardach's eightfold policy analysis approach to examine policy options related to OSA screening in the trucking industry.

Prevalence of drug use among drivers based on mandatory, random tests in a roadside survey.

BackgroundIn the context of road safety, this study aims to examine the prevalence of drug use in a random sample of drivers.MethodsA stratified probabilistic sample was designed to represent vehicles circulating on non-urban roads. Random drug tests were performed during autumn 2014 on 521 drivers in Catalonia (Spain). Participation was mandatory. The prevalence of drug driving for cannabis, methamphetamines, amphetamines, cocaine, opiates and benzodiazepines was assessed.ResultsThe overall prevalence of drug use is 16.4% (95% CI: 13.9; 18.9) and affects primarily younger male drivers. Drug use is similarly prevalent during weekdays and on weekends, but increases with the number of occupants. The likelihood of being positive for methamphetamines is significantly higher for drivers of vans and lorries.ConclusionsDifferent patterns of use are detected depending on the drug considered. Preventive drug tests should not only be conducted on weekends and at night-time, and need to be reinforced for drivers of commercial vehicles. Active educational campaigns should focus on the youngest age-group of male drivers.

Evaluating the effectiveness of Behavior-Based Safety education methods for commercial vehicle drivers

Risky driving behavior is one of the main causes of commercial vehicle related crashes. In order to achieve safer vehicle operation, safety education for drivers is often provided. However, the education programs vary in quality and may not always be successful in reducing crash rates. Behavior-Based Safety (BBS) education is a popular approach found effective by numerous studies, but even this approach varies as to the combination of frequency, mode and content used by different education providers. This study therefore evaluates and compares the effectiveness of BBS education methods. Thirty-five drivers in Shanghai, China, were coached with one of three different BBS education methods for 13 weeks following a 13-week baseline phase with no education. A random-effects negative binomial (NB) model was built and calibrated to investigate the relationship between BBS education and the driver at-fault safety-related event rate. Based on the results of the random-effects NB model, event modification factors (EMF) were calculated to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of the methods. Results show that (1) BBS education was confirmed to be effective in safety-related event reduction; (2) the most effective method among the three applied monthly face-to-face coaching, including feedback with video and statistical data, and training on strategies to avoid driver-specific unsafe behaviors; (3) weekly telephone coaching using statistics and strategies was rated by drivers as the most convenient delivery mode, and was also significantly effective.

The impact of traffic sign deficit on road traffic accidents in Nigeria

ABSTRACTThis study assesses the impact of traffic sign deficit on road traffic accidents in Nigeria. The participants were 720 commercial vehicle drivers. While simple random sampling was used to select 6 out of 137 federal highways, stratified random sampling was used to select six categories of commercial vehicle drivers. The study used qual-dominant mixed methods approach comprising key informant interviews; group interviews; field observation; policy appraisal and secondary literature on traffic signs. Result shows that the failure of government to provide and maintain traffic signs in order to guide road users through the numerous accident black spots on the highways is the major cause of road accidents in Nigeria. The study argues that provision and maintenance of traffic signs present opportunity to promoting safety on the highways and achieving the sustainable development goals.

Predicting performance and safety based on driver fatigue

Fatigue causes decrements in vigilant attention and reaction time and is a major safety hazard in the trucking industry. There is a need to quantify the relationship between driver fatigue and safety in terms of operationally relevant measures. Hard-braking events are a suitable measure for this purpose as they are relatively easily observed and are correlated with collisions and near-crashes. We developed an analytic approach that predicts driver fatigue based on a biomathematical model and then estimates hard-braking events as a function of predicted fatigue, controlling for time of day to account for systematic variations in exposure (traffic density). The analysis used de-identified data from a previously published, naturalistic field study of 106 U.S. commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. Data analyzed included drivers’ official duty logs, sleep patterns measured around the clock using wrist actigraphy, and continuous recording of vehicle data to capture hard-braking events. The curve relating predicted fatigue to hard-braking events showed that the frequency of hard-braking events increased as predicted fatigue levels worsened. For each increment on the fatigue scale, the frequency of hard-braking events increased by 7.8%. The results provide proof of concept for a novel approach that predicts fatigue based on drivers’ sleep patterns and estimates driving performance in terms of an operational metric related to safety. The approach can be translated to practice by CMV operators to achieve a fatigue risk profile specific to their own settings, in order to support data-driven decisions about fatigue countermeasures that cost-effectively deliver quantifiable operational benefits.

The impact of driver distraction in tractor-trailers and motorcoach buses

Driver distraction has become an increasing concern over the last decade as portable technology has emerged and its presence while driving has become more common. Driver distraction occurs when inattention leads to a delay in recognition of information necessary to accomplish the driving task. Two recent studies were conducted using a naturalistic data collection method and analysis of driver distraction. The Commercial Motor Vehicle Driver Distraction study (Olson et al., 2009) was conducted using heavy truck data, and the Distraction and Drowsiness in Motorcoach Drivers study (Hammond et al., 2016) was conducted using motorcoach data. Data were collected continuously every time the instrumented vehicle was turned on and in motion. Data were reduced to identify safety-critical events such as crashes, near-crashes, crash-relevant conflicts, and unintentional lane deviations. Results show that 40% of truck crashes and 56% of motorcoach crashes had some kind of distracting behavior. Odds ratios were calculated on individual secondary tasks and analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were calculated on eye-glance data to determine the effects of eyes off the forward roadway. Fewer distractions were identified in the motorcoach data, most notably the use of handheld cell phones. This suggests that the 2010 ban on handheld phones has had a positive effect on decreasing cell phone use while driving.