POTENTIAL CAUSES OF DRIVER FATIGUE: A STUDY ON TRANSIT BUS OPERATORS IN FLORIDA

摘要

This research study examines the safety impacts of the existing operator hours of duty policies inthe state of Florida. Thus, this study uses questionnaire surveys, incident data archived by transitagencies and bus driver schedules to determine the relationship between crash involvement andoperator schedules. Factors of interest in this study are the influence of shift pattern (start andend time), schedule pattern (split or non – split schedule) and time spent on driving. The studyrevealed that, operators working split schedules are more susceptible to fatigue than thoseworking straight schedules. The group of operators working split schedules indicated less time ofsleep, long driving hours and early starting – late ending schedule patterns. These thecharacteristics of fatiguing work schedule. There is also a strong statistical significance (p-value<0.001) attached to the association between crash occurrence and fatigue condition (red,yellow or green), with red condition contributing significantly to the total crashes (56.48%).Suggestion is made for the transit agencies to establish fatigue countermeasures through the useof fatigue detective technologies and policies.