01333474

Component

This research study examines the safety impacts of the existing operator hours of duty policies in the state of Florida. Thus, this study uses questionnaire surveys, incident data archived by transit agencies and bus driver schedules to determine the relationship between crash involvement and operator schedules. Factors of interest in this study are the influence of shift pattern (start and end time), schedule pattern (split or non – split schedule) and time spent on driving. The study revealed that, operators working split schedules are more susceptible to fatigue than those working straight schedules. The group of operators working split schedules indicated less time of sleep, long driving hours and early starting – late ending schedule patterns. These the characteristics 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 use of fatigue detective technologies and policies.

01329018

11-3398

English

15p

2011

Transportation Research Board 90th Annual Meeting

DVD

Figures (7) ; References (13) ; Tables (3)

Bus drivers; Bus transit; Crash causes; Driver monitoring; Fatigue (Physiological condition); Highway safety; Night shifts; Public transit; Risk assessment; Safety; Transit safety

Florida

Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2011 Paper #11-3398

TRIS, TRB

Feb 17 2011 6:30PM