A survey of train driver schedules, sleep, wellbeing, and driving performance in Australia and New Zealand

Abstract

Train drivers work long hours on 24 h schedules and many factors impact their fatigue risk at work, creating a clear imperative for good rostering practice. Adopting a systems approach, this study investigated the relationship between multiple interrelated factors (train drivers’ schedule, sleep, wellbeing, and fatigue) and the perceived influence of these factors on train driving performance and safety using an online survey distributed in Australia and New Zealand. In addition to demographics and work schedule, passenger and freight train drivers (n = 751) answered questions about: (1) Sleep duration; (2) wellbeing, including physical and mental health, the extent to which shiftwork causes sleep, social, domestic, and work problems, and (3) the extent to which ten fatigue, health and wellbeing factors in the work and home environment negatively impact their driving performance. The key factor that emerged from analyses, with the largest and most consistent negative effects (and controlling for other factors) was schedule irregularity. Approved rosters were ranked as having the most important impact on day-to-day driving performance, followed by physical and mental health, and outside work factors. Results also suggested that schedule irregularity may amplify the negative impacts of the roster, impaired physical and mental health, and outside work factors on driving performance. As shift variability and schedule irregularity are often poorly represented in existing industry guidance, these results provide evidence for increased reflection on current fatigue management guidelines for train drivers and suggest a need for greater focus on schedule irregularity through the lens of a systems approach.

Effect of Split Condition and Driving Duration on Fatigue Based on Changes in Brain Wave Signals when Driving a Train Simulator

“…Task related factors are related to cognitive load, namely one's work and environment. In the context of railways, Dorrian et al [16] associate irregular scheduling to be the main factor that promotes fatigue, sleepiness, and unfitness of train driver in performing their work. Williamson et al [13] state that sleepiness is part of fatigue.…”

Psychophysiology of Monotonous Driving, Fatigue and Sleepiness in Train and Non-Professional Drivers: Driver Safety Implications

“…Indeed, bringing them in line with the sample sizes of questionnaire-based research (e.g., [83]) would certainly improve the generalisability of the present work and allow for a more direct comparison across the literature. Moreover, research has shown that numerous factors, including institutional (e.g., schedule regularity and structure) and individual (e.g., outside work issues contributing to fatigue), have been reported to impact driving performance and the health of drivers [41]. As such, future research should consider evaluating drivers' perceptions of these factors in their analysis and not just relying on self-reported fatigue and sleepiness scores.…”

“…It is also possible for this fatigue to carry over into the drivers' lives away from their vehicle. In addition, several institutional factors within train driving, most notably schedule irregularities, have been reported to influence driving performance [41] and, as such, may further contribute to accident likelihood. Lastly, in terms of outreaching impact, trains, on average, move significantly faster and are larger and heavier than a standard motor vehicle.…”

Mental State Adaptive Interfaces as a Remedy to the Issue of Long-term, Continuous Human Machine Interaction

“…Another study that employed a methodology with greater ecological validity examined the prolonged and uninterrupted usage patterns among train drivers [10]. Two separate days were dedicated to simulating two 8-hour "shifts" of railway driving for professional conductors in order to assess their professional performance.…”