Are Bus Company Regulations Associated with Crash Risk? Findings from a Retrospective Survey in Four Chinese Cities

Abstract

Bus crashes are common in urban China, and bus company regulations are hypothesized to be related to bus crash risk. We conducted a retrospective survey to examine the association in four large Chinese cities (Changsha, Shenzhen, Fuzhou, and Wuhan). Four types of bus crashes were considered: (a) passengers injured while riding the bus; (b) bus colliding with or scraping other motor vehicles; (c) bus colliding with non-motorized vehicles or pedestrians; and (d) bus damaging public facilities. Based on regulations governing the drivers’ work, complete round trips per day, and their paid salary, three categories of companies were studied: type A: ≥14 h worked/day, ≥6 round trips/day, and >70% of salary based on performance; type B: 8–13 h/day, 4 or 5 round trips/day, and 36–70% of salary; and type C: <36% of salary and no other specified requirements. Of the 926 respondents, 20.7% reported one or more crashes or related risk events in the past month. Drivers from the three types of companies reported crash incidence rates of 31.9%, 8.8%, and 6.0%, respectively, in the past month. Type A crash rates were significantly higher than type C after controlling for relevant covariates (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 7.1, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.74–13.47). We conclude that more stringent bus company regulations, which mandate drivers to work long hours and obtain salary based on job performance in meeting demanding metrics, are associated with elevated bus-related crash risks. Local governments in China should regulate bus companies to ensure drivers work reasonable hours and are paid based on the quality of their work (e.g., safety).

Age and Sex Distribution of Chinese Chronic Cough Patients and Their Relationship With Capsaicin Cough Sensitivity

“…It has been reported that pollutants can not only enhance cough reflex sensitivity, but also induce non-allergic eosinophilic airway inflammation 2930. In China, males account for over 80% of industrial workers31 and traffic police,32 as well as 95% of professional taxi33 and bus drivers,34 whose mean age was 37.6-38.5 years. Additionally, it has been found that although there is a tendency toward greater fractional deposition of inhaled particles in females rather than in males, because males have 45% higher minute ventilations than females, the particles depositing per unit of time is 30% greater in males than in females 35.…”

Systematic Analysis of the Contributory Factors Related to Major Coach and Bus Accidents in China

“…Studies have revealed that dangerous driving is linked to organizational characteristics, and organizational learning support [13] and improving the organizational safety culture [14,15] can reduce dangerous driving and minimize accidents. Other organizational factors, such as driver scheduling [16], the salary system [17], and regulatory and penalty policies [18] also have strong correlations with accident risk. At the governmental level, the formulation and enforcement of traffic laws [19] and safety education of road traffic participants [20] have important roles in ensuring road safety.…”

Predictive effects of organizational justice on job satisfaction in bus drivers: the moderating effects of role overload and proactive personality

“…However, in the transport industry, bus driver job satisfaction and related organizational justice concerns involve both employee and passenger safety. Chinese bus drivers often have long work hours and night shifts and must deal with passenger relationships, potential passenger conflicts [ 6 ], company regulations, and driving safety [ 7 ]. Therefore, because of the need to switch between these multiple concerns, they can suffer from role overload [ 8 ].…”