ABSTRACT: With a growing population, bus service is an efficient mode of transportation in cities. However, traffic crashes involving buses can bring more casualties and economic losses. Bus drivers, an integral part of this service, should be monitored closely. Job satisfaction, an overlooked criterion in the industry, is a crucial component that often leads to absenteeism and counterproductive behavior. Therefore, this study aims to examine the factors affecting job satisfaction and the impact of job satisfaction on risky driving behaviors. Considering historical crash involvement as risky driving behavior, questionnaire survey data of 3,638 drivers from a bus company located in Shenzhen were analyzed. Decision Tree was used to classify the data and an ordered logit model was conducted to predict factors contributing to job satisfaction. An ordered logit model with stepwise forward regression was performed to predict the significant factors responsible for risky driving behavior. Results show that: (a) age, monthly salary, insomnia state, drivers' past medication history, daily driving hours, work schedule, sleep duration during workdays all significantly affect job satisfaction, (b) job satisfaction is a crucial indicator of risky driving behavior. Moreover, quarterly safety education, driving experience, insomnia state, and lapse also have a significant impact on risky driving behavior. The results will help bus companies modify management rules to improve drivers’ job satisfaction to decrease the probability of crash involvement.
Xuesong Wang, Shoumic Shahid Chowdhury, Yujun Jiao. Driving Behavior Study of Bus Drivers: An Insight to Job Satisfaction. Transportation Research Board 100th Annual Meeting, Washington D.C., USA, 2021. 1.25-29.