Volume 14, Issue 4 (12-2024)
J Health Saf Work 2024, 14(4): 796-821 |
Back to browse issues page
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Mirnajafi Zadeh F S, Khosravi Danesh M, Nahvi A, Rahimi Foroushani A, SheikhMozafari M J, Mazloumi A. Identifying Factors Influencing Urban Bus Drivers’ Distraction: A Qualitative Study in Tehran, Iran. J Health Saf Work 2024; 14 (4) :796-821
URL: http://jhsw.tums.ac.ir/article-1-7086-en.html
URL: http://jhsw.tums.ac.ir/article-1-7086-en.html
Fatemeh Sadat Mirnajafi Zadeh1 
, Mojtaba Khosravi Danesh1 , Ali Nahvi2 , Abbas Rahimi Foroushani3 , Mohammad Javad SheikhMozafari1 , Adel Mazloumi * 4
, Mojtaba Khosravi Danesh1 , Ali Nahvi2 , Abbas Rahimi Foroushani3 , Mohammad Javad SheikhMozafari1 , Adel Mazloumi * 4
1- Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2- K.N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
3- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4- Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ,amazlomi@tums.ac.ir
2- K.N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
3- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4- Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ,
Abstract: (184 Views)
Introduction: Despite advancements in road safety and vehicle design, road accidents remain prevalent, a quarter of which are caused by driver distraction. This issue is particularly critical in the public transport sector, especially among urban bus drivers, as distraction can lead to serious injuries and fatalities. Accordingly, this study explored the factors influencing distraction among urban bus drivers through a qualitative approach and a macroergonomics perspective.
Material and Methods: In this study conducted in 2024 in Tehran, 18 urban bus drivers were selected through cluster sampling. The participants included 10 drivers from bus rapid transit (BRT) system and 8 drivers from non-BRT services. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with the drivers as well as on-site observations. Subsequently, a directed qualitative content analysis approach, based on the balance theory model, was used to analyze the collected data.
Results: The findings revealed that the primary sources of distraction belonged to six levels of the work system, the most cited of which were environment, tasks, and organization. Specifically, inappropriate behavior of other street users as an environmental factor and the driver’s interactions with passengers as task-related factors were identified as key sources. Additionally, organizational factors such as interactions with supervisors and colleagues, as well as salary issues, were significantly important. The participants very limitedly expressed using mobile phone while driving as a main distractor to their driving.
Conclusion: The current study identified various influential factors, spanning different levels of the work system, affecting bus drivers’ distraction, including generic factors that impact all urban drivers and specific factors that uniquely affect bus drivers. Addressing these factors through providing appropriate education for both passengers and street users along with implementing management strategies in the organization to enhance intra-organizational relationships and organizational support can lead to the safety of the bus drivers.
Material and Methods: In this study conducted in 2024 in Tehran, 18 urban bus drivers were selected through cluster sampling. The participants included 10 drivers from bus rapid transit (BRT) system and 8 drivers from non-BRT services. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with the drivers as well as on-site observations. Subsequently, a directed qualitative content analysis approach, based on the balance theory model, was used to analyze the collected data.
Results: The findings revealed that the primary sources of distraction belonged to six levels of the work system, the most cited of which were environment, tasks, and organization. Specifically, inappropriate behavior of other street users as an environmental factor and the driver’s interactions with passengers as task-related factors were identified as key sources. Additionally, organizational factors such as interactions with supervisors and colleagues, as well as salary issues, were significantly important. The participants very limitedly expressed using mobile phone while driving as a main distractor to their driving.
Conclusion: The current study identified various influential factors, spanning different levels of the work system, affecting bus drivers’ distraction, including generic factors that impact all urban drivers and specific factors that uniquely affect bus drivers. Addressing these factors through providing appropriate education for both passengers and street users along with implementing management strategies in the organization to enhance intra-organizational relationships and organizational support can lead to the safety of the bus drivers.
Type of Study: Research |
Received: 2025/01/6 | Accepted: 2024/12/30 | Published: 2024/12/30
Received: 2025/01/6 | Accepted: 2024/12/30 | Published: 2024/12/30
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
