a Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health , University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham , Alabama.
Traffic Inj Prev. 2014;15(7):720-5. doi: 10.1080/15389588.2013.867482.
Recent research has suggested that driver distraction is a major cause of driving performance impairment and motor vehicle collisions. Research on the topic has focused on passenger vehicles, with studies suggesting that drivers may be distracted nearly 33 percent of the time spent driving. To date, no study has examined the prevalence of distraction specifically among public transit bus drivers.
Over a 3-month period, trained investigators observed and recorded distraction behaviors of bus drivers. Distraction prevalence was compared by route characteristics (e.g., geographic area, travel speed) using chi-square test. A general estimating equation logistic regression was used to estimate P values for distraction prevalence by driver demographics.
Overall, there was a 39 percent prevalence of distraction. The most prevalent distractions were due to interactions with another passenger. Distractions were more prevalent among drivers <30 years of age or ≥ 50 years of age, on city streets or highways (relative to residential streets), and when there were more than 20 passengers. Distractions were the least prevalent in suburban areas, with the highest prevalence observed in city centers and rural areas.
Driver distraction is a common problem for public transit bus drivers, mainly due to other passengers. Drivers should be educated on the hazards of distracted driving and on ways to avoid distraction.
最近的研究表明，驾驶员分神是驾驶表现受损和机动车碰撞的一个主要原因。该主题的研究集中在乘用车上，研究表明驾驶员在驾驶过程中可能有近 33%的时间处于分神状态。迄今为止，尚无研究专门检查公共汽车司机分心的发生率。
在 3 个月的时间里，经过培训的调查员观察并记录了公交车司机的分神行为。使用卡方检验比较了路线特征（如地理区域、行驶速度）对分神发生率的影响。使用一般估计方程逻辑回归估计了驾驶员人口统计学特征对分神发生率的 P 值。
总体而言，分心的发生率为 39%。最常见的分神原因是与其他乘客的互动。30 岁以下或 50 岁以上的司机、在城市街道或高速公路上（相对于住宅区）、有 20 多名乘客的司机中，分神现象更为普遍。在郊区，分神现象最少见，在市中心和农村地区观察到的分神现象最多。
驾驶员分神是公共汽车司机的一个常见问题，主要是由于其他乘客造成的。应该对驾驶员进行分心驾驶的危害以及避免分心的方法进行教育。
