Thompson Jason, Stevenson Mark
a Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC), Monash Injury Research Institute, Monash University , Melbourne , Australia.
Traffic Inj Prev. 2014;15 Suppl 1:S10-4. doi: 10.1080/15389588.2014.928702.
There has been growing recognition that broader economic and organizational factors play a role in creating work environments that facilitate high-risk driving behavior. This study investigates the association between compensation methods for drivers, fatigue-related driving behavior, and sleepiness among Australian heavy-vehicle drivers. Specifically, we hypothesized that piece-rate compensation methods linked to performance outcomes would be associated with greater levels of fatigue-related driving behaviors and sleepiness.
We examined data from a random sample of 346 long-haul heavy-vehicle drivers who had not been involved in a crash. A 40-min interview was conducted that elicited information regarding driver demographics, truck characteristics, and compensation arrangements. Specific details about drivers' behavior on their most recent trip including load(s) carried, distances driven, hours driven, rest breaks, and hours of sleep on the previous night were taken. The interview also included a standardized assessment of sleepiness using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS).
A multivariate analysis of covariance demonstrated a significant multivariate effect for compensation methods across the combined, fatigue-related driving behavior dependent variables, F (10, 676)=2.80, p<.01. Between-subject effects demonstrated significant association between compensation methods and 4 of 5 fatigue-related variables under study, including kilometers driven per day, F (2, 340)=7.75, p<.001, hours driven per day, F (2, 341)=2.64, p<.05, total hours worked per week, F (2, 340)=5.27, p<.01, and mean driving time between breaks, F (2, 341)=4.45, p<.05. Post hoc tests revealed that piece-rate compensation methods were associated with higher levels of fatigue-related driving than non-piece-rate methods. Follow-up analysis also revealed higher caffeine and amphetamines use among piece-rate drivers for the purpose of staying awake while driving. Despite this, no association between compensation methods and sleepiness were revealed.
RESULTS confirmed that performance-based compensation methods are associated with work practices that may exacerbate driving behaviors associated with fatigue. Despite this finding, however, performance-based compensation methods were not associated with higher levels of sleepiness. This highlights the presence of potential differences in self-selection, operational, or fatigue management practices that may be common to drivers paid under various methods. Implications of these results for safety policy and future safety research within the heavy-vehicle industry are discussed.
人们越来越认识到，更广泛的经济和组织因素在营造助长高风险驾驶行为的工作环境中发挥着作用。本研究调查了澳大利亚重型车辆驾驶员的薪酬支付方式、与疲劳相关的驾驶行为和嗜睡之间的关联。具体而言，我们假设与绩效结果挂钩的计件薪酬支付方式会与更高水平的与疲劳相关的驾驶行为和嗜睡有关。
我们检查了346名未发生过事故的长途重型车辆驾驶员的随机样本数据。进行了一次40分钟的访谈，获取了有关驾驶员人口统计学、卡车特征和薪酬安排的信息。记录了驾驶员最近一次行程中行为的具体细节，包括所载货物、行驶距离、驾驶时长、休息时间以及前一晚的睡眠时间。访谈还包括使用爱泼华嗜睡量表（ESS）对嗜睡进行的标准化评估。
协方差的多变量分析表明，在综合的、与疲劳相关的驾驶行为因变量中，薪酬支付方式存在显著的多变量效应，F（10, 676）=2.80，p<.01。组间效应表明，薪酬支付方式与所研究的5个与疲劳相关变量中的4个存在显著关联，包括每天行驶的公里数，F（2, 340）=7.75，p<.001；每天驾驶时长，F（2, 341）=2.64，p<.05；每周总工作时长，F（2, 340）=5.27，p<.01；以及两次休息之间的平均驾驶时间，F（2, 341）=4.45，p<.05。事后检验显示，计件薪酬支付方式比非计件薪酬支付方式与更高水平的与疲劳相关的驾驶行为有关。后续分析还显示，计件薪酬驾驶员为了在驾驶时保持清醒而更多地使用咖啡因和安非他明。尽管如此，未发现薪酬支付方式与嗜睡之间存在关联。
结果证实，基于绩效的薪酬支付方式与可能加剧与疲劳相关的驾驶行为的工作方式有关。然而，尽管有这一发现，基于绩效的薪酬支付方式与更高水平的嗜睡并无关联。这凸显了在自我选择、运营或疲劳管理实践中可能存在的潜在差异，这些差异可能在以各种方式支付薪酬的驾驶员中普遍存在。讨论了这些结果对重型车辆行业安全政策和未来安全研究的影响。
