Influence of Public Bus Driver’s Driving Behaviors on Passenger Fall Incidents: An Analysis Using Digital Tachograph Data

Abstract

Owing to the low occurrence of public transport accidents, most existing studies have focused on improving the traffic safety of passenger cars. However, traffic accidents related to public transport should also be investigated for the safety of public transport users, particularly the vulnerable ones. This study analyzed the behavioral factors affecting passenger fall incidents on buses to enhance the safety of public bus passengers. This study considered potential influential factors, such as acceleration, deceleration, braking, and steering maneuvers, calculated using data from digital tachographs installed on the buses. Negative binomial and Poisson lognormal regression models were built using the Bayesian method. The two models yielded similar results. In all cases, deceleration-related behavioral factors (abrupt deceleration and abrupt stop) significantly influenced passenger fall incidents. The findings from this study are significant for establishing effective strategies to reduce fall incidents by providing safety education to bus drivers.