Behavioural aspects of safer transport

Bowen, Louise ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5856-0225 2023. Behavioural aspects of safer transport. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

The study of transport behaviour is essential for health, safety and productivity. Human factors are widely acknowledged as major contributors in road traffic collision (RTC) involvement. However, despite extensive research on specific topics in certain areas of transport, there are still substantial gaps in our knowledge. A systematic review of the literature related to human factors in the remit of car driving revealed that much of the empirical research studies factors in isolation, whereas it is clear a multivariate approach is essential. This thesis describes a series of well-powered cross-sectional studies, employing multivariate methods conducted to better understand the psychological underpinnings of the propensity to commit driving violations – this being a major risk factor in RTC occurrence. Associations between human factors and their connection to RTCs, as well as their potential links with some of the established risk factors as outcome variables (driving behaviour, driver fatigue and risk-taking) were considered. Hierarchical, logistic and multinomial regressions demonstrated a variety of novel predictors implicated in RTC involvement, such as job characteristics, when the driving was taking place (commuting/ leisure), high numbers of near-miss involvement and recent driver retraining course attendance. Cumulative effects analyses revealed a multiplicative impact of the significant predictors – for example a 16.73-fold increase in driver fatigue was detected for younger, single drivers who often drive in heavy traffic, on the motorway and in adverse weather, with stressful, noisy, pressurised jobs, lower in levels of respect (typical of the blue-collar worker). These effects were detected alongside the established risk factors, affording confidence in the novel predictors. Overall, the research contained in this thesis contributes to expert knowledge in transport psychology – based on these findings, it is clearly important to use a holistic approach to improve transport behaviour in all domains and groups where research on transport behaviour is poorly developed.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Psychology
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	22 March 2024
Last Modified:	22 Mar 2024 16:48
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/167358

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