@article{ref1,
title="Are bus company regulations associated with crash risk? Findings from a retrospective survey in four Chinese cities",
journal="International journal of environmental research and public health",
year="2019",
author="Wu, Xiaolin and Zhang, Huimin and Xiao, Wangxin and Ning, Peishan and Schwebel, David C. and Hu, Guoqing",
volume="16",
number="8",
pages="e16081342-e16081342",
abstract="Bus crashes are common in urban China, and bus company regulations are hypothesized to be related to bus crash risk. We conducted a retrospective survey to examine the association in four large Chinese cities (Changsha, Shenzhen, Fuzhou, and Wuhan). Four types of bus crashes were considered: (a) passengers injured while riding the bus; (b) bus colliding with or scraping other motor vehicles; (c) bus colliding with non-motorized vehicles or pedestrians; and (d) bus damaging public facilities. Based on regulations governing the drivers' work, complete round trips per day, and their paid salary, three categories of companies were studied: type A: ≥14 h worked/day, ≥6 round trips/day, and >70% of salary based on performance; type B: 8-13 h/day, 4 or 5 round trips/day, and 36-70% of salary; and type C: <36% of salary and no other specified requirements. Of the 926 respondents, 20.7% reported one or more crashes or related risk events in the past month. Drivers from the three types of companies reported crash incidence rates of 31.9%, 8.8%, and 6.0%, respectively, in the past month. Type A crash rates were significantly higher than type C after controlling for relevant covariates (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 7.1, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.74-13.47). We conclude that more stringent bus company regulations, which mandate drivers to work long hours and obtain salary based on job performance in meeting demanding metrics, are associated with elevated bus-related crash risks. Local governments in China should regulate bus companies to ensure drivers work reasonable hours and are paid based on the quality of their work (e.g., safety).<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1661-7827",
doi="10.3390/ijerph16081342",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16081342"
}