INVESTIGATING SAFETY CULTURE: A QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF BUS DRIVER BEHAVIOUR AT WORK

Whilst the relationship between driver stress and crashes has been established, little is known about how an organisation’s safety culture might mediate this relationship in the passenger services industry. Interviews with thirty bus drivers from a major bus company were conducted to investigate work related road risk and safety culture. A qualitative analysis revealed that the company’s unrealistic time schedules were perceived to be a major contributor to crash involvement. Bus drivers consider that the company puts profits over safety and that policies and practices creates time pressure and increases crash risk. The results are discussed with reference to organisational processes, safety systems and regulation issues.