The current study explores the causes of taxi crashes and trials suitable interventions to reduce crash rates. Other than a tendency to blame other taxi drivers, or other drivers, the most often cited safety issue was paying attention . The Queensland Taxi Driver Questionnaire has been trialled and several initial observations made. Taxi drivers who purposely sped on residential streets were more likely to crash and to have incurred demerit points. While these results provide evidence that speed cameras are valid, other results point to being in a rush as the critical factor. Taxi drivers who try to get their passenger to a destination on time, regardless of the road rules, are more likely to crash, by contrast, taxi drivers who give safety of passengers a priority were less likely to crash. On the evidence of this initial pilot study, the questionnaire has been revised and is currently in distribution to a larger population of drivers. Industry factors are incorporated in the questionnaire informed by the theory of planned behaviour. Early in 2006 a magnetic pen operated computer used to assess drivers will be trialled with both novice and experienced taxi drivers. (Author/publisher) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E214133.
Samenvatting