Pierre Thiffault | Transport Canada (original) (raw)
Papers by Pierre Thiffault
CRC Press eBooks, Jul 7, 2023
Journal of transport and health, Dec 1, 2017
The purpose was to provide a comprehensive review of the literature related to the health and wel... more The purpose was to provide a comprehensive review of the literature related to the health and wellness of truck (long and short-haul) and bus drivers in Canada and the USA. Methods: The following databases were searched: Medline (Pubmed), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsycINFO and Scopus, as well as the grey literature using a combination of key words (e.g. truck or bus drivers, accidents, health, wellness, road safety). Only English articles published between 2000 and 2016 were included. The search yielded 33 peer reviewed articles and 9 reports relevant to the health and wellness of CMV drivers. Results: The findings show that long-haul truck drivers have multiple risk factors (i.e., smoking, obesity, hypertension, poor diet, lack of exercise, stress and sleep) that can lead to various medical conditions (i.e., cardiovascular disorders, diabetes) and adverse events (i.e., crashes). Several medical conditions including sleep apnea (and fatigue more generally), obesity and cardiovascular disorders are all associated with increased crash risk. There was little information on bus drivers or short-haul truck drivers, however, the available information would suggest they are also exposed to negative work and driver environments leading to the development of risk factors associated with medical conditions. Conclusions: Further research is needed to characterize the work environment and lifestyle practices (particularly sleep, smoking, diet and exercise) of truck and bus drivers to understand the interactions between various risk factors and health outcomes. Obtaining baseline information, including national prevalence rates of health issues, is vitally important for public health, regulatory organizations, and industry to coordinate prevention efforts.
Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting
While a vehicle operator falling asleep at the controls is the most obvious symptom of fatigue in... more While a vehicle operator falling asleep at the controls is the most obvious symptom of fatigue in transportation operations, less extreme and apparent fatigue levels are reliably associated with performance impairments in, for example, attention, information processing, memory, and situation awareness. Compared to in other industries, fatigue in transportation is made more likely by challenges to the body's circadian rhythm caused by shiftwork and travel across time zones. While experiencing fatigue is a normal physiological and behavioral state, for drivers, pilots, mariners, and other vehicle operators, experiencing fatigue while operating a vehicle can have catastrophic consequences. Fatigue can also contribute to heightened, though less-direct, risk for those who support transport operations, such as shift schedulers, supervisors, and managers. This discussion panel will explore high risk and important human factors challenges to fatigue management facing transportation work...
of the motor carrier industry ___________________73 2.1.3 Driver distraction ____________________... more of the motor carrier industry ___________________73 2.1.3 Driver distraction ______________________________________________ 73 2.1.3.1 Distraction: prevalence, definition and basic principles ______________73 2.1.3.1.1 Attention as a single channel process _______________________ 74 2.1.3.1.2 The importance of exposure _______________________________ 75 2.1.3.1.3 Multilevel control model of driver distraction _________________ 77 2.1.3.1.4 A matter of choice ______________________________________ 78 2.1.3.2 Driver distraction in the motor carrier industry ____________________80 2.1.3.2.1 Llaneras et al. (2005) ____________________________________ 81 2.1.3.2.2 Hanowski et al. (2005) ___________________________________ 84 2.1.3.2.3 Olson et al. (2009)______________________________________ 86 2.1.3.2.4 Distraction in the LTCCS ________________________________ 89 2.1.3.2.5 Other studies __________________________________________ 89 2.1.4 Distraction countermeasures and research needs ______________________ 90 2.1.4.1 Interventions aimed at drivers __________________________________90 2.1.4.1.1 Education and training ___________________________________ 93 2.1.4.1.2 Fleet management of driver distraction ______________________ 96 2.1.4.2 Interventions aimed at distractors _______________________________97 2.1.2.4.1 Distraction mitigation technologies ________________________ 100 2.1.4.3 US developments __________________________________________102 2.1.4.4 CCMTA's Expert Group on Driver Distraction ___________________104 2.2 DECISION ERRORS _________________________________________________105 2.2.1 The concept of risk-taking ______________________________________ 106 2.2.2 Risk-taking, violations and crashes _______________________________ 107 2.2.3 Different approaches to risk-taking _______________________________ 108 2.2.3.1 Psychosocial approach: the problem behavior theory ______________109
Accident Analysis & Prevention, May 1, 2003
Studies have shown that drowsiness and hypovigilance frequently occur during highway driving and ... more Studies have shown that drowsiness and hypovigilance frequently occur during highway driving and that they may have serious implications in terms of accident causation. This paper focuses on the task induced factors that are involved in the development of these phenomena. A driving simulator study was conducted in order to evaluate the impact of the monotony of roadside visual stimulation using a steering wheel movement (SWM) analysis procedure. Fifty-six male subjects each drove during two different 40-min periods. In one case, roadside visual stimuli were essentially repetitive and monotonous, while in the other one, the environment contained disparate visual elements aiming to disrupt monotony without changing road geometry. Subject's driving performance was compared across these conditions in order to determine whether disruptions of monotony can have a positive effect and help alleviate driver fatigue. Results reveal an early time-on-task effect on driving performance for both driving periods and more frequent large SWM when driving in the more monotonous road environment, which implies greater fatigue and vigilance decrements. Implications in terms of environmental countermeasures for driver fatigue are discussed.
Driver fatigue studies focus mainly on endogenous causes of sleepiness. While this work is fundam... more Driver fatigue studies focus mainly on endogenous causes of sleepiness. While this work is fundamental, the authors believe that a complimentary approach, investigating the effects of exogenous (task-induced) factors that also continuously impact on alertness, is important. This study focuses on exogenous factors associated with driver fatigue and on personality based individual differences in the reaction to these factors. A simulator experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of road monotony on fatigue-related performance measures and to investigate how relevant biologically oriented personality dimensions can modulate these effects.
of the motor carrier industry ___________________73 2.1.3 Driver distraction ____________________... more of the motor carrier industry ___________________73 2.1.3 Driver distraction ______________________________________________ 73 2.1.3.1 Distraction: prevalence, definition and basic principles ______________73 2.1.3.1.1 Attention as a single channel process _______________________ 74 2.1.3.1.2 The importance of exposure _______________________________ 75 2.1.3.1.3 Multilevel control model of driver distraction _________________ 77 2.1.3.1.4 A matter of choice ______________________________________ 78 2.1.3.2 Driver distraction in the motor carrier industry ____________________80 2.1.3.2.1 Llaneras et al. (2005) ____________________________________ 81 2.1.3.2.2 Hanowski et al. (2005) ___________________________________ 84 2.1.3.2.3 Olson et al. (2009)______________________________________ 86 2.1.3.2.4 Distraction in the LTCCS ________________________________ 89 2.1.3.2.5 Other studies __________________________________________ 89 2.1.4 Distraction countermeasures and research needs ______________________ 90 2.1.4.1 Interventions aimed at drivers __________________________________90 2.1.4.1.1 Education and training ___________________________________ 93 2.1.4.1.2 Fleet management of driver distraction ______________________ 96 2.1.4.2 Interventions aimed at distractors _______________________________97 2.1.2.4.1 Distraction mitigation technologies ________________________ 100 2.1.4.3 US developments __________________________________________102 2.1.4.4 CCMTA's Expert Group on Driver Distraction ___________________104 2.2 DECISION ERRORS _________________________________________________105 2.2.1 The concept of risk-taking ______________________________________ 106 2.2.2 Risk-taking, violations and crashes _______________________________ 107 2.2.3 Different approaches to risk-taking _______________________________ 108 2.2.3.1 Psychosocial approach: the problem behavior theory ______________109
International Journal of Workplace Health Management, Sep 17, 2018
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to solicit perspectives from stakeholders concerning health,... more Purpose The purpose of this paper is to solicit perspectives from stakeholders concerning health, environmental and operational challenges among Commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers in Canada (truck and bus drivers). Design/methodology/approach Two focus groups and one interview were conducted with key industry, government and advocacy groups representing or working with CMV drivers. Perspectives pertaining to working conditions, health issues, driver recruitment and retention, and other key issues in the CMV sector were obtained. Findings The findings show that undesirable working conditions are primary issues that impact recruitment and retention, as well as health and wellness (H&W), and productivity of drivers in both the truck and bus sectors. Compared to our US counterparts, finding parking areas and rest stops were seen as a major issue for Canadian truckers (particularly in the north). Unfortunately, there is limited or out-dated information on drivers and companies in Canada. Stakeholders stated the need for more information from both carriers/companies and from drivers themselves (particularly long-haul drivers). Research limitations/implications This study identifies gaps and key priority research areas pertaining to the H&W of the CMV sector in Canada that require further investigation. Originality/value CMV drivers are considered a vulnerable sector of the population. While drivers themselves have reported on undesirable work conditions leading to poor health, prior studies have not assessed the awareness or perspective of stakeholders involved in the CMV sector. This is the first study to capture stakeholder perspectives of the working conditions and health outcomes of CMV drivers.
Transportation Research Record, 2009
This paper presents the results of a study funded by Transport Canada to investigate the safety i... more This paper presents the results of a study funded by Transport Canada to investigate the safety implications of mandated truck speed limiters. The study adopted a microscopic simulation approach that was applied to a number of maximum speed control strategies including 105km/h. The sensitivity of safety performance with respect to changes in geometric and traffic scenarios was investigated. The study found that truck speed limiters produced positive safety gains for different assumed volumes and percentage trucks and different compliance levels. Under certain conditions such as high volumes and high percentage of trucks, speed limiters produced a reduction in safety.
Personality and Individual Differences, 2003
This study aims at evaluating personality predictors of driver fatigue. Individual differences in... more This study aims at evaluating personality predictors of driver fatigue. Individual differences in subject's performance are well documented in vigilance studies. Since monotonous highway driving can be seen as a vigilance task, it is possible that these differences materialize in this context and explain a portion of fatigue-related driving errors and accidents. Fifty-six male subjects drove for two 40 min periods on a straight highway. Road environment was repetitive and monotonous in one condition (road A), whilst visual elements aiming to disrupt monotony were presented in the other one (road B). Multiple regression analyses showed that sensation seeking, and more specifically the Experience Seeking (ES) dimension, are predictive of the standard deviation of steering wheel movements, a performance measure used to assess driver fatigue. ES explains 12.3% of the observed variance on road A and 8% on road B. An interaction effect was also obtained between extraversion and sensation seeking on road A, where sensation seeking explained 26% of the observed variance, but only for the more extraverted subjects. Results also indicate that subjects who report falling asleep at the wheel in the past tend to be high sensation seekers. Implications in terms of driver evaluation and management are discussed # 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Ce theme a comporte les exposes suivants : Utilisation des sieges d'auto chez les nouveau-nes... more Ce theme a comporte les exposes suivants : Utilisation des sieges d'auto chez les nouveau-nes a la sortie de l'hopital (Doucet,H et Infante-Rivard,C); Sieges d'autos pour enfants dans les vehicules taxis (Lapointe,Y); Projet d'experimentation et evaluation d'une signalisation numerique pietonniere : Le decompte visuel. Presentation des resultats (Belanger-Bonneau,H); Les personnes agees percoivent-elles differemment les dangers associes a diverses situation pietonnieres? (Bergeron,J, Fournier,S, Joly,P, Rannou,A et Joly,MF); Amelioration de la securite des ecoliers aux abords des ecoles (Kahle,R et Laberge,S); Etudes d'observation de l'utilisation du casque de velo apres deux ans d'implantation d'un programme de promotion dans une population ou le taux de depart etait de 1% (Farley,C, Quesnel,G, Sergerie,D et Brown,B); Evaluation des niveaux de vigilance dans la conduite d'un poids lourd : Notions de base (Bergeron,J et Thiffault,P). (Voir fic...
Driver fatigue studies focus mainly on endogenous causes of sleepiness. While this work is fundam... more Driver fatigue studies focus mainly on endogenous causes of sleepiness. While this work is fundamental, the authors believe that a complimentary approach, investigating the effects of exogenous (task-induced) factors that also continuously impact on alertness, is important. This study focuses on exogenous factors associated with driver fatigue and on personality based individual differences in the reaction to these factors. A simulator experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of road monotony on fatigue-related performance measures and to investigate how relevant biologically oriented personality dimensions can modulate these effects.
Journal of Transport & Health, 2017
The purpose was to provide a comprehensive review of the literature related to the health and wel... more The purpose was to provide a comprehensive review of the literature related to the health and wellness of truck (long and short-haul) and bus drivers in Canada and the USA. Methods: The following databases were searched: Medline (Pubmed), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsycINFO and Scopus, as well as the grey literature using a combination of key words (e.g. truck or bus drivers, accidents, health, wellness, road safety). Only English articles published between 2000 and 2016 were included. The search yielded 33 peer reviewed articles and 9 reports relevant to the health and wellness of CMV drivers. Results: The findings show that long-haul truck drivers have multiple risk factors (i.e., smoking, obesity, hypertension, poor diet, lack of exercise, stress and sleep) that can lead to various medical conditions (i.e., cardiovascular disorders, diabetes) and adverse events (i.e., crashes). Several medical conditions including sleep apnea (and fatigue more generally), obesity and cardiovascular disorders are all associated with increased crash risk. There was little information on bus drivers or short-haul truck drivers, however, the available information would suggest they are also exposed to negative work and driver environments leading to the development of risk factors associated with medical conditions. Conclusions: Further research is needed to characterize the work environment and lifestyle practices (particularly sleep, smoking, diet and exercise) of truck and bus drivers to understand the interactions between various risk factors and health outcomes. Obtaining baseline information, including national prevalence rates of health issues, is vitally important for public health, regulatory organizations, and industry to coordinate prevention efforts.
International Journal of Workplace Health Management, 2018
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to solicit perspectives from stakeholders concerning health,... more Purpose The purpose of this paper is to solicit perspectives from stakeholders concerning health, environmental and operational challenges among Commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers in Canada (truck and bus drivers). Design/methodology/approach Two focus groups and one interview were conducted with key industry, government and advocacy groups representing or working with CMV drivers. Perspectives pertaining to working conditions, health issues, driver recruitment and retention, and other key issues in the CMV sector were obtained. Findings The findings show that undesirable working conditions are primary issues that impact recruitment and retention, as well as health and wellness (H&W), and productivity of drivers in both the truck and bus sectors. Compared to our US counterparts, finding parking areas and rest stops were seen as a major issue for Canadian truckers (particularly in the north). Unfortunately, there is limited or out-dated information on drivers and companies in Can...
of the motor carrier industry ___________________73 2.1.3 Driver distraction ____________________... more of the motor carrier industry ___________________73 2.1.3 Driver distraction ______________________________________________ 73 2.1.3.1 Distraction: prevalence, definition and basic principles ______________73 2.1.3.1.1 Attention as a single channel process _______________________ 74 2.1.3.1.2 The importance of exposure _______________________________ 75 2.1.3.1.3 Multilevel control model of driver distraction _________________ 77 2.1.3.1.4 A matter of choice ______________________________________ 78 2.1.3.2 Driver distraction in the motor carrier industry ____________________80 2.1.3.2.1 Llaneras et al. (2005) ____________________________________ 81 2.1.3.2.2 Hanowski et al. (2005) ___________________________________ 84 2.1.3.2.3 Olson et al. (2009)______________________________________ 86 2.1.3.2.4 Distraction in the LTCCS ________________________________ 89 2.1.3.2.5 Other studies __________________________________________ 89 2.1.4 Distraction countermeasures and research needs ______________________ 90 2.1.4.1 Interventions aimed at drivers __________________________________90 2.1.4.1.1 Education and training ___________________________________ 93 2.1.4.1.2 Fleet management of driver distraction ______________________ 96 2.1.4.2 Interventions aimed at distractors _______________________________97 2.1.2.4.1 Distraction mitigation technologies ________________________ 100 2.1.4.3 US developments __________________________________________102 2.1.4.4 CCMTA's Expert Group on Driver Distraction ___________________104 2.2 DECISION ERRORS _________________________________________________105 2.2.1 The concept of risk-taking ______________________________________ 106 2.2.2 Risk-taking, violations and crashes _______________________________ 107 2.2.3 Different approaches to risk-taking _______________________________ 108 2.2.3.1 Psychosocial approach: the problem behavior theory ______________109
SACCOMANNO, F. F. et al. Safety implications of mandated truck speed limiters. Transportation Res... more SACCOMANNO, F. F. et al. Safety implications of mandated truck speed limiters. Transportation Research Record, Washington, v. 2096, p. 65-75, 2009.
Personality and Individual Differences, 2003
This study aims at evaluating personality predictors of driver fatigue. Individual differences in... more This study aims at evaluating personality predictors of driver fatigue. Individual differences in subject's performance are well documented in vigilance studies. Since monotonous highway driving can be seen as a vigilance task, it is possible that these differences materialize in this context and explain a portion of fatigue-related driving errors and accidents. Fifty-six male subjects drove for two 40 min periods on a straight highway. Road environment was repetitive and monotonous in one condition (road A), whilst visual elements aiming to disrupt monotony were presented in the other one (road B). Multiple regression analyses showed that sensation seeking, and more specifically the Experience Seeking (ES) dimension, are predictive of the standard deviation of steering wheel movements, a performance measure used to assess driver fatigue. ES explains 12.3% of the observed variance on road A and 8% on road B. An interaction effect was also obtained between extraversion and sensation seeking on road A, where sensation seeking explained 26% of the observed variance, but only for the more extraverted subjects. Results also indicate that subjects who report falling asleep at the wheel in the past tend to be high sensation seekers. Implications in terms of driver evaluation and management are discussed # (P. Thiffault). operations systems. It is today widely understood, for instance, that fatigue and drowsy driving account for a large number of road accidents, even if the precise estimates of their prevalence varies according to the particular database, methods and criteria in use (Lyznicki, Doege, Davis, & Williams, 1998).
Transportation Research Record, 2009
CRC Press eBooks, Jul 7, 2023
Journal of transport and health, Dec 1, 2017
The purpose was to provide a comprehensive review of the literature related to the health and wel... more The purpose was to provide a comprehensive review of the literature related to the health and wellness of truck (long and short-haul) and bus drivers in Canada and the USA. Methods: The following databases were searched: Medline (Pubmed), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsycINFO and Scopus, as well as the grey literature using a combination of key words (e.g. truck or bus drivers, accidents, health, wellness, road safety). Only English articles published between 2000 and 2016 were included. The search yielded 33 peer reviewed articles and 9 reports relevant to the health and wellness of CMV drivers. Results: The findings show that long-haul truck drivers have multiple risk factors (i.e., smoking, obesity, hypertension, poor diet, lack of exercise, stress and sleep) that can lead to various medical conditions (i.e., cardiovascular disorders, diabetes) and adverse events (i.e., crashes). Several medical conditions including sleep apnea (and fatigue more generally), obesity and cardiovascular disorders are all associated with increased crash risk. There was little information on bus drivers or short-haul truck drivers, however, the available information would suggest they are also exposed to negative work and driver environments leading to the development of risk factors associated with medical conditions. Conclusions: Further research is needed to characterize the work environment and lifestyle practices (particularly sleep, smoking, diet and exercise) of truck and bus drivers to understand the interactions between various risk factors and health outcomes. Obtaining baseline information, including national prevalence rates of health issues, is vitally important for public health, regulatory organizations, and industry to coordinate prevention efforts.
Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting
While a vehicle operator falling asleep at the controls is the most obvious symptom of fatigue in... more While a vehicle operator falling asleep at the controls is the most obvious symptom of fatigue in transportation operations, less extreme and apparent fatigue levels are reliably associated with performance impairments in, for example, attention, information processing, memory, and situation awareness. Compared to in other industries, fatigue in transportation is made more likely by challenges to the body's circadian rhythm caused by shiftwork and travel across time zones. While experiencing fatigue is a normal physiological and behavioral state, for drivers, pilots, mariners, and other vehicle operators, experiencing fatigue while operating a vehicle can have catastrophic consequences. Fatigue can also contribute to heightened, though less-direct, risk for those who support transport operations, such as shift schedulers, supervisors, and managers. This discussion panel will explore high risk and important human factors challenges to fatigue management facing transportation work...
of the motor carrier industry ___________________73 2.1.3 Driver distraction ____________________... more of the motor carrier industry ___________________73 2.1.3 Driver distraction ______________________________________________ 73 2.1.3.1 Distraction: prevalence, definition and basic principles ______________73 2.1.3.1.1 Attention as a single channel process _______________________ 74 2.1.3.1.2 The importance of exposure _______________________________ 75 2.1.3.1.3 Multilevel control model of driver distraction _________________ 77 2.1.3.1.4 A matter of choice ______________________________________ 78 2.1.3.2 Driver distraction in the motor carrier industry ____________________80 2.1.3.2.1 Llaneras et al. (2005) ____________________________________ 81 2.1.3.2.2 Hanowski et al. (2005) ___________________________________ 84 2.1.3.2.3 Olson et al. (2009)______________________________________ 86 2.1.3.2.4 Distraction in the LTCCS ________________________________ 89 2.1.3.2.5 Other studies __________________________________________ 89 2.1.4 Distraction countermeasures and research needs ______________________ 90 2.1.4.1 Interventions aimed at drivers __________________________________90 2.1.4.1.1 Education and training ___________________________________ 93 2.1.4.1.2 Fleet management of driver distraction ______________________ 96 2.1.4.2 Interventions aimed at distractors _______________________________97 2.1.2.4.1 Distraction mitigation technologies ________________________ 100 2.1.4.3 US developments __________________________________________102 2.1.4.4 CCMTA's Expert Group on Driver Distraction ___________________104 2.2 DECISION ERRORS _________________________________________________105 2.2.1 The concept of risk-taking ______________________________________ 106 2.2.2 Risk-taking, violations and crashes _______________________________ 107 2.2.3 Different approaches to risk-taking _______________________________ 108 2.2.3.1 Psychosocial approach: the problem behavior theory ______________109
Accident Analysis & Prevention, May 1, 2003
Studies have shown that drowsiness and hypovigilance frequently occur during highway driving and ... more Studies have shown that drowsiness and hypovigilance frequently occur during highway driving and that they may have serious implications in terms of accident causation. This paper focuses on the task induced factors that are involved in the development of these phenomena. A driving simulator study was conducted in order to evaluate the impact of the monotony of roadside visual stimulation using a steering wheel movement (SWM) analysis procedure. Fifty-six male subjects each drove during two different 40-min periods. In one case, roadside visual stimuli were essentially repetitive and monotonous, while in the other one, the environment contained disparate visual elements aiming to disrupt monotony without changing road geometry. Subject's driving performance was compared across these conditions in order to determine whether disruptions of monotony can have a positive effect and help alleviate driver fatigue. Results reveal an early time-on-task effect on driving performance for both driving periods and more frequent large SWM when driving in the more monotonous road environment, which implies greater fatigue and vigilance decrements. Implications in terms of environmental countermeasures for driver fatigue are discussed.
Driver fatigue studies focus mainly on endogenous causes of sleepiness. While this work is fundam... more Driver fatigue studies focus mainly on endogenous causes of sleepiness. While this work is fundamental, the authors believe that a complimentary approach, investigating the effects of exogenous (task-induced) factors that also continuously impact on alertness, is important. This study focuses on exogenous factors associated with driver fatigue and on personality based individual differences in the reaction to these factors. A simulator experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of road monotony on fatigue-related performance measures and to investigate how relevant biologically oriented personality dimensions can modulate these effects.
of the motor carrier industry ___________________73 2.1.3 Driver distraction ____________________... more of the motor carrier industry ___________________73 2.1.3 Driver distraction ______________________________________________ 73 2.1.3.1 Distraction: prevalence, definition and basic principles ______________73 2.1.3.1.1 Attention as a single channel process _______________________ 74 2.1.3.1.2 The importance of exposure _______________________________ 75 2.1.3.1.3 Multilevel control model of driver distraction _________________ 77 2.1.3.1.4 A matter of choice ______________________________________ 78 2.1.3.2 Driver distraction in the motor carrier industry ____________________80 2.1.3.2.1 Llaneras et al. (2005) ____________________________________ 81 2.1.3.2.2 Hanowski et al. (2005) ___________________________________ 84 2.1.3.2.3 Olson et al. (2009)______________________________________ 86 2.1.3.2.4 Distraction in the LTCCS ________________________________ 89 2.1.3.2.5 Other studies __________________________________________ 89 2.1.4 Distraction countermeasures and research needs ______________________ 90 2.1.4.1 Interventions aimed at drivers __________________________________90 2.1.4.1.1 Education and training ___________________________________ 93 2.1.4.1.2 Fleet management of driver distraction ______________________ 96 2.1.4.2 Interventions aimed at distractors _______________________________97 2.1.2.4.1 Distraction mitigation technologies ________________________ 100 2.1.4.3 US developments __________________________________________102 2.1.4.4 CCMTA's Expert Group on Driver Distraction ___________________104 2.2 DECISION ERRORS _________________________________________________105 2.2.1 The concept of risk-taking ______________________________________ 106 2.2.2 Risk-taking, violations and crashes _______________________________ 107 2.2.3 Different approaches to risk-taking _______________________________ 108 2.2.3.1 Psychosocial approach: the problem behavior theory ______________109
International Journal of Workplace Health Management, Sep 17, 2018
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to solicit perspectives from stakeholders concerning health,... more Purpose The purpose of this paper is to solicit perspectives from stakeholders concerning health, environmental and operational challenges among Commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers in Canada (truck and bus drivers). Design/methodology/approach Two focus groups and one interview were conducted with key industry, government and advocacy groups representing or working with CMV drivers. Perspectives pertaining to working conditions, health issues, driver recruitment and retention, and other key issues in the CMV sector were obtained. Findings The findings show that undesirable working conditions are primary issues that impact recruitment and retention, as well as health and wellness (H&W), and productivity of drivers in both the truck and bus sectors. Compared to our US counterparts, finding parking areas and rest stops were seen as a major issue for Canadian truckers (particularly in the north). Unfortunately, there is limited or out-dated information on drivers and companies in Canada. Stakeholders stated the need for more information from both carriers/companies and from drivers themselves (particularly long-haul drivers). Research limitations/implications This study identifies gaps and key priority research areas pertaining to the H&W of the CMV sector in Canada that require further investigation. Originality/value CMV drivers are considered a vulnerable sector of the population. While drivers themselves have reported on undesirable work conditions leading to poor health, prior studies have not assessed the awareness or perspective of stakeholders involved in the CMV sector. This is the first study to capture stakeholder perspectives of the working conditions and health outcomes of CMV drivers.
Transportation Research Record, 2009
This paper presents the results of a study funded by Transport Canada to investigate the safety i... more This paper presents the results of a study funded by Transport Canada to investigate the safety implications of mandated truck speed limiters. The study adopted a microscopic simulation approach that was applied to a number of maximum speed control strategies including 105km/h. The sensitivity of safety performance with respect to changes in geometric and traffic scenarios was investigated. The study found that truck speed limiters produced positive safety gains for different assumed volumes and percentage trucks and different compliance levels. Under certain conditions such as high volumes and high percentage of trucks, speed limiters produced a reduction in safety.
Personality and Individual Differences, 2003
This study aims at evaluating personality predictors of driver fatigue. Individual differences in... more This study aims at evaluating personality predictors of driver fatigue. Individual differences in subject's performance are well documented in vigilance studies. Since monotonous highway driving can be seen as a vigilance task, it is possible that these differences materialize in this context and explain a portion of fatigue-related driving errors and accidents. Fifty-six male subjects drove for two 40 min periods on a straight highway. Road environment was repetitive and monotonous in one condition (road A), whilst visual elements aiming to disrupt monotony were presented in the other one (road B). Multiple regression analyses showed that sensation seeking, and more specifically the Experience Seeking (ES) dimension, are predictive of the standard deviation of steering wheel movements, a performance measure used to assess driver fatigue. ES explains 12.3% of the observed variance on road A and 8% on road B. An interaction effect was also obtained between extraversion and sensation seeking on road A, where sensation seeking explained 26% of the observed variance, but only for the more extraverted subjects. Results also indicate that subjects who report falling asleep at the wheel in the past tend to be high sensation seekers. Implications in terms of driver evaluation and management are discussed # 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Ce theme a comporte les exposes suivants : Utilisation des sieges d'auto chez les nouveau-nes... more Ce theme a comporte les exposes suivants : Utilisation des sieges d'auto chez les nouveau-nes a la sortie de l'hopital (Doucet,H et Infante-Rivard,C); Sieges d'autos pour enfants dans les vehicules taxis (Lapointe,Y); Projet d'experimentation et evaluation d'une signalisation numerique pietonniere : Le decompte visuel. Presentation des resultats (Belanger-Bonneau,H); Les personnes agees percoivent-elles differemment les dangers associes a diverses situation pietonnieres? (Bergeron,J, Fournier,S, Joly,P, Rannou,A et Joly,MF); Amelioration de la securite des ecoliers aux abords des ecoles (Kahle,R et Laberge,S); Etudes d'observation de l'utilisation du casque de velo apres deux ans d'implantation d'un programme de promotion dans une population ou le taux de depart etait de 1% (Farley,C, Quesnel,G, Sergerie,D et Brown,B); Evaluation des niveaux de vigilance dans la conduite d'un poids lourd : Notions de base (Bergeron,J et Thiffault,P). (Voir fic...
Driver fatigue studies focus mainly on endogenous causes of sleepiness. While this work is fundam... more Driver fatigue studies focus mainly on endogenous causes of sleepiness. While this work is fundamental, the authors believe that a complimentary approach, investigating the effects of exogenous (task-induced) factors that also continuously impact on alertness, is important. This study focuses on exogenous factors associated with driver fatigue and on personality based individual differences in the reaction to these factors. A simulator experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of road monotony on fatigue-related performance measures and to investigate how relevant biologically oriented personality dimensions can modulate these effects.
Journal of Transport & Health, 2017
The purpose was to provide a comprehensive review of the literature related to the health and wel... more The purpose was to provide a comprehensive review of the literature related to the health and wellness of truck (long and short-haul) and bus drivers in Canada and the USA. Methods: The following databases were searched: Medline (Pubmed), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsycINFO and Scopus, as well as the grey literature using a combination of key words (e.g. truck or bus drivers, accidents, health, wellness, road safety). Only English articles published between 2000 and 2016 were included. The search yielded 33 peer reviewed articles and 9 reports relevant to the health and wellness of CMV drivers. Results: The findings show that long-haul truck drivers have multiple risk factors (i.e., smoking, obesity, hypertension, poor diet, lack of exercise, stress and sleep) that can lead to various medical conditions (i.e., cardiovascular disorders, diabetes) and adverse events (i.e., crashes). Several medical conditions including sleep apnea (and fatigue more generally), obesity and cardiovascular disorders are all associated with increased crash risk. There was little information on bus drivers or short-haul truck drivers, however, the available information would suggest they are also exposed to negative work and driver environments leading to the development of risk factors associated with medical conditions. Conclusions: Further research is needed to characterize the work environment and lifestyle practices (particularly sleep, smoking, diet and exercise) of truck and bus drivers to understand the interactions between various risk factors and health outcomes. Obtaining baseline information, including national prevalence rates of health issues, is vitally important for public health, regulatory organizations, and industry to coordinate prevention efforts.
International Journal of Workplace Health Management, 2018
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to solicit perspectives from stakeholders concerning health,... more Purpose The purpose of this paper is to solicit perspectives from stakeholders concerning health, environmental and operational challenges among Commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers in Canada (truck and bus drivers). Design/methodology/approach Two focus groups and one interview were conducted with key industry, government and advocacy groups representing or working with CMV drivers. Perspectives pertaining to working conditions, health issues, driver recruitment and retention, and other key issues in the CMV sector were obtained. Findings The findings show that undesirable working conditions are primary issues that impact recruitment and retention, as well as health and wellness (H&W), and productivity of drivers in both the truck and bus sectors. Compared to our US counterparts, finding parking areas and rest stops were seen as a major issue for Canadian truckers (particularly in the north). Unfortunately, there is limited or out-dated information on drivers and companies in Can...
of the motor carrier industry ___________________73 2.1.3 Driver distraction ____________________... more of the motor carrier industry ___________________73 2.1.3 Driver distraction ______________________________________________ 73 2.1.3.1 Distraction: prevalence, definition and basic principles ______________73 2.1.3.1.1 Attention as a single channel process _______________________ 74 2.1.3.1.2 The importance of exposure _______________________________ 75 2.1.3.1.3 Multilevel control model of driver distraction _________________ 77 2.1.3.1.4 A matter of choice ______________________________________ 78 2.1.3.2 Driver distraction in the motor carrier industry ____________________80 2.1.3.2.1 Llaneras et al. (2005) ____________________________________ 81 2.1.3.2.2 Hanowski et al. (2005) ___________________________________ 84 2.1.3.2.3 Olson et al. (2009)______________________________________ 86 2.1.3.2.4 Distraction in the LTCCS ________________________________ 89 2.1.3.2.5 Other studies __________________________________________ 89 2.1.4 Distraction countermeasures and research needs ______________________ 90 2.1.4.1 Interventions aimed at drivers __________________________________90 2.1.4.1.1 Education and training ___________________________________ 93 2.1.4.1.2 Fleet management of driver distraction ______________________ 96 2.1.4.2 Interventions aimed at distractors _______________________________97 2.1.2.4.1 Distraction mitigation technologies ________________________ 100 2.1.4.3 US developments __________________________________________102 2.1.4.4 CCMTA's Expert Group on Driver Distraction ___________________104 2.2 DECISION ERRORS _________________________________________________105 2.2.1 The concept of risk-taking ______________________________________ 106 2.2.2 Risk-taking, violations and crashes _______________________________ 107 2.2.3 Different approaches to risk-taking _______________________________ 108 2.2.3.1 Psychosocial approach: the problem behavior theory ______________109
SACCOMANNO, F. F. et al. Safety implications of mandated truck speed limiters. Transportation Res... more SACCOMANNO, F. F. et al. Safety implications of mandated truck speed limiters. Transportation Research Record, Washington, v. 2096, p. 65-75, 2009.
Personality and Individual Differences, 2003
This study aims at evaluating personality predictors of driver fatigue. Individual differences in... more This study aims at evaluating personality predictors of driver fatigue. Individual differences in subject's performance are well documented in vigilance studies. Since monotonous highway driving can be seen as a vigilance task, it is possible that these differences materialize in this context and explain a portion of fatigue-related driving errors and accidents. Fifty-six male subjects drove for two 40 min periods on a straight highway. Road environment was repetitive and monotonous in one condition (road A), whilst visual elements aiming to disrupt monotony were presented in the other one (road B). Multiple regression analyses showed that sensation seeking, and more specifically the Experience Seeking (ES) dimension, are predictive of the standard deviation of steering wheel movements, a performance measure used to assess driver fatigue. ES explains 12.3% of the observed variance on road A and 8% on road B. An interaction effect was also obtained between extraversion and sensation seeking on road A, where sensation seeking explained 26% of the observed variance, but only for the more extraverted subjects. Results also indicate that subjects who report falling asleep at the wheel in the past tend to be high sensation seekers. Implications in terms of driver evaluation and management are discussed # (P. Thiffault). operations systems. It is today widely understood, for instance, that fatigue and drowsy driving account for a large number of road accidents, even if the precise estimates of their prevalence varies according to the particular database, methods and criteria in use (Lyznicki, Doege, Davis, & Williams, 1998).
Transportation Research Record, 2009