[Psychological factors contributing to unsafe behavior in train drivers]

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Transportation Safety
• Human Factors

Context:

• Railway safety is paramount, with accidents often linked to human error.
• Understanding the psychological underpinnings of unsafe behaviors is crucial for effective prevention strategies.

Purpose:

• To investigate the relationship between unsafe behaviors and railway accidents.
• To identify psychological factors, both personal and organizational, that contribute to unsafe behaviors in train drivers.

Summary:

• Content analysis of 251 railway accident reports indicated that intention errors and unsafe behaviors co-occurred frequently, suggesting a causal link to accidents.
• Questionnaire data from 148 train drivers revealed that perceived costs of safety compliance and ineffective safety rules heightened unsafe behaviors.
• Organizational management and norms indirectly influenced unsafe behaviors by affecting personal factors.

Impact:

• Findings highlight the need for interventions targeting psychological factors to reduce train driver unsafe behaviors.
• Implications for developing more effective accident prevention programs in the railway industry.