Mediating role of fatigue driving in the influence of job demand and insecurity on safety incidents among bus drivers

Amoadu, Mustapha; Tetteh Commey, Isaac; Ansah, Edward Wilson · 2025 · Crossref

DOI: 10.1007/s44202-025-00322-x

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Summary

This study investigates the psychosocial factors contributing to road safety incidents among long-distance bus drivers in Ghana, specifically examining how job demands and job insecurity influence safety outcomes through the mediating mechanism of driving fatigue. The research is motivated by the high incidence of road traffic crashes in Ghana, where bus drivers account for a significant proportion of fatalities and injuries. Existing interventions often overlook the precarious working conditions, such as long hours, tight schedules, and unstable employment contracts, which exacerbate driver stress and fatigue. The study aims to empirically link these occupational stressors to risky driving behaviors and accidents. The researchers conducted a large-scale survey of 7,315 long-distance commercial bus drivers recruited from 38 transport yards and terminals across Ghana using convenient sampling. The sample included both minibus and long-bus drivers, with a 95.9% response rate. Data were collected via structured interviews conducted by trained assistants between November 2023 and January 2024. The study utilized validated instruments: the modified Karolinska Sleepiness Scale for driving fatigue, the Job Content Questionnaire for job demands and job insecurity, and the Driver Behaviour Questionnaire for safety incidents (errors and violations). Data analysis was performed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS version 4 to test the hypothesized direct and indirect relationships among the constructs. The results demonstrated that both job demands and job insecurity had significant positive associations with safety incidents. Job insecurity showed a particularly strong direct effect on safety incidents. Crucially, driving fatigue was found to partially mediate the relationship between these job stressors and safety incidents. This means that while job demands and insecurity directly increase the likelihood of errors and violations, they also elevate driver fatigue, which in turn further increases the risk of unsafe driving. The model exhibited strong explanatory power, accounting for 84.7% of the variance in safety incidents. Effect size analyses indicated that job insecurity had a very large effect on safety incidents, while driving fatigue had a large effect on incidents as well. The findings highlight the critical impact of occupational psychosocial conditions on road safety in developing countries. The study concludes that addressing job demands and insecurity through targeted interventions—such as enforcing maximum driving hours, mandating rest breaks, improving employment contract stability, and implementing fatigue management programs—is essential for reducing crashes. The authors recommend collaborative efforts among transport authorities, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to enforce occupational health standards and promote supportive work environments, thereby enhancing driver well-being and aligning with global sustainable development goals for road safety.

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• bus coach