Investigating crash mechanisms: Occupational factors among traditional and ride-hailing taxi drivers.

Objective: Taxi crashes rank second highest among all commercial vehicle crashes, primarily due to driver factors. Conducting driver occupational analysis is imperative for safeguarding the safety of taxi operations.

Methods: This study used a survey questionnaire among 4,383 traditional and ride-hailing taxi drivers in China, analyzing 25 crash-related factors from an occupational standpoint. Subsequently, a multiple indicators multiple causes (MIMIC) model was devised to delve into the mediating effects and crash causation mechanisms.

Results: The distinct influences of various factors on crash occurrence between traditional and ride-hailing taxi drivers are emphasized. The findings show that ride-hailing taxi drivers tend to be younger, have higher education levels, and have a higher proportion of part-time employment compared to traditional taxi drivers. They also report lower average income and management fees, shorter average driving hours, fewer severe sleep issues and fatigue levels, and lower crash rates. Further analysis uncovers that for traditional taxi drivers, gender and 5 factors directly affect crashes, and age and 7 factors indirectly affect crashes through unsafe driving behaviors. For ride-hailing drivers, occupational status and 5 factors, plus management fees and 9 others, play significant roles in safety. Overall, the influence of individual attributes on crash incidence varies between taxi drivers, with age and occupational status being the most significant factors. Additionally, the immediate economic burden has a stronger direct impact on crashes for both driver types. Furthermore, intensity-related factors, such as fatigue and extended continuous driving periods, contribute to unsafe driving behaviors and increase crash risk indirectly.

Conclusions: With the use of targeted prevention policies proposed in this study, significant strides can be made in reducing the incidence of taxi crashes and enhancing overall transportation safety.