Factor analysis of driver behavior questionnaire (DBQ) in public transportation Bus Company: Investigation of the relationship between DBQ factors and crashes

Abstract

The main objectives of the present study are to evaluate the validity and reliability of the driver behavior questionnaire (DBQ) among professional bus drivers and to investigate the relationship between the DBQ factors, demographic and driving variables with self-reported crashes involvement. DBQ has been investigated based on content and construct validity in order to examine the panelists' viewpoints and underlying dimensions through exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The questionnaires (DBQ, demographic and driving information) completed by 168 male professional bus drivers. EFA was performed with extraction method of the principal axis factoring (PAF) and varimax rotation. In order to survey the relationship between the DBQ factors, demographic and driving variables with self-reported crashes, Pearson correlation test was used. The results of factor analysis showed four factors: risky violation, slip and lapse, highway violation, and mistake which all cover 45.1% of the total variance. There were a negative significant correlation between risky violation and mileage, as well as a positive significant correlation between highway violations and crashes involvement. 15-items of the DBQ will be a relatively suitable measure for studying bus drivers’ behavior in the future research directions. Improving cultural aspects related to the public expectations of the bus drivers play an effective role in reducing some violations of the bus drivers.