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Inj Prev 2009;15:80-86 doi:10.1136/ip.2008.018937
  • Original Article

Working conditions of bus drivers in the private sector and bus crashes in Kandy district, Sri Lanka: a case–control study

  1. A U Jayatilleke1,
  2. S Nakahara2,
  3. S D Dharmaratne3,
  4. A C Jayatilleke1,
  5. K C Poudel1,
  6. M Jimba1
  1. 1
    Department of International Community Health, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
  2. 2
    Department of Preventive Medicine, St Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan
  3. 3
    Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
  1. Dr K C Poudel, Department of International Community Health, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; krishna{at}m.u-tokyo.ac.jp
  • Accepted 11 November 2008

Abstract

Objective: To explore the effects of working conditions of private-bus drivers on bus crashes in Kandy district, Sri Lanka.

Methods: A case–control study was carried out from August to September 2006. All private-bus drivers registered in Kandy district and involved in crashes reported to the police between November 2005 and April 2006 (n = 63) were selected as cases. Two control groups were included: private-bus drivers working on the same routes as the case drivers (n = 90) and private-bus drivers selected randomly from other routes of the district (n = 111). Data were collected using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire. Associations between working conditions and crashes were analysed using logistic regression.

Results: A strong association was observed between drivers’ disagreements about working hours and bus crashes (matched controls, adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 5.98, 95% CI 1.02 to 34.90; unmatched controls, AOR 18.74, 95% CI 2.00 to 175.84). A significant association was also observed between low salaries (<US$100) and private-bus crashes (matched controls, AOR 1.01, 95% CI 0.40 to 2.54; unmatched controls, AOR 3.09, 95% CI 1.26 to 7.57).

Conclusions: Drivers’ disagreements about working hours and low salaries were significant risk factors for private-bus crashes in Kandy district, Sri Lanka. Therefore, new legislation for private-bus owners on the working hours and salaries of their drivers to prevent private-bus crashes is recommended.

Footnotes

  • Contributors: AUJ designed the study, collected data, and analysed, wrote and revised the article. SN and SDD contributed to the design, data analysis, writing and revision. KCP and ACJ contributed to the data analysis, writing and revision. MJ supervised all aspects of the study and contributed to the design, data analysis, writing and revision of the article.

  • Funding: None.

  • Competing interests: None.

  • Ethics approval: Obtained.

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