Driver Safety Written by Dr Lisa Dorn, Research Director, DriverMetrics
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Driver stress in the COVID-19 environment As COVID-19 lockdown measures are gradually eased, employers need to be aware of the stress-related risks associated with drivers returning to work, advises Dr Lisa Dorn The speed and scale of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is having a serious effect on the mental health of many of us and increasing levels of stress and anxiety. As governments begin to make plans to gradually ease the lockdown measures, employers need to be aware of the stress-related risks associated with drivers returning to work. Driver stress and crash risk Studies by Brenner and Selzer in the 1960s first identified the link between stress and crash involvement. They studied drivers responsible
employees. Personal crises were defined as interpersonal events severely disturbing to the driver which still affected the driver at the time of the fatal crash as might be anticipated when returning to work in the midst of a pandemic. The study showed that 20 per cent of the fatality drivers had suffered some disturbing experiences within six hours of causing a fatal crash. The implications for the current situation are clear. Many drivers will be returning to work with concerns around a range of Covid19 related issues, including worries about their own health and that of their families, as well as potential financial pressures as the economy suffers a downturn.
Observational methods to identify driver stress During the pandemic, it is natural for people to feel shocked, or numb, or unable for 96 fatal accidents over a three-year period to accept what has happened. Be aware and a matched control group to determine the that people react differently and take prevalence of social stress and acute pre-accident different amounts of time to come to terms disturbance. Social stress included serious and with what has happened. It is normal to disturbing personal conflicts or vocationalexperience a mix of feelings. Drivers financial crises originating during the 12-month may feel frightened that period prior to the fatal crash or personal they will catch virus or interview. These included job Many worried about loved problems or financial difficulties, drivers ones. They may also actual or feared demotion, be fearful about promotion, discharge, or job returnin will be their livelihoods change, as well as conflicts with co g to work ncern in the future. with employers, or fellow
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s ar a range of COV ound ID related issues, -19 s uch as their h e a lt h or that of their families
