Canadian population-based survey of commercial drivers during the COVID-19 pandemic: Health- and safety-related factors affecting collision risk

Abstract

Background

Commercial motor vehicles are imperative to Canada to deliver goods and services. Timely delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic meant commercial drivers had to work longer hours in difficult conditions, with increased risk of COVID-19 exposure, morbidity and mortality.

Objectives

were to: (1) compare drivers with commercial drivers' licences with matched drivers without commercial drivers' licences on health and safety factors and driving during the pandemic; (2) examine predictors of collisions since the pandemic among drivers with commercial drivers’ licences.

Methods

A sub-analysis of a population-based online survey of Canadian drivers was conducted examining impact of COVID-19 on health and safety factors and driving. Socio-demographics, health and driving variables were compared between matched drivers with and without commercial licences and logistic regression analysis assessed the impact of COVID-19-related health and safety factors on likelihood of commercial driver involvement in collisions.

Results

Commercial drivers drove significantly more kilometres, were more likely to have been stopped by police, and more likely to have had at least one collision during the pandemic than non-commercial drivers. No between group differences were found for distress, worry about COVID-19, vaccine status and testing positive for COVID-19, speeding, driving after alcohol or cannabis use.

Drivers with commercial licences who scored higher on distress, reported less worry about COVID-19, increased speeding and being stopped by the police were all significantly associated with more self-reported collisions.

Conclusions

Health and safety factors need to be considered for drivers with commercial licences for collision involvement in future pandemics.