Driving on rural roads but crashing on busy roads: A survey study examining non-fatal motor vehicle crashes among U.S. Oil and gas extraction workers

Abstract

Transportation incidents are the leading cause of worker injuries and fatalities in the U.S. oil and gas extraction (OGE) industry. This study examined potentially distinct characteristics of motor vehicle crash (MVC) risks among US OGE workers. Seventy-four OGE workers who regularly drive as part of their jobs completed a comprehensive survey, answering questions about driving history, self-rated driving safety and experience, frequency of prior warnings, traffic tickets, near-crashes, and crashes, and attentional and cognitive failures. They also self-reported details of their non-fatal crash events in the past five years, including driver-related, traffic, and environmental conditions and contributing factors. The OGE workers’ non-fatal MVCs frequently occurred 1) in relatively developed areas and on urban and commercial roads, 2) while performing challenging driving tasks such as merging or making left turns, and 3) in situations involving an inability to predict future conflicts, gap judgment errors, and a lack of understanding of traffic rules. OGE drivers at higher risk had shorter licensed years, drove at night frequently, had attentional declines, and drove longer distances. Verbal warnings and traffic citations were ineffective in reducing OGE drivers’ traffic violations and risky driving behaviors. Despite the small sample size, the current comprehensive survey helped uncover the distinct characteristics of U.S. OGE workers’ MVCs, including specific driver performance errors and traffic conditions, which are not monitored by existing surveillance systems. The findings suggest that developing industry-specific interventions and training may be warranted to address OGE workers’ elevated MVC risks.