Identifying Factors Affecting the Distraction of Young-Ride sharing Drivers in Urban Accidents

Driver distraction plays a critical role in both the likelihood and severity of road crashes, especially among taxi drivers within public transport networks. Due to the low and unstable income associated with taxi driving, many drivers are forced to work extended hours to secure adequate earnings. This condition compromises the safety of passengers and other road users, making distraction among this group a critical and high-risk issue for society. The main purpose of this study is to identify the factors influencing distraction among young ride-hailing drivers in urban traffic accidents. In this study, Q-methodology was employed to identify drivers’ mental patterns, with 30 drivers aged 20 to 35 in Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan Province participating in the Q-sort questionnaire. Q-analysis, performed through factor analysis in SPSS, identified six mental patterns from the drivers’ perspectives. The results indicated that factors such as driver’s personal issues (financial, emotional, and psychological problems), alcohol and tobacco use, mobile phone use, defective vehicle (brake failure, worn-out tires), improper speed bumps, driver time pressure (e.g., completing incentive-based trips quickly), and receiving ride requests significantly influenced drivers’ distraction.