Evaluation of top-down implementation of health regulations in the transport sector in a 5-year period

Objective A collective labour agreement concerning extended rest periods during long-distance shuttle bus trips of Dutch long-distance coach drivers was established in 1997. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent to which top-down implementation of these health regulations, with respect to rest times and subjective health complaints in the private passenger-transport sector, succeeded in the year 2002.Methods A questionnaire study was carried out on 440 coach drivers and 97 of their employers. The questionnaire for coach drivers focused on the frequency they received the required rest times and on their health status. The questionnaire for employers focused on the number of rest hours that their companies scheduled for long-distance shuttle bus trips for their drivers. Motives for not scheduling the required rest hours were noted as well.Results Almost every employer (93%) and three-quarters of the drivers (72%) reported at least 12 h rest time before a long-distance shuttle bus trip, as required. Approximately half of the employers (57%) reported planning the required rest during and after these bus trips. Fewer than one-quarter of the drivers (24%) received at least 10 h rest at their destination and fewer than half of the coach drivers (42%) always receive the required 24 h rest after the trip. In addition, the significant results are indicative of a positive relationship between the duration of the rest period during and after the long-distance shuttle bus trip and the level of health complaints of the coach drivers.Conclusions Top-down implementation of health regulations with respect to rest times resulted in successful implementation after 5 years in approximately half of the companies. Longer rest times during the high season of 2002 were associated with less health complaints at the end of that season.