A STUDY ON THE STRESS CONDITION OF

BUS DRIVERS
(With special reference to private bus drivers)

Submitted by
Azhar K.P
S2 MBA
Roll No. 07
Submitted To
Issac George Sir
Dept. Of Management Science
MES College Of Engineering Kuttipuram

PRIVATE BUS SERVICES IN KERALA

INTRODUCTION
Buses are one of the most key transport modes in almost every city in India. These buses
have become the lifeline of daily commuters who are largely dependent on these city buses to
travel from one place to another on a routine basis. Private bus are the life line for the state of
kerala. They provide a luxurious journey at a cheap rate compared to the charges charged in
other states of the country.
when we talk about this so called bus culture in the southernmost state of Kerala then the
story gets more cramped.
Kerala buses are the most often zipping machines which run amok on almost all streets in the
state honking every now and then. This mode of transport is serving the city goers from a
long time, but the other side of the story is far more scary and horrible. Well, if you have ever
been into these buses then you might have experienced the nerve wrecking feel. These buses
run so fast in all busy and narrow lanes as if a racing action is going on.
Putting the passenger’s life at stake these city buses rush on like a fire brigade or ambulance,
as if they have to make it through the record books. What more? These buses on usual days
can be seen jam-packed with passengers, many even holding on to the doors of the bus, not
even bothered about their lives. You can hear the sound of a bell after every five minutes
signalling a stop. The conductor keeps on pulling the string tied to the bell which is fixed near
the driver’s cabin. So if the bell rings for one time it means a halt and two times points to
move on.
After the gruelling session of travelling through such challenges you somehow luckily make
it to your desired destination and that too safe and sound. Well this is just a peek to the daily
extreme bus journeys most of the working population of God’s Own Country make to reach
their work station or destination
Private buses in Kerala will soon be tracked through global positioning system (GPS) and
passengers will get all the information they need virtually on their fingertips.The Kerala State
Bus Operators Federation, with a fleet of 20,000 buses plying across the southern state, has
hired fleet management services provider Dhanus to install the automatic vehicle locator and
asset protection system.Both passengers and service operators will be able to track buses on a
specific route, its timings and other details on their computers or on mobile handsets using a
web-interface or a mobile WAP interface.Within a year, the entire fleet of the KBOF will be
equipped with the tracking system that helps monitor the buses constantly by sending real
time information.
Private buses in Kerala will soon be tracked through global positioning system (GPS) and
passengers will get all the information they need virtually on their fingertips. The Kerala
State Bus Operators Federation, with a fleet of 20,000 buses plying across the southern state,
has hired fleet management services provider Dhanus to install the automatic vehicle locator
and asset protection system. Both passengers and service operators will be able to track buses
on a specific route, its timings and other details on their computers or on mobile handsets
using a web-interface or a mobile WAP interface. Within a year, the entire fleet of the KBOF
will be equipped with the tracking system that helps monitor the buses constantly by sending
real time information.
To mitigate the sufferings of the travelling public, presence of private operators is a must.
Hence the very thought of making road transport the monopoly of the State should be
decried. Moreover, the KSRTC is in the red. It could not so far cater to the needs of the
people satisfactorily, though its role of alleviating the sufferings of the travelling public
cannot be underestimated. Due importance should be given to the KSRTC. Monopoly
ownership of the transport system does not auger well for the public or the State. The best
course the State can adopt is to limit the operations of the KSRTC to long-distance routes so
that short-distance routes can be earmarked for private transport operators. There is no
rationale in the nationalisation of new routes. The Government can think of bifurcating the
KSRTC into four or five separate companies, as is the case in Tamil Nadu. Importance of
private transport operators cannot be minimised in the present contest where the number of
travelling public is increasing day by day. But giving a free hand to private operators is not
worthy of consideration, for private monopoly will lead to unhealthy competition among
private operators.

CURRENT ROAD CONDITION IN KERALA

The road condition in Kerala as improved a lot compared to the last decade. The roads have
been rubberised and its maintenance works are carried out yearly. But the road in the state
are not enough to have a smooth and accident free environment. The roads are not developed
as the number of vehicle on road are increasing. There no proper signals and and basic
necessity things to have a smooth travel. Compared to our neighbouring states we have a poor
road condition. The width of the national highways in kerala are very narrow, and due to this
only accidents in our state stands first in the country
Regarding the rules and regulations, most of the rules are not fully followed by the people
due to lack of facilities to maintain the rules to be followed.
The conditions of the roads are not improved due to the lack of redtapism and corruption in
the state. The funds ment for the renovation of roads are not used effectively.
How long have you started your career?

1 year 1-2 years 2-3 years 3-4 years > 4 years

2 2 2 1 8

➢ More than 50% of the private drivers are having more than 4 years experience in this
field, this also shows that the owners takes special care in selecting drivers for long trip,
this also could reduce accidents.

1) Are you married?

YES NO
9 6

➢ 60% of the drivers are married and lot of people are depended on them.

2) How long you have to work in a day?

10-12 > 12
5-8 HRS 8-18 HRSHRS HRS
2 8 5

➢ The diagram shows that more than 80 % works more than 10 hrs a day and out of that
33% works more than 12 hrs which really causes stress on them.

3) How many days you have to work in a month?

15-20 20-25
< 15 DAYS DAYS DAYS 25-30 DAYS
10 5

On an average 67% of workers work for 20-25 days and about 33% drivers work for a whole
month
4) Is your wage is fixed on the basis of collection/day of the bus?

YES NO
9 6
➢ 60% of the divers’ wages are fixed on the basis of collection

 If YES do you feel that due to this reason you are forced to increase the speed of
bus?
TO greater To less To less
extend To great externd Neutral extend extend
7 2

➢ The drivers are forced to increase speed to great extend not only because their wages are
based on collection but aso because they have to cover each point in a specified time.

6) Duration of single journey

1.5 HRS 2 HRS 2.5 HRS 3 HRS 3.5 HRS > 4 HRS
2 1 7 2 2 1

➢ More than 75% of the drivers have to drive continuously for more than 2.5 hrs

7) Where do u sleep in the night?

BUS LODGE HOUSE
4 5 6
 ➢ Only 27% of the drivers prefer to sleep in the bus rest sleeps either in lodge or house

8) Do you get enough time to spend with your family?

TO greater To less
extend To great externd Neutral extend To less extend
7 4 4

➢ Most of the drivers’ get enough time to spend with their family

9) Do you have any of the habits?

ALCOHO
HANS SMOKING L
2 2 7

➢ Only 37% are not edicted to any kind of seductive, of the rest 47% of the workers are
addicted to alcohol
10)Have you started any of these habits after becoming a driver?

YES NO
5 6

➢ More than 50% of them started using seductive before they started their career

11)Do u feel the speed governer fitted in the bus will reduce accidents?

TO greater To less
extend To great externd Neutral extend To less extend
6 5 3 1

➢ Most of them have a mild response regarding the implementation of the speed governer,
out of them 40% agrees to great extend that accidents are reducing.

12)What are the measures have you taken for avoiding sleeping while driving?
HANS/PA ANY
TEA SMOKING N OTHER
2
➢ Most of the drivers avoin night drivers and out of them only 2 persons uses hans

13)What may be idle speed for private bus according to your openion?
40 Km/Hr 50 Km/Hr 60 Km/Hr 70 Km/Hr
7 8

➢ Regarding the speed all the drivers responded that it should not be below 60 km/hr

14)Do you feel KSRTC Malabar bus service is creating stress in your work life?
TO greater To less
extend To great externd Neutral extend To less extend
1 6 5 1 2

➢ 40% of the drivers agrees that KSRTC bus service causes stress to their work to great
extend
Rate the levelof satisfaction on the following parameters
a) ROAD CONDITION

Neither Satisfied Less Highly

Highly Satisfied Satisfied
Nor Dissatisfied Satisfied Dissatisfied
11 4

➢ Regarding the road condition most of the drivers are satisfied

b) R.T.O SUPPORT

Neither Satisfied Less Highly

Highly Satisfied Satisfied
Nor Dissatisfied Satisfied Dissatisfied
1 12 2

➢ RTO are not causing any harm to the drivers

c) TRAFFIC POLICE
 Neither Satisfied Less Highly
Highly Satisfied Satisfied
Nor Dissatisfied Satisfied Dissatisfied
3 7 5

➢ As the traffic police are concerned more than 50% are less satisfied with their attitude
towards bus drivers

d) REST TIME AFTER EACH TRIP

Neither Satisfied Less Highly

Highly Satisfied Satisfied Nor Dissatisfied Satisfied Dissatisfied
3 10 2

➢ Most of them are much satisfied with the time gap between each trip

e) SPACE IN THE BUS STAND

Neither Satisfied Less Highly

Highly Satisfied Satisfied Nor Dissatisfied Satisfied Dissatisfied
8 7

➢ Space in the bus stand is much satisfactory

f) RESTING PLACE IN TBUS STAND

Neither Satisfied Less Highly

Highly Satisfied Satisfied Nor Dissatisfied Satisfied Dissatisfied
6 9
 CONCLOSION
After studying different aspects and dimensions which affect the stress of private bus
drivers it is clear that time is the prime concern which causes stress in their work life. After
interviewing the drivers it is clear that drivers are forced to increase speed because of the time
factor, whereas most of them are not willing to increase speed. The main stresses on drivers are
caused as they have to reach each point in a specified time as instructed before by the owner of
the bus. Even their salaries are not fixed on the collection they are forced to increase speed.
Most of the drivers find time to spend with their family and they try their maximum to satisfy
their needs and wants and from this they get a good relief from their work.
The time of each journey in much high comparing to other type of works, most of them work
for more than 12 hrs a day, and this time period really causes stress in their works.the drivers
work more number of days in a month as they will be paid more. They are forced to work on
even festival days.
As the road condition in concerned, the drivers comment that the current roads in the state
are not satisfactory as the roads are not improving as number of vehicles on the road are
increasing day by day.
The drivers are more keen regarding usage of any kind of seductive while driving, most of
them uses anything only after their duty is over
The drivers comment that they cannot reach the specified point if the speed governors’ are
used in the buses. But most of them are willing to drive the bus according to rules.
As the KSRTC Bus service are not according to their schedule most of the drivers agrees that
they are causing stress in their work.