Laterality and accident proneness: A study of locomotive drivers

Abstract

This study attempted to find the association between four measures of laterality (handedness, footedness, eyedness, and earedness) and accident proneness in locomotive drivers. The Sidedness Bias Schedule was administered to a sample of 80 locomotive drivers to ascertain their preferential bias. Their accident records were also available. Positive correlations were mostly found between the measures of hand, foot, ear, and eye dominance. Analyses suggested that there was a higher accident rate among left-handers and left-footers, with multiple regression unable to determine whether handedness or footedness was related more strongly to accident proneness. However, it was clear that accident rate was primarily associated with direction of lateralisation, and not with degree of lateralisation. Drivers with left-handedness were more likely to be involved in accidents, and it is possible that that may be related to the design of the locomotive cabs.

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the suggestions and revision of the earlier draft by Chris McManus. We also extend our thanks to Mandar Rane for his suggestions on the illustration. Our special thanks are due to the drivers of South Central, Northern, South Eastern, and East Coast zones of the Indian railways for their participation in this study.