THE IMPACT OF TIREDNESS AS A CAUSE OF ROAD ACCIDENTS FOR SPECIFIC GROUPS OF AT RISK DRIVERS: A REVIEW - UC

This review was carried out on behalf of the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) to identify the key factors associated with driver fatigue. It included an assessment of the information on sleep-related accidents and of factors related to 'at risk' groups that are most likely to contribute to increased levels of tiredness. The key factors identified were sleeping problems, time of day, long hours of work, irregular hours, lack of breaks, work pressures, individual differences, and the vehicle environment. A pilot study was also conducted to obtain information from shiftworkers on the levels of tiredness experienced on the drive to and from work at different times of the day. Compared to non-shiftworkers, shiftworkers reported that they were more tired on the drive between their home and the workplace, and considered that they were more at risk of falling asleep behind the wheel. The main factors contributing to this increased level of sleepiness and associated driving impairment were the length of the previous sleep period, the type of shift, and the travelling time. On working days, shiftworkers were involved in more driving accidents than non-shiftworkers. However, there were insufficient data to determine whether these accidents were strongly correlated with driver sleepiness. Proposals for future research are outlined: collection of data from driving accidents and incidents to identify where fatigue may be a contributory factor; laboratory and field studies into individual susceptibility to fatigue; and the effectiveness of countermeasures that can be used in the working environment before the drive home. (A)

• Corporate Authors:

  DERA Centre for Human Sciences

  ,    
• Authors:
  • ROGERS, A
  • HOMES, S R
  • SPENCER, M B
• Publication Date: 2000-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 68 p.
• Serial:
  • DERA/CMS/PPD/CR990421/1.0
  • Publisher: DERA Centre for Human Sciences

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Days; Drivers; Fatigue (Physiological condition); Occupations; Time
• ITRD Terms: 9007: Day (24 hour period); 1772: Driver; 2222: Fatigue (human); 2271: Occupation; 5414: Time
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00939068
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Mar 7 2003 12:00AM