| Document ID (ISN) | 74961 |
| CIS number |
00-872 |
| ISSN - Serial title |
1351-0711 - Occupational and Environmental Medicine |
| Year |
1999 |
| Convention or series no. |
|
| Author(s) |
Horne J., Reyner L. |
| Title |
Vehicle accidents related to sleep: A review |
| Bibliographic information |
May 1999, Vol.56, No.5, p.289-294. 60 ref. |
| Abstract |
Falling asleep while driving accounts for a considerable proportion of vehicle accidents under monotonous driving conditions. Circadian effects are profound, with sleepiness being particularly evident during night shift work and while driving home afterwards. Circadian factors are as important in determining driver sleepiness as is the duration of the drive, but only duration of the drive is built into legislation in the U.K. protecting professional drivers. Older drivers are also vulnerable to sleepiness in the mid-afternoon. Putative counter measures to sleepiness, adopted during continued driving (cold air, use of car radio) are only effective for a short time. The only safe countermeasure to driver sleepiness, particularly when the driver reaches the stage of fighting sleep, is to stop driving, and - for example - take a 30 minute break encompassing a short nap or coffee, which are very effective particularly if taken together. Exercise is of little use. More education of employers and employees is needed about planning journeys, the dangers of driving while sleepy and driving at vulnerable times of the day. |
| Descriptors (primary) |
sleep deprivation; drivers; causes of accidents; road transport; trucks |
| Descriptors (secondary) |
literature survey; responsibilities of employers; United Kingdom; night work; legislation; work-rest schedules; circadian rhythm; accident research; age-linked differences; workbreaks |
| Document type |
D - Periodical articles |
| Country / State or Province | United Kingdom |
| Subject(s) |
Transport and communications
|
| Broad subject area(s) |
Physiology, ergonomics
|
| Browse category(ies) |
Fatigue
Road transportation
|
