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Driver Fatigue Policy Statements - February 2002Driver fatigue is a serious problem resulting in many thousands of road accidents each year. It is not currently possible to calculate the exact number of sleep related accidents because of the difficulty in detecting whether fatigue was a factor and in assessing the level of fatigue. However, research suggests that up to 20% of accidents on monotonous roads in Great Britain are fatigue related. Research in other countries also indicates that fatigue is a serious problem. Young male drivers, truck drivers, company car drivers and shift workers are the most at risk of falling asleep while driving. However, any driver travelling long distances or when he/she is tired, is at risk of a sleep related accident. The early hours of the morning and the middle of the afternoon are the peak times for fatigue accidents, and long journeys on monotonous roads, particularly motorways, are the most likely to result in a driver falling asleep. It is clear that drivers are aware when they are feeling sleepy, and so make a conscious decision about whether to continue driving or to stop for a rest. It may be that those who persist in driving are either unaware of the risk they are taking, or underestimate the risk of actually falling asleep while driving. Or it may be that some drivers choose to ignore the risks (in the way that drink drivers do). However, this awareness at least provides a foundation on which to build educational messages. Most of the things that drivers do to try to keep themselves awake and alert when driving are ineffective, and should only be regarded as emergency measures to allow the driver time to find somewhere safe to stop. Drinking at least 150 mg of caffeine and taking a nap of around 15 minutes are the only measures that help to reduce sleepiness. But even these are temporary measures; sleepiness will return if the driver does not stop driving within a fairly short period of time. The safest option is for drivers to avoid driving when sleepy, when they would normally be sleeping or when they are ill or taking medication which contra-indicates driving or using machinery. It is crucial that drivers plan journeys, especially long ones involving driving on motorways or other monotonous roads. Drivers should:
Employers Employers have a vital role to play in managing the risks involved in their employees who drive for work purposes. As part of their health and safety policies and practices, employers should adopt and implement the principles of managing occupational road risk, with particular reference to reducing the risk of their employees being involved in a sleep related driving accident. Principally, employers should:
Holiday and Travel Companies One of the times when individual drivers may drive in the early hours of the morning is when they are catching, or returning from, an early flight or ship/ferry journey. Drivers returning from long haul flights, or coming off ships and ferries also often drive home after having had very little sleep in the previous 24 hours. Holiday companies, airlines and shipping lines should consider what advice and information they could offer to their customers, particularly as they sell alcohol to their passengers, which exacerbates the risk. Enforcement and Roadside Testing It can be difficult for the Police to detect a fatigue-impaired driver. However, some Police Forces are currently trialling general impairment roadside tests, which may prove effective in detecting sleepy drivers, as well as drivers affected by alcohol, drugs or medicines. Drivers Hours The regulation and enforcement of driver hours rules is obviously important. However, these rules do not cover many drivers who drive for work (e.g. company car drivers) and who do very high mileages. Even some of those drivers and operators who are governed by the Rules, sometimes find way of circumventing them. It would be difficult to include non-vocational drivers within the regulations because their vehicles are not currently required to have tachographs. However, it may be that technological advancements in the long term would enable motor vehicles (with a few exemptions) to have some form of system that records and maintains a record of an individual’s driving hours, no matter what vehicle they are driving. Whether this would be publicly or politically acceptable is another issue. In the meanwhile, guidance could be developed for employers on drivers’ hours that mirrored the existing regulations. Fatigue Detection and Warning Devices Technical devices to detect when drivers are feeling sleepy and provide warnings to them, or even to take control of the vehicle, are being researched and developed. Such devices may prove beneficial, but there are concerns that drivers would rely on them instead of managing themselves for safety.
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