Research highlights need for a broader approach to tackling drowsy driving in the UK
New research on drowsy driving, commissioned by the Scottish Occupational Road Safety Alliance (ScORSA), has been published in the Journal of Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives.
A socio-ecological model of drowsy driving in the UK: Are we there yet? was written by Jason Ellis, Professor of Sleep Science and Director of the Northumbria Centre Sleep Research, at Northumbria University.
The study looks at the growing issue of drowsy driving and the many factors that contribute to it. Rather than being driven by individual choices alone, it finds that behaviour is shaped by health, work, technology and wider social influences. The review also outlines areas where more research is needed and provides a framework to help guide future road safety policy and practice.
Driving is the most dangerous work activity that most people undertake, and sleepiness or drowsiness is a major contributing factor in driving impairment, “yet there is a clear gap between awareness and action”, the article argues.
Many people still choose to drive when tired for a range of reasons, including not recognising how impaired they are, believing they can drive safely despite a lack of sleep or feeling pressure to travel because of work or personal commitments.
While new technologies and other measures have been introduced to tackle the problem, there is no single solution. Differences between drivers, along with practical and cost challenges, have made it difficult to develop a standard approach.
The review also highlights wider factors contributing to drowsy driving, including limited public awareness campaigns, weak enforcement of policies and laws and the demands of a 24-hour society.
Rather than viewing drowsy driving solely as an issue of individual responsibility, the authors argue it should be treated as a wider transport safety challenge. They say reducing the risk will require action from employers, policymakers, technology providers and transport organisations, as well as drivers themselves.
ScORSA is a free membership programme dedicated to helping organisations across the UK make roads safer for employees and the public. It is run by RoSPA and funded by Transport Scotland and offers practical resources, events, campaigns, networking and support relevant for any business across the UK.
Find out more at: www.scorsa.org.uk