Driver fatigue is an important risk factor in traffic safety and an issue for both private and professional drivers. This report provides an analysis of risk factors related to fatigue-related road accidents, and describes intervention goals at multiple levels in order to reduce sleepy driving among drivers. Private drivers who are on their way to or from their holiday were assigned as the specific target group. In the problem analysis, we give an overview of the problem in the at-risk population. Furthermore, we define the risk behaviours and environmental conditions that cause this problem. Next, we use the results of the problem analysis as input for the next step of the multilevel Intervention Mapping approach. Intervention Mapping is a systematic approach to initiate interventions, from problem recognition until implementation (Bartholomew, Parcel, Kok and Gottlieb, 2001), and provides a framework for making decisions about how to influence change in individual behaviour and in the environment of the individual. A key principle is that interventions are most effective when they operate on multiple levels (Sallis & Owen, 2002). Behaviour is not only influenced by a narrow range of psychosocial variables linked to the individual; but also by a wide range of influences at different levels. Multilevel interventions, based on ecological/systems approach, targeting individuals as well as their interpersonal and societal environments, are therefore considered to be able to successfully reduce the number of fatigue-related road accidents. In matrices we give an overview of desired changes in behaviour and the environment, by describing who and what will be expected to change as a result of the interventions. Later on, these draft matrices can be further detailed by collecting additional information from the holiday drivers, their partner/peers and driving school directors and policy makers. After this, the more detailed matrices should form the input for the next steps of intervention mapping: developing science-based methods and practical strategies, designing a program plans, implementation plans, and evaluation plans. A fully completed multi-level Intervention Map aimed at fighting sleepiness at the wheel helps designing, implementing and evaluating an intervention program that is feasible and that has a high likelihood of being effective. (Author/publisher)
Abstract