Research has highlighted the contribution of fatigue to driving accidents, but it is much less clear about the relationship of fatigue to driving hours. The aims of this project were to review existing UK and international research and other published material in order to determine any links that exist between long driving or working hours and driver fatigue, and the extent to which limits on hours of driving or work help to prevent fatigue related accidents for drivers. To accomplish these a review of drivers' hours rules in the UK has been conducted within the context of relevant scientific literature (Chapter 2), an analysis of relevant GB accident databases (Chapter 3), a detailed review of domestic legislation around Europe (Chapter 4), and an examination of practice in the USA, Canada and Australia (Chapter 5). This report is designed to provide information to inform the ongoing review of the domestic drivers’ hours legislation in the UK and initial conclusions drawn from this review and future recommendations are presented in Chapter 6. Any changes to current drivers’ hours rules, both EU and UK domestic would need very careful consideration. The question of potential relaxation in exceptional circumstances, must first consider the evidence for a direct link between driving duration and accident rate. Neither the research literature nor the GB accident databases considered in this review, have revealed a strong link between hours driven and accidents. (Author/publisher)
Abstract