Operator fatigue has long been recognised as a key safety issue in all transportation modes – road, rail, air and marine. Fatigue in the trucking industry is now receiving increased attention from researchers and regulators, due largely to the inability of traditional methods of regulation to adequately address the safety impacts of fatigue in commercial drivers. This issue is further fuelled by the generally held view in North America that 5 to 10 per cent of all heavy truck accidents are fatigue-related and that operator fatigue accounts for 30 to 40 per cent of heavy truck fatalities. Also, a disproportionately high share of night-time and single-vehicle accidents can be attributed to fatigue. To being to address the problem of driver fatigue, the Canadian Trucking Association’s board of directors, in 1996, made it clear that the industry needs to act now on what is known about driver fatigue and what can be done to implement countermeasures. While work continues by government and the industry to review the current regulatory environment and search for effective and practical improvements, CTA has taken the first step in a countermeasures program by developing Straight Talk on Fatigue and Alertness as a plain language guide to the fatigue issue. This booklet is intended to provide drivers, safety personnel and trucking company managers with : * a basic overview of fatigue – its causes and effects; * some of the research findings to date, and * tools and tips to help drivers maintain their alertness. Driver fatigue is a complex issue, and the purpose of this publication is to serve as an introduction. Additional material, including audiotapes, pamphlets and books, will be made available throughout the industry to supplement the information contained in this booklet. (Author/publisher)
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