This paper examines the occurrence in the UK of sleep-related vehicle accidents, using a real-car simulator, in the third phase of a research programme. Road accident audits were carried out and criteria developed to determine whether an incident was a sleep-related vehicle accident (SRVA). Factors examined were traffic density, and tachograph records in heavy goods vehicle incidents. Reaction time is used to monitor sleepiness, although artificial tasks to generate reactions do not avoid the risk of sleep. It was found that self-assessment of sleepiness was not reliable. Key findings from the study include: that SRVAs are more likely to result in serious injury than other road accidents; men under thirty are more likely to have a SRVA; driving between 2.00 am and 7.00 am presents a particular risk; many SRVAs are probably work related; effective countermeasures are short naps and caffeine intake; and driver education on the danger should be improved. For the covering abstract see ITRD E116025.
Samenvatting