This publication is one of a series funded by State Farm®. The report is intended to help Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) member State Highway Safety Offices (SHSOs) and their partners better understand the cause and effect of drowsy driving and identify how best to address it in their respective states and/or communities. It explores what is known about the extent of drowsy driving, the crash characteristics, who is most at risk, and the challenges associated with combating the problem. The restorative value of sleep and the vital role it plays in our personal health and safety are discussed including how much is needed and the factors and medical conditions that impact it. Drowsiness as a form of impaired driving is addressed with an eye toward reframing the issue so that driving without adequate sleep is deemed just as dangerous as driving drunk, drugged or distracted. Countermeasures — policies, programs (education and enforcement), and engineering solutions — being employed at the federal, state and local level as well as in-vehicle technologies available today or on the horizon, are examined. However, this report is not intended to be inclusive of all drowsy driving-related policies or initiatives, nor does inclusion of a particular program or policy imply endorsement. For example, while the report identifies commercial vehicle operators as a group at-risk for driving fatigued and briefly discusses policy and tactics, it does not delve into the current regulatory environment. That topic is well beyond the scope of this publication. Some of the policies and programs included in this report were identified through a survey of SHSOs conducted by GHSA in February 2016. Thirty-three states and the District of Columbia (D.C.) provided responses about their drowsy driving data-collection efforts, laws and enforcement (including training), programs, and partners. After reviewing survey responses and consulting with an expert panel of federal and state highway safety officials, public health and safety advocates, and researchers, telephone interviews were conducted with a select number of states and individuals to gain a better understanding of their activities. The drowsy driving activities of four of those states are highlighted in a separate section to illustrate how they are implementing particular education, enforcement, data collection, policy, and/or engineering countermeasures discussed in this publication. Some, but not all, of the initiatives have been or are being evaluated through crash data analyses, pre- and post-surveys or peer review, which are essential for gauging impact and informing future efforts. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting