New RoSPA factsheet on driver fatigue published
Posted by Richard Sinclair
A new factsheet on driver fatigue has been published by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).
According to the factsheet, driver fatigue could be a contributory factor in as much as 20 per cent of all road accidents and 25 per cent of fatal and serious accidents.
It states that young males, truck drivers, those with company cars and shift workers are most at risk of falling asleep while driving.
"However, any driver travelling long distances or when they are tired is at risk of a sleep-related accident," it continues.
The factsheet also states that crashes caused by tired drivers are most likely to happen on long journeys on monotonous roads.
They are also most likely to take place between 02:00 and 06:00 and 14:00 and 16:00, especially after eating, or having even just one alcoholic drink.
Earlier this month, a workshop on sleep apnoea was held by the Fleet Safety Forum in Northampton.
This condition causes interrupted breathing during sleep and can increase fatigue during the day. 
Not surprising; I think the majority of people (not just 3rd shift workers) tend to be sleep deprived just in general. Lucky my commute is not too long, otherwise I would be pretty sleepy too. The best thing to do when you’re sleepy is to just take a nap but unfortunately that’s not an option for most people when they have to go to work.