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Fatigue behind the wheel

 

For a long time now, fatigue in traffic was mainly attributed to the time spent driving. It was believed that in a small country like the Netherlands distances are too short to cause fatigue.

 

However, a literature study carried out by SWOV has shown that fatigue has a variety of causes. Too little sleep, a poor quality of sleep (e.g. sleeping disorders or use of medicine) and time of day can alle cause tiredness.

This means that fatigue behind the wheel does not only occur in countries where long distances are driven, but also in smaller countries like the Netherlands. Moreover, fatigue happens to both professional drivers and private drivers.

 

Effects

Tired drivers have a higher accident chance. Fatigue affects the driving skills in such a way that drivers steer less accurately and swerve more. Drivers also are less alert to a decrease in speed by the car in front or to information from the environment. Mood and motivation for safe driving deteriorate: drivers are easily irritated.

It is very hard to determine the exact influence of fatigue on crashes happening. It is almost impossible to diagnose fatigue objectively. Several foreign sources of information, however, indicate that fatigue contributes to about 10 to 15% of serious crashes.


Measures
The possibilities to remedy fatigue in traffic are limited until now. Information can make the private driver aware of the dangers of fatigue. For professional drivers there are rules and regulations they must adhere to. Applying and following these rules, as well as a broader safety culture must be stimulated in the entire transport branch.

Technical aids to detect fatigue in a driver are expected in the future. These systems can warn the driver with sound signals, or even intervene by correcting the course of the car. These systems are not suitable for wide use in cars yet.

 

The Dutch language report entitled 'Fatigue while driving; inventory of causes, effects and measures' ( R-2003-16).
SWOV Research Activities 23 - September 2003

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