Traffic accidents involving fatigue driving and their extent of casualties

• Published in: Accident analysis and prevention 2016-02, Vol.87, p.34-42
• Main Authors: Zhang, Guangnan, Yau, Kelvin K.W., Zhang, Xun, Li, Yanyan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accidents, Traffic - mortality; Adult; Aged; Casualties; China - epidemiology; Crashes; Cross-Sectional Studies; Darkness; Drivers; Environment Design - statistics & numerical data; Fatigue (materials); Fatigue - complications; Fatigue - mortality; Fatigue driving; Female; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Mathematical models; Middle Aged; Motor Vehicles - statistics & numerical data; Risk analysis; Risk Factors; Road safety; Safety; Traffic accident; Traffic accidents; Trucks; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0001-4575; 1879-2057
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2015.10.033

•We focus on assessing fatigue-related traffic accidents given an accident has occurred.•Human, vehicle, road and environmental risk factors are considered.•Truck drivers are at high risk of exhibiting fatigue driving behavior.•Driving at night without street-lights relates significantly to both fatigue-related traffic accidents and severe casualties.•The empirical results of the present study have important policy implications on the reduction of fatigue-related traffic accidents as well as their severity. The rapid progress of motorization has increased the number of traffic-related casualties. Although fatigue driving is a major cause of traffic accidents, the public remains not rather aware of its potential harmfulness. Fatigue driving has been termed as a “silent killer.” Thus, a thorough study of traffic accidents and the risk factors associated with fatigue-related casualties is of utmost importance. In this study, we analyze traffic accident data for the period 2006–2010 in Guangdong Province, China. The study data were extracted from the traffic accident database of China's Public Security Department. A logistic regression model is used to assess the effect of driver characteristics, type of vehicles, road conditions, and environmental factors on fatigue-related traffic accident occurrence and severity. On the one hand, male drivers, trucks, driving during midnight to dawn, and morning rush hours are identified as risk factors of fatigue-related crashes but do not necessarily result in severe casualties. Driving at night without street-lights contributes to fatigue-related crashes and severe casualties. On the other hand, while factors such as less experienced drivers, unsafe vehicle status, slippery roads, driving at night with street-lights, and weekends do not have significant effect on fatigue-related crashes, yet accidents associated with these factors are likely to have severe casualties. The empirical results of the present study have important policy implications on the reduction of fatigue-related crashes as well as their severity.