Prevalence of sleepiness in surviving drivers of motor vehicle collisions

Background:  Although alcohol and recreational drugs are recognized as significant risk factors for motor vehicle collisions (MVC), the contribution of sleepiness alone is less clear. We therefore sought to identify the contribution of sleepiness to the risk of a MVC in injured drivers, independent...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Australian and New Zealand Journal of Medicine 2008-10, Vol.38 (10), p.769-775
Main Authors: Crummy, F., Cameron, P. A., Swann, P., Kossmann, T., Naughton, M. T.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accidents, Traffic - prevention & control
Accidents, Traffic - statistics & numerical data
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Automobile Driving - statistics & numerical data
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
motor vehicle collision
Prevalence
Prospective Studies
Risk Factors
Risk-Taking
Sleep Stages - physiology
Sleep Wake Disorders - complications
Sleep Wake Disorders - epidemiology
Sleep Wake Disorders - physiopathology
sleepiness
Wakefulness - physiology
Young Adult
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Background:  Although alcohol and recreational drugs are recognized as significant risk factors for motor vehicle collisions (MVC), the contribution of sleepiness alone is less clear. We therefore sought to identify the contribution of sleepiness to the risk of a MVC in injured drivers, independent of drugs and alcohol. Methods:  A prospective questionnaire and examination of sleep‐related risk factors in drivers surviving MVC in a major hospital‐based trauma centre was carried out. Results:  Forty of 112 injured drivers screened were interviewed, of whom approximately 50% had at least one sleep‐related risk factor, 20% having two or more. Of the MVC deemed sleep‐related by questionnaire, only 25% were identified by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau definitions. Shift work was the greatest sleep‐related factor identified contributing to MVC. Conclusion:  Sleepiness, particularly related to shift work, needs to be emphasized as a risk factor for MVC. Australian Transport Safety Bureau definitions of sleep‐related MVC are too lenient.
ISSN:1444-0903
0004-8291
1445-5994
DOI:10.1111/j.1445-5994.2008.01629.x