Sleep habits and road traffic accident risk for Iranian occupational drivers

Ebrahimi, Mohammad Hossein; Sadeghi, Masoumeh; Dehghani, Mohsen; Niiat, Khosro Sadegh · 2015 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.13075/ijomeh.1896.00360

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Summary

This study investigates the relationship between sleep habits, sleep disorders, and road traffic accident risk among occupational drivers in Iran. Motivated by the high burden of road traffic injuries in low- and middle-income countries and the established link between sleep deprivation and driving performance, the research aimed to assess the prevalence of poor sleep quality, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in this population. Specifically, it sought to identify which demographic and occupational factors are independently associated with these sleep issues and subsequent accident records. The researchers conducted an analytic cross-sectional study involving 556 occupational drivers from Shahroud city, Iran, during 2013–2014. Data were collected using validated instruments: the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to assess sleep quality, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) to measure daytime sleepiness, and the STOP-Bang questionnaire to screen for OSA risk. Participants also provided demographic and occupational data, including driving hours and history of accidents. Statistical analysis employed multiple logistic regression models to determine independent factors associated with poor sleep quality and road accidents, controlling for confounding variables. The results indicated significant prevalence of sleep-related issues and accidents. Approximately 23.8% of drivers reported a road accident within the past five years, 29% experienced sleepiness while driving, and 24.8% scored ≥3 on the STOP-Bang questionnaire, indicating high risk for OSA. The mean PSQI score was 5.23, with 40% of participants exhibiting poor sleep quality. Multiple logistic regression identified snoring (OR = 2.34), smoking (OR = 2.12), and longer daily driving times (OR = 1.12) as significant predictors of poor sleep quality. For road accident risk, the strongest independent predictors were the ESS score (OR = 1.13) and suffering from apnea (OR = 4.89). While smoking and driving time were significant in univariate analyses for accidents, they did not remain significant in the multivariate model after adjusting for sleepiness and apnea. The study concludes that a substantial proportion of Iranian occupational drivers suffer from poor sleep quality and sleep-disordered breathing, which significantly increases the risk of road traffic accidents. The findings highlight that modifiable factors such as snoring, smoking, and excessive driving hours contribute to poor sleep, while excessive sleepiness and apnea directly elevate accident risk. The authors recommend implementing interventional programs focused on improving sleep habits and screening for sleep disorders among professional drivers to mitigate traffic safety risks.

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• sleep deprivation
• shift work driving

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• Empirical Findings: physiological data