Why Do People Have Drowsy Driving Crashes? Input from Drivers Who Just Did

Stutts, Jane C.; Wilkins, Jean W.; Vaughn, Bradley V. · 1999 · Crossref

DOI: 10.1037/e363922004-001

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Summary

This study addresses the under-researched problem of drowsy driving crashes by investigating the specific risk factors and circumstances that lead to such incidents. Motivated by the difficulty in accurately identifying sleep-related crashes in police data and the need for targeted educational interventions, the research aims to determine why drivers crash while drowsy, identify high-risk populations, and assess the extent of under-reporting in official records. The study was conducted as part of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s “Wake Up!” campaign. The researchers employed a case-controlled epidemiological design, comparing drivers involved in sleep- or fatigue-related crashes against two control groups: drivers in non-sleep-related crashes and drivers not involved in any crashes. Data were collected from North Carolina police reports and telephone interviews with 1,403 drivers: 467 case drivers (identified by officers as “asleep” or “fatigued”), 529 control crash drivers, and 407 non-crash drivers. Interviews covered work and sleep schedules, sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, driving exposure, and crash circumstances. The study also utilized a crash rating algorithm to analyze hard copies of crash reports to evaluate potential under-reporting of drowsiness. Key findings indicate that work and sleep schedules are strongly associated with sleep-related crashes. Drivers in these crashes were nearly twice as likely to hold multiple jobs and significantly more likely to work non-standard or night shifts, which increased crash odds by nearly six times. Sleep duration was a critical factor; half of the sleep-crash drivers reported six or fewer hours of sleep the night before the incident, compared to less than 10% of other crash drivers. Additionally, drivers in sleep-related crashes reported poorer sleep quality and higher rates of excessive daytime sleepiness. Notably, 44% of sleep-crash drivers and 51% of fatigue-crash drivers reported feeling only slightly or not at all drowsy prior to the crash, highlighting a failure to recognize impairment. Most drivers relied on ineffective countermeasures like adjusting temperature or listening to radio, with fewer than 12% willing to stop driving. The study concludes that the majority of drowsy driving crashes are caused by insufficient sleep rather than diagnosed sleep disorders, affecting both chronically and acutely sleep-deprived individuals. The analysis of crash reports suggested that sleep-related crashes are likely under-reported, as drivers often failed to acknowledge drowsiness as a factor despite evidence in crash trajectories. The authors emphasize that public education must focus on helping drivers recognize the subtle symptoms of drowsiness and understand that driving while drowsy is as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol. Effective prevention requires convincing drivers to stop driving once they feel drowsy, rather than relying on ineffective coping mechanisms.

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Topics

Ranked by relevance to this paper. Hover a topic for its definition.

• sleep deprivation
• drowsiness
• drowsiness detection algorithms
• truck driver fatigue
• circadian factors
• shift work driving

Information type

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• Empirical Findings: crash risk outcomes, observational prevalence, physiological data