Conference paper
Signs of driver sleepiness and risky sleepy driving behaviours: the associations with demographic, work and sleep-related factors
Proceedings of the 2015 Australasian Road Safety COnference, pp.1-7
Australasian Road Safety Conference, 2015 (Gold Coast, Australia, 14-Oct-2015–16-Oct-2015)
Australasian College of Road Safety
2015
Abstract
Driving while sleepy is regarded as a substantial crash risk factor. Reducing the risk of sleep-related crashes predominately rests with the driver’s awareness of experiencing signs that are common when sleepy; such as yawning, frequent eye blinks, and difficulty keeping eyes open. However the relationship between the signs of sleepiness and risky sleepy driving behaviours is largely unknown. The current study sought to examine the relationships between drivers’ experiences of the signs of sleepiness, risky sleepy driving behaviours, and the associations with demographic, work and sleep-related factors. In total 1,608 participants completed a questionnaire administered via a telephone interview that assessed their experiences and behaviours of driving while sleepy. The results revealed a number of demographic, work and sleep-related factors were associated with experiencing signs of sleepiness when driving. Signs of sleepiness were also found to mediate the relationship between continuing to drive while sleepy and having a sleep-related close call event. A
subgroup analysis based on age (under 30 and 30 years or older) found younger drivers were more likely to continue to drive when sleepy despite experiencing more signs of sleepiness. The results suggest participants had considerable experience with the signs of sleepiness and driving while sleepy. Actions to be taken from this research include informing the content of driver education campaigns regarding the importance of the signs of sleepiness. Working together to educate all drivers about the dangerousness of driving when experiencing signs of sleepiness is an important road safety outcome.
Details
- Title
- Signs of driver sleepiness and risky sleepy driving behaviours: the associations with demographic, work and sleep-related factors
- Authors
- Christopher N Watling (Author) - Queensland University of TechnologyKerry Ann Armstrong (Author) - Queensland University of TechnologyNarelle L Haworth (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
- Contributors
- R H Grzebieta (Editor) - UNSW AustraliaKerry Armstrong (Editor) - Queensland University of TechnologyIoni Lewis (Editor) - Queensland University of TechnologyLaurelle Tunks (Editor) - Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS)C Howe (Editor)Clare Murray (Editor) - Queensland University of Technology
- Publication details
- Proceedings of the 2015 Australasian Road Safety COnference, pp.1-7
- Conference details
- Australasian Road Safety Conference, 2015 (Gold Coast, Australia, 14-Oct-2015–16-Oct-2015)
- Publisher
- Australasian College of Road Safety
- Date published
- 2015
- Organisation Unit
- Road Safety Research Collaboration; School of Social Sciences - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Law and Society
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99513756702621
- Output Type
- Conference paper
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