Fatigued shiftworkers ‘at high risk of sleepy driving’
October 9th, 2009 - 5:17 pm ICT by ANIWellington, October 9 (ANI): People involved in odd shifts or night shifts are likely to be at high risk of sleepy driving, Australian researchers have found.
Dr Simon Smith, the Queensland University of Technology, monitored nurses and their alertness as they drove to and from work.
Smith, Research Fellow at the university’s Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety, found long-haul truck drivers were not the only ones suffering fatigue.
“The issue of driver fatigue is often wrapped around long-distance driving and truck drivers,” Stuff.co.nz quoted him as saying.
“We’re particularly concerned about fatigue in urban driving and shift workers are good example of that, where people are getting very sleepy.
“You don’t need to drive for very long for sleepiness to have an impact on driving, and (sleepy shiftworkers) are certainly driving for more than 10 or 20 minutes in urban environments,” he added.
Dr Smith is due to present the findings at the Australasian Sleep Association Conference. (ANI)
- New device, application tells drivers when they are too tired to drive - Aug 06, 2010
- Working model of hydrogen-run lorry demonstrated - Nov 10, 2011
- Naps between drives cut drowsiness level - Apr 20, 2011
- Shiftwork linked to sleep problems among young workers - Apr 23, 2010
- Sitting too long at work can be fatal - Nov 07, 2010
- Kiwi crash driver who had 24 beers says he doesn't have drinking problem - Jan 25, 2011
- Sex addiction is controllable, says expert - Dec 17, 2010
- Being tired behind the wheel as dangerous as being drunk: Study - Jan 20, 2011
- Hong Kong airline to replace 'fixed-back shell' economy seats after complaints - Oct 13, 2010
- 1 in 4 Oz drivers risks death by falling asleep while driving - Jun 12, 2010
- Sir Peter Jackson recovering at home - Feb 03, 2011
- 72pc of all alcohol-related deaths on NZ roads caused by 'problem drivers' - Nov 14, 2010
- New mums a driving 'hazard' - Jan 29, 2010
- Our body clock unchanged for millions of years - Jan 28, 2011
- Being tired behind the wheel as bad as being drunk - Jan 20, 2011
Tags: accident research, alertness, australasian sleep association, australian researchers, dr simon, dr smith, driver fatigue, haul truck, high risk, night shifts, queensland university of technology, research fellow, road safety, shift workers, simon smith, sleepiness, smith research, truck drivers, university of technology, urban environments