FATIGUE IN TRUCK ACCIDENTS

Based on Coroners' verdicts, fatigue of car or truck drivers was a contributing factor in 9.1 per cent of fatal accidents involving trucks. Based on the presence of factors such as extended driving hours, falling asleep at the wheel, comments about tiredness, driving right of centre and night-time driving, the authors estimated fatigue contributed to 19.9 per cent of the accidents. There were approximately equal numbers of fatigued car drivers and truck drivers. An analysis of casualty and fatal truck accidents by time of day (adjusted for exposure) showed that accident risks were highest during the night on all five Victorian highways studied. Driver fatigue is one of the possible factors underlying this pattern of elevated risk. The report section described in-vehicle fatigue countermeasures. The distinction between fatigue monitors and alerting devices was made and it was recommended that eye closure and head nodding monitors and an alerting device be tested in the next stage of this project. (Author/TRRL)

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