Fatigue: Not just for truckers anymore

OTTAWA — The Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) says its new poll is a “wake-up call” on the “startling” number of drowsy and fatigued drivers on Ontario’s roadways.

Fatigue behind the wheel isn’t just a problem for truckers, as the poll states that 1.3 million Ontarians fell asleep or nodded off while driving at least once in the past year. Of these drivers, more than 100,000 did so on five or more occasions.

The poll shows that the number of Ontario drivers involved in a fatigued or drowsy driving collision may be as high as 167,000.

The number of Ontario drivers involved in collisions
due to a lack of sleep may be as 167,000.

“The number of fatigued and drowsy drivers in Ontario is a matter of major concern because of the elevated crash risk they pose,” Ward Vanlaar, a research associate for TIRF, says in a press release. “These drivers accounted for 5.5 million driving trips during which they fell asleep or nodded off.”

There was no lack of close calls either; over a half-million fatigued and drowsy driving trips occurred in which the driver had to brake or steer to avoid a collision, the poll found.

Despite the threat posed by fatigued and drowsy drivers, Ontarians are less concerned about fatigued or drowsy driving than they are about many other traffic safety issues.

Ontario drivers use many different tactics to overcome drowsiness at the wheel, such as opening windows, changing the radio station, drinking caffeine, eating, singing along to music, and even slapping or pinching themselves. Vanlaar notes these tactics are not effective.

Only 14.8 per cent of drivers used the most effective tactic — stopping to nap or sleep. Ironically, Ontarians also rated this tactic as one of the most effective.

“Once you start feeling tired or drowsy, it becomes almost impossible to predict when you will fall asleep,” says Vanlaar. “Therefore, stopping to nap or sleep, at regular intervals, before you become tired or drowsy can save your life.”

The poll also found that a lack of sleep the previous night, driving continuously for an extended period of time, or driving at night are just a few of the reasons why Ontario drivers claim they nodded off at the wheel.

A total of 750 Ontario drivers completed the poll. Results can be considered accurate within plus or minus 3.6 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

All the results of this poll are published in a TIRF report entitled, Fatigued and Drowsy Driving – Attitudes, Concerns and Practices of Ontario Drivers, available at: www.trafficinjuryresearch.com (or click the link below).