ERANET ENT15 Sleepiness behind the wheel Rob Methorst Rijkswaterstaat Centre for Transport and Navigation Delft the Netherlands 27 October 2011
Outline Introduction ERANET ENT15 The Call for research projects A conceptual framework Crash studies FATIGUECRASH consortium in Fr and SE Countermeasure studies KILLSLEEP (FR and SE) YAWN (NO and NL) Policy recommendations 2 Rijkswaterstaat Centre for Transport and Navigation Sleepiness behind the wheel 27 October 2011
Introduction ERANET ENT15 Sleepiness behind the Wheel Aim: co-ordinate national policies and transport research plans Partners: Ministries in France, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transport and Spatial Planning (MEDAD) France Public Roads Administration (Statens vegvesen) Norway Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems (INNOVA) - Sweden Rijkswaterstaat Centre for Transport and Navigation Netherlands White Book Translation of Dutch studies on State of the Art Start: April 2007 End: May 2011 3 Rijkswaterstaat Centre for Transport and Navigation Sleepiness behind the wheel 27 October 2011
Call for research projects Sleepiness: Scientific problem and political and social problem Political challenges More than 15-20% of road crashes; risk higher than alcohol Most sleepiness accidents during night + alcohol related Sleepiness inadequately accounted for in transport policies in EU Effect rather unknown (by general public and policy makers) Objectives: Understand sleepiness behind the wheel: prevalence, risk, mechanisms Identify countermeasures Raise awareness 4 Rijkswaterstaat Centre for Transport and Navigation Sleepiness behind the wheel 27 October 2011
The Components Component A Crash study data collection and analysis in FR and SE Component B Studies/development of countermeasures NO, NL, SE and FR 5 Rijkswaterstaat Centre for Transport and Navigation Sleepiness behind the wheel 27 October 2011
Crash studies Case-Control design French study not completed; Swedish results: Severe injuries are rare Types of accidents: Single vehicle = 29% Vehicle behind = 22% Compared to control group: Younger driver Living alone Student or unemployed Less often retired More often shift worker Slept more Poor sleep quality Falling asleep before crash Poor habitual sleep Poor self rated health No passenger in car Risks: Falling asleep before crash: 106x Young age: 3.4x Sleep Apnea: 2.1 Poor self rated health: 1.9x 6 Rijkswaterstaat Centre for Transport and Navigation Sleepiness behind the wheel 27 October 2011
Countermeasures KILLSLEEP (FR) Evaluation of existing countermeasures taken by drivers Radio and open window: no main effects reduced speed at night time Exercise versus coffee: coffee works Exercise no effect Blue light versus coffee at night time driving: Impairs 1 out of 16 young and 4 out of 17 middle ages (15%: dazzle) Blue light will improve driving performance in drivers of middle age as well as caffeine. Practical implications: Avoid driving at night Drivers need to know that sleep is still the only reliable countermeasure. 7 Rijkswaterstaat Centre for Transport and Navigation Sleepiness behind the wheel 27 October 2011
Countermeasures - YAWN Fatigue Management Programs (NO) Not evaluated, but generally science based: should be encouraged Testing for sleep disorders good strategy Rumble strips (NO) Can wake sleepy drivers and reduce accidents To be considered on rural roads Prediction and/or detection methods (NL) To date no single methods does the trick Objective measurement will make important contribution Elaboration of prevention and correction strategies (NL) System Approach through Intervention Mapping 6 steps Common preconditions: adequate timing, knowledge, awareness and sensitivity, budget, tools, competences, organisation, co-ordination, communication Multidisciplinary working group, validated scientific theories: major successfactor 8 Rijkswaterstaat Centre for Transport and Navigation Sleepiness behind the wheel 27 October 2011
Policy recommendations Targets: Decision makers and practitioners in government, relevant organisations and the media are aware of the eminent dangers of sleepiness behind the wheel There is ample support for a strategic vision on the implementation of measures to prevent and tackle sleepiness behind the wheel Adequate preconditions for effective interventions to support the vision, action plans, policies and activities, are in place On all policy levels interventions are planned and executed to prevent and tackle sleepiness behind the wheel Activities lead to measurable results regarding to impaired driving, number of accidents and casualties. 9 Rijkswaterstaat Centre for Transport and Navigation Sleepiness behind the wheel 27 October 2011
Thank you! Further information: rob.methorst@rws.nl 10 Rijkswaterstaat Centre for Transport and Navigation Sleepiness behind the wheel 27 October 2011