A field study of sleep-related road crashes

This study is an assessment of the incidence of Sleep Related Crashes (SRCs) on different roads and different road types. There is no roadside methodology available to 'test' for driver sleepiness and there is no UK system in place for the reporting of crashes caused by driver sleepiness. Accident statistics announced by the Government are dependent upon STATS19, a data collection system that is not required by law, and does not record causation factors. Police collision report forms vary from force to force, with few recording causes. Police officers are not trained to attribute crashes to driver sleepiness. SRCs are, therefore, under-reported. Using established criteria, this thesis presents findings from in-depth analysis of over 2,000 police files on Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs) which occurred on 17 sections of roads of differing classification and with different characteristics. Files were studied for causation factors, and data is presented on severity, sex and age, occupation, vehicles involved, location, and time of day, week and month. Data were analysed to compare and contrast different road types, urban and rural roads, and the effect of differing traffic density, and natural and artificial lighting. [Continues.]