Min trötta resa

• In order to reduce the number of fatigue related accidents and to identify countermeasures that will be widely accepted by the drivers, it is necessary to consider the drivers' point of view. Understanding the drivers' experiences and conception of the dangers due to driver fatigue is necessary when trying to find effective actions that stand a good chance of being accepted by the drivers. The main objective of this study was to increase knowledge about what information drivers need to: - recognise the feeling of being fatigued; - realise the danger of driving while fatigued; - encourage fatigued drivers to take a break. A questionnaire was constructed on the basis of three discussions with focus groups; one with young drivers, one with professional drivers and one with commuters, and sent out to a random sample of 3,000 car owners in Sweden. The questionnaires were distributed during the winter 2002/2003. The response rate was approximately 62 percent. The results indicated that the drivers were aware of the sensation of fatigue. Furthermore, the results indicated that drivers underestimated the risk of driving fatigue and overestimated their own ability to manage the situation. The use of countermeasures differed between the driver groups. Young drivers seem to have a lack of knowledge concerning lasting countermeasures. They turned on the radio or increased the volume of the radio or asked passengers to talk with them. Older drivers seem to be more in favour of taking a break for a nap. Among the respondents, 55 drivers reported that they had been involved in at least one fatigue related accident during the last ten years. The difference between drivers who had been involved in a fatigue related accident and those who had not, indicated e.g. that those involved in accidents rated their capability of fighting fatigue while driving lower than the others.

Nyckelord

Swedish

Sweden

Fatigue

Prevention

Driver

Behaviour

Method

Questionnaire

841 Road: Road user behaviour

841 Road: Road user behaviour

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

rap (ämneskategori)