A study by researchers at the University of Missouri has found that individuals working nontraditional hours, such as the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift, are more likely to develop shift work sleep disorder, which disrupts their sleep. This condition significantly increases the likelihood of being involved in a vehicle accident, with affected individuals being three times more prone to crashes compared to those with conventional daytime schedules.
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Praveen Edara, department chair and professor of civil and environmental engineering, highlighted the implications of the findings, suggesting the need for engineering countermeasures to mitigate such accidents. Potential solutions include enhancing the availability of highway rest areas, providing roadside and in-vehicle alerts to maintain driver attention, and promoting alternative transportation options, such as public transit or ride-sharing services, for late-night workers.
The analysis was based on data from a real-world driving study conducted for the second Strategic Highway Research Program established by Congress. As the demand for around-the-clock business operations rises, traditional work hours are increasingly replaced by evening and night shifts, contributing to difficulties sleeping and the onset of shift work sleep disorder. Edara expressed surprise at the nearly 300% increase in traffic crash risk associated with this condition, a stark contrast to the approximately 30% increase linked to sleep apnea and insomnia.
Prior research has indicated a relationship between sleep disorders and the risk of traffic crashes, but many such studies were conducted in controlled environments like driving simulators. This study utilized real-life crash and near-crash data from about 2,000 incidents across six U.S. states, offering a more comprehensive evaluation of the risk involved.
Although the study sheds light on a significant national issue, it does have limitations, such as the lack of data on fatal crashes and a formal method to quantify drowsiness.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which investigates major traffic accidents in the U.S., has recognized sleep-related issues as a priority, including screening and treating obstructive sleep apnea in its safety improvement agenda. Edara hopes the study will raise awareness of the dangers posed by excessive daytime sleepiness and advocate for solutions that enhance driver safety, including automated vehicles and ride-sharing.
The study, titled "Sleep disorders and risk of traffic crashes: A naturalistic driving study analysis," was published in Safety Science. Co-authors include Carlos Sun from the MU College of Engineering and Nipjyoti Bharadwaj with the Federal Highway Administration, with funding provided by a recent grant from the Federal Highway Administration. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the funding agencies.