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  • Title: Role of drowsy driving in traffic accidents: a questionnaire survey of Thai commercial bus/truck drivers.
    Author: Leechawengwongs M, Leechawengwongs E, Sukying C, Udomsubpayakul U.
    Journal: J Med Assoc Thai; 2006 Nov; 89(11):1845-50. PubMed ID: 17205864.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: The authors assessed the relationship between traffic accidents and drowsiness. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A self-answered questionnaire survey of 4331 commercial bus/truck drivers was done. RESULT: Sixty-nine percent of the drivers reported accidents and one third of these accidents was attributable to drowsiness. Drowsy driving and microsleeps were experienced by 75% and 28% of drivers respectively. Forty-five percent of drivers had excessive daytime sleepiness based on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS score > or =11). This excessive daytime sleepiness was strongly associated with feeling drowsy, microsleeps, and accidents. The major causes of drowsiness were sleep deprivation (90%), medications that caused sleepiness (78%), drinking alcohol the previous night (23%), and chronic loud snoring with or without obesity (17%). 61% of drivers worked longer than 12 hours with no days off The feeling of drowsiness at the wheel was also closely related to long hours of driving (>4 hours). Countermeasures that drivers used to keep them awake were talking to someone, drinking coffee or caffeinated-energy drinks, chewing snacks or gum and pulling over to have a nap. CONCLUSION: There is a strong relationship between accidents and drowsiness in commercial bus/truck drivers. The main cause of drowsiness was sleep deprivation. The authors hope that this information will help the public authority develop a policy to reduce the traffic accidents attributable to drowsy driving in commercial bus/truck drivers.
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