TY - JOUR
T1 - Sleepy driving
T2 - Accidents and injury
AU - Powell, Nelson B.
AU - Schechtman, Kenneth B.
AU - Riley, Robert W.
AU - Li, Kasey
AU - Guilleminault, Christian
N1 - Funding Information:
This investigation was conducted in cooperation with the Stanford Sleep Disorders and Research Center, Stanford University, and Dateline NBC News and was supported by the Sleep Education and Research Foundation (a nonprofit public foundation).
PY - 2002/3
Y1 - 2002/3
N2 - OBJECTIVE: The study goals were to evaluate the associated risks of driving and to predictors of accidents and injury due to sleepiness. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional Internet-linked survey was designed to elicit data on driving habits, sleepiness, accidents, and injuries during the preceding 3 years. Statistical analysis included logistic models with covariate-adjusted P values of <0.01 (odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals or limits). Independent accident predictors were sought. RESULTS: Responses from 10,870 drivers were evaluated. The mean ± SD age was 36.9 ± 13 years; 61% were women and 85% were white. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale overall baseline score was 7.4 ± 4.2 (for drivers with no accidents) and ranged to 12.7 ± 7.2 (for drivers with ≥ 4 accidents) (P - < 0.0001). Twenty-three percent of all respondents experienced ≥ 1 accident. Among respondents who reported ≥ 4 accidents, a strong association existed for the most recent accident to include injury (P < 0.0001). Sleep disorders were reported by 22.5% of all respondents, with a significantly higher prevalence (35%, P = 0.002) for drivers who had been involved in ≥ 3 accidents. CONCLUSION: Factors of sleepiness were strongly associated with a greater risk of automobile accidents. Predictors were identified that may contribute to accidents and injury when associated with sleepiness and driving.
AB - OBJECTIVE: The study goals were to evaluate the associated risks of driving and to predictors of accidents and injury due to sleepiness. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional Internet-linked survey was designed to elicit data on driving habits, sleepiness, accidents, and injuries during the preceding 3 years. Statistical analysis included logistic models with covariate-adjusted P values of <0.01 (odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals or limits). Independent accident predictors were sought. RESULTS: Responses from 10,870 drivers were evaluated. The mean ± SD age was 36.9 ± 13 years; 61% were women and 85% were white. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale overall baseline score was 7.4 ± 4.2 (for drivers with no accidents) and ranged to 12.7 ± 7.2 (for drivers with ≥ 4 accidents) (P - < 0.0001). Twenty-three percent of all respondents experienced ≥ 1 accident. Among respondents who reported ≥ 4 accidents, a strong association existed for the most recent accident to include injury (P < 0.0001). Sleep disorders were reported by 22.5% of all respondents, with a significantly higher prevalence (35%, P = 0.002) for drivers who had been involved in ≥ 3 accidents. CONCLUSION: Factors of sleepiness were strongly associated with a greater risk of automobile accidents. Predictors were identified that may contribute to accidents and injury when associated with sleepiness and driving.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036517905&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1067/mhn.2002.122699
DO - 10.1067/mhn.2002.122699
M3 - Article
C2 - 11956528
AN - SCOPUS:0036517905
SN - 0194-5998
VL - 126
SP - 217
EP - 227
JO - Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
JF - Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
IS - 3
ER -