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Updated: May 20, 2026
08:36
Collecting Sleep, Circadian, Fatigue, and Performance Data in Complex Operational Environments
Published on: August 8, 2019
Urban bus drivers' sleep problems and crash accidents
Summary
Sleep problems and sleepiness significantly impact bus drivers
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Sleep Medicine
- Transportation Safety
Background:
- Sleep disturbances and resulting sleepiness critically affect cognitive functions essential for driving, including psychomotor skills, memory, decision-making, and concentration.
- Despite the known risks, research on sleep quality among professional drivers remains limited.
- This study addresses the gap by investigating the relationship between sleep issues and crash history in bus drivers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of sleep problems and excessive daytime sleepiness among bus drivers.
- To explore potential correlations between sleep disorders, demographic factors, and accident history in this occupational group.
- To provide data-driven insights for improving driver selection and health management.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 175 bus drivers in Tehran, Iran, conducted between 2006 and 2007.
- Data collection via questionnaires on demographics, medical history, insomnia index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), apnea index, and crash history.
- Statistical analysis using SPSS, employing chi-square, Oneway ANOVAs, and Pearson correlation tests.
Main Results:
- The average sleep duration was 6.37 hours, with a mean accident rate of 2.31 per year.
- Significant correlations were found between the insomnia index and BMI, age, marital status, associated diseases, and drug history.
- Marital status showed a significant relationship with ESS scores, and age was significantly related to past accident rates.
Conclusions:
- Sleep problems are prevalent among bus drivers and are significantly associated with their crash history.
- Findings highlight the need for careful driver selection and proactive management of sleep disorders.
- Addressing sleep issues in bus drivers is crucial for enhancing transportation safety.
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