Citation

Williams LR, Davies DR, Thiele K, Davidson JR, Maclean AW. J. Saf. Res. 2012; 43(2): 115-122.

Affiliation

School of Social Work, Arizona State University.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, U.S. National Safety Council, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jsr.2012.02.002

PMID

22709996

Abstract

Introduction: Sleep-deprived driving can be as dangerous as alcohol-impaired driving, however, little is known about attitudes toward sleep-deprived drivers. This study examined the extent to which young drivers regard sleep-deprived compared to drinking drivers as culpable for a crash, and how their perceptions of driving while in these conditions differ. Method: University student participants (N=295; M=20.4years, SD=1.3; 81% women) were randomly assigned to read one of five fatal motor-vehicle crash scenarios, which differed by aspects of the driver's condition. Culpability ratings for the drinking driver were higher than those for the sleep-deprived driver. Results: Qualitative findings revealed that driving while sleep-deprived was viewed as understandable, and driving after drinking was viewed as definitely wrong. The dangers of sleep-deprived driving remain under-recognized.

Language: en