TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2001//
TI  - Prevalence of driver sleepiness in a random population-based sample of car driving
JO  - Sleep
A1  - Connor, J.
A1  - Norton, R.
A1  - Ameratunga, Shanthi N.
A1  - Robinson, Elizabeth
A1  - Wigmore, Brenda
A1  - Jackson, Rodger
SP  - 688
EP  - 694
VL  - 24
IS  - 6
N2  - STUDY OBJECTIVES: To obtain reliable estimates of the prevalence of driver sleepiness. DESIGN: A two-stage cluster sampling technique was employed to obtain a sample of car drivers representative of time spent driving on public roads in a geographically defined region. Data were collected by interviewer-administered questionnaire, and analysed in accordance with the sampling design. SETTING: The Auckland region of New Zealand, between April 1998 and July 1999. PARTICIPANTS: 588 drivers of cars and other light vehicles recruited at 69 roadside survey sites. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Of 746 eligible participants, 79% were interviewed, 12% refused, 8% were untraceable, and 1% were unable to give informed consent. From this sample we estimated that 58.7% of driving was undertaken by men. The vast majority of driving (90.8%) was undertaken by drivers with Epworth Sleepiness scores in the normal range (<10), but a significant minority was undertaken by drivers with one or more characteristics likely to impair alertness. 3.1% had < or = 5 hours sleep in the previous 24 hours, and 21.9% had < or = 4 full nights sleep in the previous week. The triad of symptoms associated with sleep apnea (snoring, choking, and breathing pauses while sleeping) was present in 1.6%; and 8.1% worked a pattern of shifts likely to interfere with normal sleep. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of sleepiness amongst a random sample of New Zealand car driving was low, and less than suggested by previous studies.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0161-8105
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -