Abstract
BackgroundHeavy vehicle transportation continues to grow internationally; yet crash rates are high, and the risk of injury and death extends to all road users. The work environment for the heavy vehicle driver poses many challenges; conditions such as scheduling and payment are proposed risk factors for crash, yet the precise measure of these needs quantifying. Other risk factors such as sleep disorders including obstructive sleep apnoea have been shown to increase crash risk in motor vehicle drivers however the risk of heavy vehicle crash from this and related health conditions needs detailed investigation.Methods and DesignThe proposed case control study will recruit 1034 long distance heavy vehicle drivers: 517 who have crashed and 517 who have not. All participants will be interviewed at length, regarding their driving and crash history, typical workloads, scheduling and payment, trip history over several days, sleep patterns, health, and substance use. All participants will have administered a nasal flow monitor for the detection of obstructive sleep apnoea.DiscussionSignificant attention has been paid to the enforcement of legislation aiming to deter problems such as excess loading, speeding and substance use; however, there is inconclusive evidence as to the direction and strength of associations of many other postulated risk factors for heavy vehicle crashes. The influence of factors such as remuneration and scheduling on crash risk is unclear; so too the association between sleep apnoea and the risk of heavy vehicle driver crash. Contributory factors such as sleep quality and quantity, body mass and health status will be investigated. Quantifying the measure of effect of these factors on the heavy vehicle driver will inform policy development that aims toward safer driving practices and reduction in heavy vehicle crash; protecting the lives of many on the road network.
Highlights
Heavy vehicle transportation continues to grow internationally; yet crash rates are high, and the risk of injury and death extends to all road users
Significant attention has been paid to the enforcement of legislation aiming to deter problems such as excess loading, speeding and substance use; there is inconclusive evidence as to the direction and strength of associations of many other postulated risk factors for heavy vehicle crashes
Quantifying the measure of effect of these factors on the heavy vehicle driver will inform policy development that aims toward safer driving practices and reduction in heavy vehicle crash; protecting the lives of many on the road network
Summary
Control Recruitment Heavy vehicle drivers (as per the definition above) who have not been involved in a police-reported crash in the 12 months leading up to the time of interview will be eligible for recruitment into the study. The interviews will be conducted in blocks of time from 4-8 hour time-periods and across the days of the week to ensure weekly travel patterns of heavy vehicle drivers are captured. Interviewers will continue recruiting at each site until the available or recommended time period has elapsed Demographic information such as age, height, weight and loads carried will be requested of non-participants. Detailed information will be further collected about work schedules, travel patterns and sleep (quantity and quality) for the three days preceding the crash (for cases) or the three days preceding the face to face interview (for controls). All applications for amendment with refined versions of Participant Information Statements, Interviews, Consent forms etc. have been approved
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