NTSB chief issues Sleep Awareness Week reminder

The Trucker News Services

3/6/2008

WASHINGTON — National Sleep Awareness Week (March 3-9) should remind serve as a reminder to truckers and other motorists about the inherent dangers of fatigue, according to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairman Mark V. Rosenker.

"The Safety Board is very concerned about reducing accidents and incidents caused by human fatigue," Rosenker stated in a news release.  "We have seen numerous accidents where human fatigue was the probable cause or a contributing factor."

Fatigue has been on the NTSB’s “Most Wanted” list of safety improvements since the list's inception in 1990.

Throughout its 41-year history, the NTSB has seen the issue of fatigue reoccur in many of its accident investigations with fatal results, the release noted.  As a result, the safety organization has studied operator fatigue, and made recommendations for improved scheduling regulations and practices, education for operators and employers concerning fatigue and sleep disorders, and research to better understand the risks associated with fatigue in transportation.

"Inadequate sleep puts the public at risk," Rosenker said.  "Improving the quantity and quality of our sleep can increase safety and save lives.  It takes personal responsibility to ensure that you are well rested before embarking on a personal or professional trip.”

Information of the Board's recommendations dealing with fatigue that are on the Most Wanted List can be obtained on the Web at http://www.ntsb.gov/Recs/mostwanted/index.htm.