For commercial fleet drivers, drowsiness behind the wheel can be catastrophic. In fact, crashes involving drowsy drivers caused 41,000 injuries and some 824 fatalities in 2015 alone, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.   
 -  Photo courtesy of  U.S. Air Force illustration/Staff Sgt. Jamal D. Sutter .

For commercial fleet drivers, drowsiness behind the wheel can be catastrophic. In fact, crashes involving drowsy drivers caused 41,000 injuries and some 824 fatalities in 2015 alone, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  

Photo courtesy of U.S. Air Force illustration/Staff Sgt. Jamal D. Sutter.

A new survey finds that 42% of transportation employees who reported at least one risk factor for fatigue cited long shifts and another 48% cited sleep loss. The report, from the National Safety Council, also concludes that employers in the transportation industry are experiencing the impact—with nearly 97% saying employee fatigue on the job is a concern.

Transportation ranks the highest among all safety-critical industries, according to the council, yet fatigued workers in the workplace and on the roads are at increased risk for injuries and accidents.

For commercial fleet drivers, drowsiness behind the wheel can be catastrophic. In fact, crashes involving drowsy drivers caused 41,000 injuries and some 824 fatalities in 2015 alone, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  

The new report also highlights a gap between how employees and employers view the risks and consequences of being tired on the job. While 90% of employers across industries say safety incidents increase and productivity declines when employees are tired, only 72% of workers view being tired as a safety issue.

Moreover, while 95% of employers in the utility industry said it is unsafe to drive while tired—just 66% of employees in the same field agreed.

The council’s report summarizes the results of two national surveys—one of employers and a second probability-based survey of employees.

Originally posted on Automotive Fleet

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Our team of enterprising editors brings years of experience covering the fleet industry. We offer a deep understanding of trends and the ever-evolving landscapes we cover in fleet, trucking, and transportation.  

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