Employment and drowsy driving: a survey of American workers.

Drowsy driving is a major public health problem in the United States. Employment characteristics affect sleep, yet little is known about relationships between employment variables and drowsy driving. This study examined employment correlates (specifically, hours worked per week and shift work) and rates of self-reported drowsy driving, falling asleep while driving, and traffic crashes due to sleepiness in 1,000 employed adults who completed a telephone survey conducted by the National Sleep Foundation. Working > 40 hr per week and shift work were associated with increased risk for drowsy driving (ps ≤ .05). Odds ratios for falling asleep behind the wheel were higher in shift workers with symptoms of insomnia or excessive sleepiness relative to day workers and shift workers without sleep complaints (p ≤ .05).