The role of fatigue must not be underestimated when studying the causes of crashes. Crashes in which driver fatigue plays a role are not only a matter of having spent too long behind the wheel; fatigue can also be caused by too little sleep, stress, or the time of the day. According to a conservative estimate based on studies abroad, driver fatigue is involved in 10-15% of all severe crashes. Although technical aids to prevent fatigue crashes are being developed, they are not yet ready for use. In the road haulage industry, the only means that are presently available to combat crashes involving fatigue are safety culture and consistently applying (and enforcing) the driving and resting hours. Information campaigns should make non-professional car drivers aware of the risks of fatigue.
