Driver Fatigue Major Factor in Fatal Crashes

Monday, October 19, 2009 10:49 AM

Prince George, B.C. - Latest stats show weather conditions are not the big factor in fatal crashes in this part of the Province.

Road Health Conference Coordinator Mary Anne Arcand says the driver’s physical condition is having a huge impact.

Between 2004 and the end of 2008 , there were 2,390 fatal crashes in B.C. in which the driver had fallen asleep, extreme fatigue was a contributing factor in more than a thousand fatal crashes.

“Booze, Belts and Speed,” are the top three contributing factors says Arcand, but fatigue is also right up there “That’s why rumble strips have been added to the sides and the centre of the roads” says Arcand. Speaking on the Meisner program this morning on CFISFM, Arcand says fatigue is a serious issue “We drive long distances, we eat garbage food which makes our blood sugar spike and then crash, we don’t step out to take a break, we think nothing here about driving from Prince George to Vancouver in one shot and we don’t take adequate rest. In a lot of cases, we head out for a long weekend after a full day of work, the camper is packed and we hit the road for Edmonton or wherever and we don’t drive smart, we don’t drive safe, we just drive.”

Arcand says one of the reasons why the fatality rate is higher in rural Canada is the distance from health care and the length of time it can take for first responders to reach the scene. “In rural Canada youare25 times more likely to die in a crash than you would in Vancouver or Ottawa or Toronto, we don’t have cell phone coverage, so it can take a long time for first responders to find you. Part of it is the speeds we’re driving because it’s long highway driving.”

The Road Health Conference is into its third year. Its vision for 2010 was a 30% reduction in overall crashes, that has been accomplished. The two day conference will offer the latest information on contributing factors to crashes, demonstrations of the roll over simulator, there will be workshops on a variety of subjects from substance abuse in the workplace, to the impact of aging drivers, risk behaviour behind the wheel and some of the training in the works and a formula one driver will talk about being physically fit to drive. “WorkSafe has deemed driving the most dangerous thing that you can do on your job. It’s worse than being on an oil rig, worse than being a high wire guy, more people are killed driving to work or for work than anything else.”

In the region from 100 Mile House north, there were 980 fatalities since 2004, and 129 of those deaths were within the Prince George boundaries. “When we break those numbers down per thousand population, we see Williams Lake, Quesnel, Burns Lake, Alexis Creek, Valemount, have disproportionately high numbers to their populations.” She says the reasons are varied, from increased tourist traffic in the Valemount region, to heavy industrial traffic mixing with local drivers.

“In 2004 the World Health Organization declared car crashes as the number one health issue in the world, bigger than AIDS, bigger than SARS, bigger than H1N1 and we just take it for granted.”

The Road Health Conference is taking place tomorrow and Wednesday at the Prince George Civic Centre, the conference is free.

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Posted on Monday, October 19, 2009 10:49 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: metalman on October 19 2009 1:14 PM

I find it hard to remain alert for very long at 100 km/h, even with rest breaks, so do I fall asleep at 100? or speed at 120-130, which for some reason keeps me wide awake. Not to say that what Arcand states is wrong, far from it. She nails it; the long distance driving after a full weeks work, not stopping often enough for a stretch, poor eating habits when on the road, all true.
The truly worrisome part of it all is the fact that we are often so far from help in the event of a crash or other emergency.
Maybe if we all had satellite phones?
metalman.

Posted by: MrPG on October 19 2009 2:41 PM

I'll bet those rumble strips save a ton of injuries and fatalities every year.

Taking lots of breaks is the key.

Posted by: Jimmi on October 19 2009 3:01 PM

When I die I want to go peacefully in my sleep - just like Grampa...

...not screamining in horror like the passengers in his car....

Posted by: Chester on October 19 2009 8:14 PM

And what about impatience after getting stuck behind some driver(s) who finds the
acelerator once a straight stretch shows up, or passing lane presents itself. Most of the newer Hybrid cars don't have the power to get up and go when the opportunity presents itself and they too become part of the problem. Now you got to get by not only the heavy trucks, but those drivers with cars that do not kick into gear when needed. Or those drivers who seemed to come out of the ozarks and are hunkered over the steering wheel doing 80km per hour.

Drives me nuts and has caused me to drive more aggressively than necessary from frustration when I finally get the opportunity to pass 3 or 4 vehicles at one time. Not the best solution to the problem. But, after 50 km of getting bored behind these drivers, one is forced to do something. And sometimes a little more aggressively than recommended.

Posted by: acrider54 on October 20 2009 7:32 AM

I agree 100% with Chester

Posted by: Eagleone on October 20 2009 8:28 AM

I too agree with Chester... the people that drive slow and then speed up for the passing lanes... and slow right back down once the passing lane is finished. I really don't understand their thinking.

For me to stay awake I drink lots of water and nothing else. Water keeps you awake and doesn't give you the pasties or the sugar crash that puts most people to sleep.