Fatigue can result in cognitive impairment and reduced vigilance, and driver fatigue is believed to be a significant contributing factor to road traffic collisions. In addition, fatigue-related road traffic collisions are more likely to result in fatalities. Identification of fatigue-related collisions is not easy; however, these types of incidents more often occur in the very early hours of the morning, or to a lesser degree, in the early afternoon. This is due to the circadian rhythm, influencing the natural sleep and wake periods of humans.
Due to the time of day that these incidents are more likely occur, those who work irregular hours, or shift work, are potentially more at risk of driving whilst fatigued, and therefore being involved in a fatigue-related incident.
Police officers and civilian police staff are one group who work irregular hours or rotating shifts and are therefore potentially more vulnerable to driver fatigue. The extent to which driver fatigue is an issue amongst this group has not previously been explored in this manner, in the UK. In addition, sleep duration whilst working shifts, and cognitive performance has not previously been tested with this group.
This thesis describes two studies conducted with serving police officers and civilian staff. A questionnaire study was utilised in order to explore the experiences of those working in the policing organisation, in relation to commuting habits and road traffic incidents. This was then followed up with an empirical study that investigated a particular shift pattern, common in UK policing, in an attempt to identify sleep duration, and differences in cognitive performance and vigilance during the different shifts worked.
Questionnaire responses identified that the particular group of participants in the first study reported a high prevalence of driver fatigue whilst travelling to and from work, which often resulted in road traffic incidents. The second study revealed that sleep duration following night shifts was significantly reduced. In addition, overall, the results indicated that participants coped well with the particular shift pattern studied.
This research makes a valuable contribution to the literature around shift work and driver fatigue in UK policing. It provides potential for learning in respect of favourable shift patterns, and opportunities for training and change, where it is imperative in relation to staff wellbeing.
Future research needs to consider the influence of alternative shift patterns on fatigue and related road traffic incidents, using a larger number of participants, in differing policing areas. This approach would also be beneficial for other emergency services and large shift working organisations, to reduce the number of fatigue-related driving incidents in all shift-workers.
