Young drivers who continue to drive while sleepy: What are the associated sleep- and driving-related factors?

Crashes due to sleepiness account for a substantial proportion of road crash incidents. The purpose of the current study was to examine several sleep-related factors and driving-related factors for their association with self-reports of continuing to drive while sleepy. In total 257 young drivers aged 18-25 years completed an online survey that assessed factors such as sleep quality, sleep duration and consistency, excessive daytime sleepiness, experiences with sleepiness and their driving-related behaviours. The results demonstrate that being older, having a perceived ability to overcome sleepiness, committing more highway code violations and having experienced a sleep-related close call were positively associated with an increased likelihood of continuing to drive while sleepy. The obtained results highlight the acceptance of risky driving behaviours among some younger drivers. Younger drivers' risky driving behaviour is certainly a road safety concern given the impairment associated with sleepiness and their over-representation in road crash incidents.