Poor and inconsistent sleep may be one of the biggest hidden dangers road safetyNew research shows that it is a stronger predictor of vehicle accidents than many traditional insurance risk factors.
Discovery Insurance analyzed four years of sleep, driving and crash data from more than 10,000 South African drivers and found that chronic sleep loss, or “sleep debt” accumulated over multiple nights, substantially increases the risk of being involved in a crash.
The research was presented at the Discovery Insure media briefing in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
The insurer said the findings make sleep one of the most significant, yet often overlooked, contributors to road accidents.
“Our research shows that poor sleep predicts motor vehicle crash risk five times more than traditional insurance risk factors,” said Robert Attwell, CEO of Discovery Insure.
He said insufficient sleep affects concentration, reaction time and decision making, which are important for safe driving.
The research found that approximately 30% of the drivers studied accumulated some degree of sleep while driving. It also found that drivers who got less than an hour of sleep on three consecutive nights had a 36% lower risk of a crash than those who got five or more hours of sleep over the same period.
Regular sleep patterns also appeared to reduce the risk of accidents. Drivers who consistently slept between seven to eight hours a night were about 32% less likely to be involved in a crash than those who slept much less, while those who slept at roughly the same time each night had up to a 36% lower risk of a crash.
The study further found that drivers who received adequate rapid eye movement sleep had approximately 14% lower risk of a crash.
The findings come amid growing concern over fatigue while driving.
Discovery cited research showing that being awake for more than 16 hours could impair driving to levels equal to or above SA's legal alcohol limit.
A 2024 survey also found that nearly 90% of adults said they would avoid driving after drinking alcohol, with only half saying they would avoid driving after a poor night's sleep.
Globally, road traffic accidents claim approximately 1.19 million lives each year, with driver fatigue estimated to contribute to one in five road accidents. In South Africa, road crashes are expected to cost the economy an estimated R205bn in 2023, equivalent to about 2.7% of GDP.
Attwell said public awareness campaigns traditionally focus on speeding, distracted driving and alcohol, but research shows fatigue should be given equal attention.
Following the findings, Discovery Insure has introduced sleep-based incentives through its Vitality Drive program to encourage healthy sleep habits among participating drivers.
The insurer said customers who activate their Vitality Sleep Score and track their sleep using a compatible wearable device can earn additional Vitality Drive points for maintaining consistent sleep patterns. Attwell said the initiative aims to encourage healthy sleeping habits as part of wider efforts to improve road safety.
Times Live