Survey: Transportation Workers Affected by Lack of Sleep

A recent poll of transportation workers, such as train operators (engineers and conductors) truck and bus drivers, and pilots, found that a lack of sleep has affected their job performance.

The survey, conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, found that “about one-fourth of train operators (26%) and pilots (23%) said sleepiness affected their job performance at least once a week, compared to about one in six (17%) non-transportation workers.”

“Perhaps more disturbingly,” the Foundation stated, “a significant number say that sleepiness has caused safety problems on the job.” The study found that “one in five pilots (20%)admit that they made a serious error and one in six train operators (18%) and truck drivers (14%) said they have had a ‘near miss’ due to sleepiness.”

According to the Foundation, “roughly one in ten Americans say they are likely to fall asleep at an inappropriate time and place, such as during a meeting or while driving.” Its study found that “11% of pilots, train operators, bus, taxi, and limo drivers and 8% of truck drivers as well as 7% of non-transportation workers are “sleepy.”