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were used. The highest rated management method to coun- ities. They reported fewer instances of safety training than the
tering fatigue was scheduling a full block of rest. This was company managers reported. However, all groups identified
also the most highly reported technique actually being used. safety training as the single most important intervention to
Not surprisingly, the focus groups also strongly supported manage driver fatigue.
uninterrupted sleep as a key feature of any fatigue manage-
ment program.
The method that was judged second most effective was pro- Scheduling
viding regular schedules to the motorcoach operators. Yet
when asked how often such regular schedules were provided, The responses about scheduling also matched those of
the answers split between "sometimes" and "often." "Always" motorcoach company managers and supervisors. Both central-
was not selected by any of the respondents. Although the focus ized and local scheduling were seen as often being used; local
groups were not asked specific questions about scheduling, the scheduling was seen as a more important contributor to fatigue
need for regular scheduling was identified as another key to management. Flexible scheduling was seen as an important
tool but not used as often as it could be.
combating driver fatigue.
Figures 4 and 5 show the survey response distribution for
Managers expressed skepticism about caffeine as an effec-
the series of questions probing the topics discussed above.
tive fatigue fighter, but also reported that caffeine is either often
The research community responses to the survey indicate
or always used by the motorcoach operators to overcome
a strong belief that fatigue has a significant effect on motor-
fatigue. Managers expressed some interest in technological
coach operator performance. However, even among this
interventions, but this interest was tinged with skepticism.
group, more than one-half expressed a belief that there were
There were no reported instances of a company actually using
no crashes of motorcoaches in the last 2 years caused by
any of these new technologies. Table 1 shows the distribution
fatigue. They did, however, attribute from 25% to 75% of
of responses across the motorcoach manager and supervisor
near misses and other incidents to fatigue. Although the opin-
survey for the countermeasure questions.
ion on the degree of effect of fatigue on motorcoach operator
performance varied from minimal to significant, no respon-
RESULTS OF RESEARCH SCIENTIST SURVEY dent believed it had no effect at all.
The members of the research community who responded
Strategies for Combating Fatigue
to the synthesis survey averaged 13 years' conducting trans-
portation research and more than 8 years' conducting fatigue The survey of the research group also asked how effective
research. Slightly over 70 research scientists were contacted were several methods of fighting fatigue and also how often
for the survey and 22 responded. The entire survey is in each of these methods was used. The highest rated method to
Appendix B. countering fatigue was scheduling a full block of rest, although
this group ranked regular scheduling as equally important.
Training and Education These two methods were also the most highly reported tech-
niques actually being used. For this group, these two methods
Respondents expressed their views of the approaches motor- were much more effective than caffeine.
coach companies take to managing the fatigue of the motor- The research group was more skeptical than the industry
coach operators. They identified the distribution of safety professionals of the effectiveness of caffeine, sleeping aids, or
literature and safety training as two common company activ- listening to the radio to manage fatigue. They did state a
TABLE 1 Motorcoach company managers and supervisors perceived
effectiveness and frequency of use mean responses for fatigue
countermeasures (N8)
EFFECTIVENESS FREQUENCY
1=Not at all, 5=Very 1=Never, 5=Always
Caffeine 2.5 4.3
Sleeping aids 1.5 1.8
Full block of rest 4.8 3.8
Regular schedule 4.4 3.6
Talking with others 2.8 3.0
Listening to the radio 2.5 3.0
Using 2 drivers 3.5 2.7
Technologies 2.6 1.0
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Use Flexibility
Use Two Drivers
Activity Use Local System
Use Centralized
System
Conduct Training
Distribute Materials
1 2 3 4 5
Never Always
Figure 4. Researchers' perception of how often motorcoach companies perform
activities.
belief that in-vehicle technologies showed promise of becom- to crashes (a supposition supported by traffic crash data) but
ing somewhat effective in combating the driving performance is seen as a problem to be addressed, nonetheless. The best
decrements stemming from fatigue. current approaches to managing driver fatigue do not require
The research scientists also judged that companies were re- major investments but do require management commitment:
lying on caffeine and listening to the radio. They are aware opportunities for good sleep, regular schedules that provide
that, currently, companies are not using technological inter- adequate rest periods, and access to caffeinated beverages.
ventions to counter motorcoach operator fatigue. The skepticism about new fatigue management technolo-
Table 2 shows the distribution of responses across the gies by motorcoach company managers is not shared by the
research scientist survey for the countermeasure questions. research community. As much as anything this skepticism
The results of the two surveys plus the earlier focus groups reflects the stage of development of those technologies. The
reveal consistent points of view about motorcoach operators lack of skepticism may also reflect a better understanding of
and fatigue. Fatigue does not appear to be a major contributor driver fatigue on the part of the research group.
Use Flexibility
Use Two Drivers
Use Local System
Activity
Use Centralized System
Conduct Training
Distribute Materials
1 2 3 4 5
Not Important Very Important
Figure 5. Importance rating for each activity for preventing fatigue.
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TABLE 2 Transportation and fatigue research scientists perceived
effectiveness and frequency of use mean responses for fatigue
countermeasures (N22)
Effectiveness Frequency
1 = not at all, 5 = very 1 = never, 5 = always
Caffeine 2.3 3.5
Sleeping aids 2.0 2.1
Full block of rest 4.4 3.5
Regular schedule 4.8 3.5
Talking with others 2.8 2.5
Listening to the radio 2.0 2.8
Using 2 drivers 3.3 2.2
Technologies 3.0 1.3
