Fatal road accidents among Finnish conscripts: Fatigue-impaired driving. Igor Radun, Jenni Radun & Heikki Summala

(1)

Fatal road accidents among Finnish

conscripts: Fatigue-impaired driving

(2)

Conscription

More than 80% of the men in Finland

_{More than 80% of the men in Finland}

complete compulsory military service and

therefore, injuries during military service are

recognized as a public health issue

Nordic countries: Finland, Sweden, Norway,

_{Nordic countries: Finland, Sweden, Norway,}

Denmark

Î

Service 6

_{Service 6}

-

_-

12 months, young men 18

_{12 months, young men 18}

-

_-

21 ₂₁

years old, inexperienced drivers

(3)

Conscripts’ injuries

The overall incidence for ALL injury hospitalisation _{The overall incidence for ALL injury hospitalisation}

during the 10 years

during the 10 years’’ study period was 93.7 per study period was 93.7 per 1000 conscripts per year

1000 conscripts per year ((MattilaMattila et al., 2006)et al., 2006)

Although only 5.5% of the hospitalizations for _{Although only 5.5% of the hospitalizations for}

injuries among Finnish conscripts in 1990

injuries among Finnish conscripts in 1990--1999 1999 were caused in traffic accidents (

were caused in traffic accidents (MattilaMattila et al., et al., 2006), leisure time traffic accidents were the

2006), leisure time traffic accidents were the

leading cause of conscripts

leading cause of conscripts’’ deaths (deaths (KoskenvuoKoskenvuo, , 1987)

1987)

Data from Sweden: 106 dead conscripts 1979_{Data from Sweden: 106 dead conscripts 1979}-

-1988; 58% on leave, 30% to/from the garrison, 12%

1988; 58% on leave, 30% to/from the garrison, 12%

on duty (

(4)

Finnish conscripts

During their usual six months of service, the _{During their usual six months of service, the}

conscripts have 12 free back and forth holiday trips

Free collective transport organized by military _{Free collective transport organized by military}

authorities or public transport

For additional trips above the free quota, conscripts _{For additional trips above the free quota, conscripts}

can obtain major discounts on public transportation

Î

Î Finnish conscripts are allowed to use personal cars _{Finnish conscripts are allowed to use personal cars}

for traveling to and from the garrisons for traveling to and from the garrisons

(5)

Finnish conscripts

Falling asleep was the greatest individual causal factor _{Falling asleep was the greatest individual causal factor}

(36%) in 25 fatal accidents caused by conscripts during

1980

1980--1988 (1988 (SipinenSipinen, 1990), 1990)

In most cases, service_{In most cases, service}-_-related fatigue contributed to _{related fatigue contributed to}

falling asleep behind the wheel

Î

Î 53.8% of the conscripts complained having insufficient _{53.8% of the conscripts complained having insufficient}

amount of sleep while being in the army, and 39.2% felt

tired often or always (

tired often or always (PartinenPartinen, 1982) , 1982)

Î

Î Having to stay awake during field maneuvers was the _{Having to stay awake during field maneuvers was the}

most difficult part of training (

(6)

Finnish conscripts

In addition to irregular working hours, including night _{In addition to irregular working hours, including night}

work, the training includes tough physical exercise that

can produce fatigue

Young men are also one of the riskiest group of drivers Young men are also one of the riskiest group of drivers

for sleep

for sleep--related accidents (Horne and related accidents (Horne and ReynerReyner, 1995; , 1995; Radun and Radun, 2006)

Radun and Radun, 2006)

The most prevalent group of road users at times with the _{The most prevalent group of road users at times with the}

highest sleep propensity (during the night hours)

Î

(7)

Risks factors typical for

young men

They are more susceptible to acute sleep loss than _{They are more susceptible to acute sleep loss than}

the old are (

the old are (BrendelBrendel et al, 1990)et al, 1990)

Due to their driving inexperience, young drivers can _{Due to their driving inexperience, young drivers can}

also overestimate their capabilities and fall asleep

without realizing the risks for such events

(

(GregersenGregersen, 1996), 1996)

Extra motives that are more typical for young _{Extra motives that are more typical for young}

people (

people (NNäääättäänennen and Summala, 1976) can push and Summala, 1976) can push them to continue driving despite increased

them to continue driving despite increased

sleepiness

(8)

Conscripts and sleep

-

_-

_related

accidents

Conscripts may be indeed at high risk of

_{Conscripts may be indeed at high risk of}

fatigue

-

related accidents while

–

– (i) driving tired from garrison to home(i) driving tired from garrison to home

–

– (ii) driving and partying on free weekend(ii) driving and partying on free weekend’’s nights s nights instead of using time

instead of using time--off to recover from tiring off to recover from tiring army duties

(9)

Method

Fatal road accidents studied in depth

_{Fatal road accidents studied in depth}

(VALT), 1991

-

2004

A

_A

questionnaire collected on

_{questionnaire collected on}

245 ₂₄₅

conscripts

_conscripts

in one garrison in South

(10)

Fatal road accidents

During 1991_{During 1991}-_-2004, 137 conscripts were involved in _{2004, 137 conscripts were involved in}

58 different fatal road accidents

Altogether, 60 conscripts died and 13 were _{Altogether, 60 conscripts died and 13 were}

seriously injured during the 14

seriously injured during the 14--year periodyear period

Conscripts were responsible for 47 (79.3%) of the _{Conscripts were responsible for 47 (79.3%) of the}

accidents with 95% of all conscripts fatalities

_{In addition to 57 dead conscripts, 12 other civilians}_{In addition to 57 dead conscripts, 12 other civilians}

have died

(11)

Fatal road accidents

More than half (31 of 60) of the conscripts died in army_{More than half (31 of 60) of the conscripts died in army}-

-related (to, in & from) accidents

related (to, in & from) accidents

One_One-_-third (20 of 60) killed while traveling from the _{third (20 of 60) killed while traveling from the}

garrisons.

Falling asleep_{Falling asleep} was a major cause of the conscripts_{was a major cause of the conscripts}’_’

accidents no matter whether the driving was army

related (34.8%) or happened during a free time (36.4%).

Rushing_Rushing was a second big cause of army_{was a second big cause of army}-_-related _related

accidents (26.1%), while

accidents (26.1%), while drunk drivingdrunk driving (22.7%) and (22.7%) and suspected suicides

suspected suicides (18.2) were typical for free time (18.2) were typical for free time accidents.

(12)

Fatal road accidents

2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 Year 10 8 6 4 2 0 Number of dead conscr ipts Free time On duty From garrison To garrison

(13)

Fatal road accidents

Sun Sat Fri Thu Wed Tue Mon Day of week 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Number of accidents x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x special case free time from garrison to garrison on duty

(14)

To vs. from trips

Twice as many accidents happened while traveling _{Twice as many accidents happened while traveling}

from garrisons compared to driving to garrisons

Although the number of trips taken to and from _{Although the number of trips taken to and from}

garrison should be equal, it seems that accident

risks are not

Î

(15)

The conscripts: survey data

There were 245 respondents with valid driver license _{There were 245 respondents with valid driver license}

(mean age=19.52, SD=1.1, range 18

(mean age=19.52, SD=1.1, range 18--29) 29)

88 conscripts (35.9%) had been driving a personal car _{88 conscripts (35.9%) had been driving a personal car}

from/to home in the preceding 2 months

102 conscripts traveled at least sometimes as a _{102 conscripts traveled at least sometimes as a}

passenger in a car driven by his fellow conscript.

Î

Î That gives only 55 conscripts (22.4%) not exposed to _{That gives only 55 conscripts (22.4%) not exposed to}

such traffic accident risk such traffic accident risk

Of 88 conscripts that drove their personal car, 47 _{Of 88 conscripts that drove their personal car, 47}

(53.4%), reported driving tired (30 of conscripts reported

two or more of such driving within preceding 2 months)

(16)

Final remarks

Discussion in the Finnish Parliament

Î

Collective transport organized by

military authorities or public transport

is the SAFEST

(17)

Thank you!

(18)

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