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RAC > Drive > News > Motoring news > New blood test could be used to prosecute
drivers who cause accidents due to a lack of sleep


NEW BLOOD TEST COULD BE USED TO PROSECUTE DRIVERS WHO CAUSE ACCIDENTS DUE TO A
LACK OF SLEEP


10th May 2023
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A new blood test could be used to prosecute drivers who cause accidents due to a
lack of sleep. 

The blood-based test is currently undergoing trials in Australia and could be
introduced in the UK, allowing police officers to determine if a driver has
caused an accident due to tiredness. 

This raises the prospect of drivers who are taken to a police station or
hospital after a crash being tested for sleep deprivation at the same time as
for drink and drug driving. 

Government data suggests as many as one fifth of accidents on UK motorways may
be caused by drivers falling asleep at the wheel, with 18- to 30-year-old males
most at risk when driving late at night.

Although in its early stages, there is growing support for the plans. The study
is being funded by the Office of Road Safety, Australia's equivalent to the
Department for Transport (DfT) here in Britain.

Professor Clare Anderson, an Associate Professor of Psychology from Monash
University, who is working on the study, told The Guardian: “When you look at
the major killers on the road, alcohol is one of them, speeding is another, and
fatigue is one of them.

“But even though the solution to fatigue is quite simple, which is to get more
sleep, our capacity to manage it is impaired.

“This is because we don't have tools to be able to monitor it like we do with
alcohol.”

Fellow researcher Professor Shantha Rajaratnam, also of Monash University, told
the Guardian: “With the right investment to be able to scale this, I reckon that
within five years we will be able to implement these biomarker-based tests.”

 * Falling asleep at the wheel – tips and advice to stay alert
 * Dangerous driving – what it is and how to report it
 * Driving in the dark – tips on how to stay safe



Ministers are not currently looking to implement the proposed technology in
Britain, however, the DfT stated that it will 'always note new ideas to make our
roads safer'.

Sonya Hurt, chief executive of the Road Safety Trust, said: “Driver fatigue is a
significant and serious issue. Government statistics show in 2021, 467 people
were either killed or seriously injured in collisions where fatigue was noted as
a contributory factor.

“Therefore, any work to reduce the impact of sleep deprivation is welcome as we
strive to improve road safety and save lives.”

Despite no laws directly relating to tiredness, anyone who kills while driving
can be charged with death by dangerous driving or death by careless driving.

With the introduction of this technology - once proven accurate - could help
legislate against tired drivers who have caused crashes in the future. 

An official threshold to indicate tiredness or the minimum sleep that a driver
requires would need to be written into law.

The tests in Australia have found five biomarkers in blood that can detect
whether somebody has been awake for 24 hours or longer.

Although preliminary, this method is already said to be up to 90% accurate in
real-world settings. Further research over the next few years will need to be
studied before this can be implemented.

Do you think these will be a go introduction for roadside police to stop
accidents? Or should more effort be done to stop other causes for crashes – such
as drink and drug driving? Leave your comments below.


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