Sleepy Driving Simulator Study

Driver sleepiness poses a serious risk to public health and safety with twenty percent of fatal collisions in Canada involving a fatigued driver. The morning commute home after a long, overnight shift is a regular and potentially dangerous experience for medical shift workers. The purpose of this research, led by Dr. Jeff Brubacher, is to assess the impact of post-shift sleepiness on driving performance in medical residents using a state-of-the-art driving simulator. This study will also investigate whether self-rated sleepiness, perceived driving ability, and sleep-related cognitive impairment can predict driving performance. Data from this study will come from medical residents who complete simulated driving performance tasks. The findings will provide insight into the safety of post-shift sleepy driving and help inform public messaging to reduce motor vehicle accidents. 


For more information, please contact Bianca Boicu, Research Coordinator, bianca.boicu@ubc.ca