Consider this typical case: A passenger van runs off the road at 1:00 a.m. into an under-ride crash with a disabled 18-wheeler. Would increasing the conspicuity of the semi, such as by adding more reflectors and tail lights, have prevented the crash? What if the van driver was a steady night worker? What if the van driver was a day worker who had slept well? What if the van driver had sleep apnea? What if the van driver did not sleep at all for the previous 48 hours?
How We Can Help
For each driver involved in an incident, we perform a thorough analysis of sleep-wake schedules. We look for evidence of impairment from medications and/or recreational drugs. We also consider the possibility of sleep disorders. Our methods are based on those of such investigative bodies as The National Transportation Safety Board.