Half of Chinese drivers have once catnapped behind the wheel,
according to China's first ever survey on drivers'
vigilance.?
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Among the 516 drivers surveyed, nearly a quarter reported fatigue
driving, half said they have sleeping problems, and 10 percent
admitted they had dozed off before being stopped for the survey on
the same day, the survey says.
The test results of a special "psycho vigilance task (PVT)"
apparatus used in this survey on drivers' vigilance found 20
percent of them showed slow reaction.
The survey also showed that 82 percent of drivers have less than
eight sleep hours a day and 47.7 percent have less than seven
hours, while 90 percent take no measures to treat their sleeping
problems and the rest just rely on alcohol, tonic or even sleeping
pills.
This survey, an important event jointly launched by the Beijing
Municipal Traffic Bureau, China National Radio, Chinese Medical
Association and Sanofi-Synthelabo Minsheng Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.
for World Sleep Day on March 21 this year, is the first of its kind
in China.
It aims to study the relationship between drivers' vigilance and
sleep and was conducted simultaneously on the expressways of
Beijing-Shijiagzhuang and Shanghai-Hangzhou on March 20 and 21 this
year.
Mei Bingsong, director of the Accident Department under the
Beijing Municipal Traffic Bureau, said that fatigue driving, just
like drunken driving, was very dangerous and had been a serious
traffic problem.
"Inadequate sleep, insomnia and disturbed sleep order are to
blame for fatigue and fatigue driving," said Professor Li Shunwei
from Beijing (Peking) Union Medical College Hospital. "Fatigue is
as harmful as alcohol or drugs, and only adequate sleep can ensure
a clear mind and high vigilance for drivers."
He suggested that drivers follow a regular rest pattern, avoid
drinking or using stimulating medicines, and particularly, have a
good sleep before driving.
"Love your life, stop fatigue driving. This is what I want to
tell the drivers," he added.
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?(CRI.com November 8, 2003)