With a month to go before the clocks go forward and we lose an hour’s sleep, transport workers have been urged to take their slumber seriously after a finding that more than 60% already get fewer than six hours a night.
Workers in Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Leicestershire could be most affected, after data released under the Freedom of Information Act showed police attended the most traffic incidents linked to sleep or fatigue in these regions.
Chronic sleep loss among transport workers is particularly concerning, as even an hour of lost sleep can impact concentration, reaction time and decision-making.
One US study estimated that changing the clocks forward increased the risk of fatal traffic accidents by 6%, which was attributed to motorists struggling with the loss of an additional hour of sleep.
And a recent study into fatigue found 78% of people who drive for work regularly missed their weekly sleep need, with stress identified as the most common cause (32%).
A further 65% regularly experienced sleepiness at work and for 31% this interfered with daily work activities at least a few days a month.
Tom Coleman, a health scientist and sleep expert for curtain firm Hillarys, which carried out the recent sleep survey, said: “People often underestimate how much lack of sleep affects performance.
“In high-stakes jobs like transport, being chronically underslept can slow reaction times, impair decision-making and increase the likelihood of accidents.
“This isn’t just personal fatigue - it’s a public safety issue affecting millions of commuters and passengers.
“Small improvements in sleep routines, stress management, and recovery can make a real difference for both worker wellbeing and national safety.”
