Fatigue as a crash factor: applying the ATSB definition for a fatigue-involved crash to Victoria's crash data

Without in-depth investigation, fatigue is a particularly difficult variable to assign as a crash factor. Some Australian mass crash databases (but not Victoria’s) include fatigue as a variable, however it is usually reflects the conclusion of the attending police officer, based on information such as witness statements. A method of deriving a fatigue-involved crash from a number of other crash factors was proffered by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. That method was applied to Victoria’s Mass crash database. Depending how the definition is used, 6-16% of all crashes and 17-27% of fatality crashes in Victoria were the result of fatigue. Fatigue also seems to be a relatively greater issue for both heavy vehicles and motorcycles than for cars.