New parents say they are almost always tired when behind the wheel, a new Monash University study’s survey shows.
And the researchers want a better fatigue warning system in place for them.
The university’s accident research centre surveyed 1660 drivers for its study and found 90% of respondents had driven while tired in the past month.
The study, published in the Journal of Safety Research, examined parent drivers who had at least one infant under 1-year-old to learn about the impact that disrupted sleep had had on them; 9 out of 10 participants reported that they had slept poorly and with just six hours a night.
Fatigue has been seen as a greater potential threat than speeding, phones or drunken/drugged driving, the centre says.
Tired drivers were also significantly more likely to report risky behaviour like lapses in concentration, errors, traffic violations and aggression.
NEW PARENTS ‘NEED BETTER MANAGING’
Lead author Associate Professor Sjaan Koppel says the findings highlight a gap in fatigue management among new parent drivers.
“We routinely provide new parents with information about infant sleep, feeding and safe transport but very little advice about the impact sleep deprivation can have on driving,” Associate Professor Koppel said.
“Healthcare professionals, employers and road safety organisations all have a role to play in helping parents to recognise fatigue as a genuine road safety risk and encouraging practical strategies to reduce that risk.”
More than 80% of participants reported symptoms commonly associated with fatigued driving like poor concentration, tired eyes, increased blinking and being more prone to making errors.
The survey also found most parents relied on short-term strategies such as drinking coffee, listening to music, or opening windows to stay alert while restorative approaches, such as taking a nap, were used far less frequently.
Fewer than one in five participants said their vehicle was equipped with fatigue detection technology, and many were unsure if their vehicle had it or how it worked.
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS FLOATED
The researchers say any effective measures need to acknowledge many new parents view travel as essential and limited alternatives, offer practical advice and target policies that will reduce fatigue-related road trauma.
They want fatigue advice to become a part of antenatal and postnatal care, alongside targeted road safety campaigns to educate new parents about the dangers of fatigue and emphasise restorative strategies.
Supporting flexible workplace arrangements for new parents returning to work and raising awareness of fatigue-detection technologies could also help reduce risks, the study says.
Read the research paper here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2026.07.012.
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