Primary data collection-trainig,specialists,crash forms,interviews

CURRENT POSITION

1 Police frequently decline to investigate crashes where no one is killed or known to be injured. Therefore, the police (and the researchers who rely on their data) probably won't have records of sleep-related crashes where people were not hurt or killed. (Source; RoSPA, UK. Article"That Sleep of Death".)

2 Investigating police officers are typically given little time in the training for crash data collection in their 3 month basic training period

3 There do not appear to be any specialist "drowsy driving" experts involved in the investigations.

4 Police crash forms do not have a "sleepiness category"

5 Few resources are allocated (human resources and funding) to "drowsy driving" crashes.

FUTURE STRATEGIC DIRECTION
1 All crashes that Police are called to should be recorded.

2 "Drowsy driving" crash identification TRAINING should be given to all police officers

3 SPECIALIST "drowsy driving" crash investigators with considerable international expertise and experience should be appointed to both the North Island and South Island Serious Crash Units.

4 A specialist "drowsy driving" Police unit should be set up, to undertake thorough investigations
and interviews with victims, family members and eyewitnesses. (Human resources and funding needs to be allocated for this important research)

5 Adopt the Police crash forms that include "sleepiness" as a category from U.S. jurisdictions

GENERAL COMMENTS
Most drowsy driving crashes appear to be placed into the "speed" category by the investigating officer.

NRC MEMBER RESPONSIBILITY.

New Zealand Police, Land Transport New Zealand