ABSTRACT
Sleep and circadian rhythm disruption are significant contributors to fatigue in transportation. This chapter explores the sleep-wake and circadian regulatory processes that drive the physiological pressure for sleep and their roles in alertness and cognitive function. Disruption of these processes caused by extended periods of sustained wakefulness and/or various forms of acute or chronic sleep loss, common for employees in the transportation sector, can exacerbate the accumulation of fatigue and also impair the quality of subsequent sleep. Practical issues of sleep-related fatigue are discussed, together with recommendations for mitigating the risk of fatigue-related incidents related to insufficient and unsatisfactory sleep.
