NTSB CHAIRMAN ROSENKER STRESSES THE NEED FOR SLEEP AND REST REQUIREMENTS AS NATION MARKS SLEEP AWARENESS WEEK

[NTSB Press Releases <NTSBPressReleases@xxxxxxxx>]

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                      NTSB PRESS RELEASE
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National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 5, 2008
SB-08-08

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NTSB CHAIRMAN ROSENKER STRESSES THE NEED FOR SLEEP AND REST 
REQUIREMENTS AS NATION MARKS SLEEP AWARENESS WEEK

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Washington, DC - National Transportation Safety Board 
Chairman Mark V. Rosenker said today that the occasion of 
National Sleep Awareness Week (March 3-9) should remind 
operators of vehicles in all modes of transportation about 
the inherent dangers of fatigue.  

"The Safety Board is very concerned about reducing accidents 
and incidents caused by human fatigue," Rosenker said.  "We 
have seen numerous accidents where human fatigue was the 
probable cause or a contributing factor."

Fatigue has been on the Board's Most Wanted List of safety 
improvements since the list's inception in 1990.

Throughout its 41-year history, the NTSB has seen the issue 
of fatigue reoccur in many of its accident investigations 
with fatal results.  As a result, NTSB has studied operator 
fatigue and issued recommendations calling for improved 
scheduling regulations and practices, education for 
operators and employers concerning fatigue and sleep 
disorders, and research to better understand the risks 
associated with fatigue in transportation.

"Inadequate sleep puts the public at risk," Rosenker said.  
"Improving the quantity and quality of our sleep can 
increase safety and save lives.  It takes personal 
responsibility to ensure that you are well rested before 
embarking on a personal or professional trip," he added.

Information of the Board's recommendations dealing with 
fatigue that are on the Most Wanted List can be obtained at 
the following link: 
http://www.ntsb.gov/Recs/mostwanted/index.htm

For more information on fatigue recommendations on the 
NTSB's Most Wanted List:
Aviation: 
http://ntsb.gov/Recs/mostwanted/aviation_reduce_acc_inc_huma
nfatig.htm
Railroad: http://ntsb.gov/Recs/mostwanted/rail-fatigue.htm
Marine:  
http://ntsb.gov/Recs/mostwanted/marine_reduce_acc_inc_humanf
atig.htm
Pipeline: 
http://ntsb.gov/Recs/mostwanted/pipeline_crew_resc_mngt_trai
ning.htm

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NTSB Media Contact:  Terry N. Williams
                          (202) 314-6100
                          williat@xxxxxxxx




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