New Monash study finds more than 90% of new parents drive while fatigued
Monash University Accident Research Centre
Researchers are calling for better fatigue warnings for new parents, with research from the Monash University Accident Research Centre revealing 9 in 10 have driven while fatigued in the past month.
The study, published in the Journal of Safety Research, surveyed 1,160 Australian parents with at least one child under 12 months of age to better understand how disrupted sleep affects driving behaviour and road safety.
Participants reported an average of just six hours of sleep per night and generally poor sleep quality, with almost all reporting sleep disruption due to parenting responsibilities.
It found fatigued driving was more common than speeding, illegal mobile phone use while driving, or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Parents who reported driving while fatigued were also significantly more likely to report risky driving behaviours, including lapses in concentration, driving errors, traffic violations and aggressive driving
The findings highlight opportunities to better support new parents through road safety education, healthcare and workplace policies.
Researchers say fatigue advice should become part of antenatal and postnatal care, alongside targeted road safety campaigns that help parents recognise the risks of driving while fatigued and the importance of restorative strategies.
Supporting flexible workplace arrangements for parents returning to work and raising awareness of in-vehicle fatigue-detection technologies could also help reduce fatigue-related driving risks.
Lead author Associate Professor Sjaan Koppel, Associate Director of the Behavioural Science team at the Monash University Accident Research Centre, said the findings highlight a gap in how new parents are supported to manage fatigue behind the wheel.
"We routinely provide new parents with information about infant sleep, feeding and safe transport, but very little advice about the impact their own 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 per cent of participants experienced symptoms commonly associated with fatigued driving, including poor concentration, tired eyes, increased blinking and a greater likelihood of making driving errors.
Despite this, most parents relied on short-term strategies such as drinking coffee, listening to music, or opening the car windows to stay alert, while restorative approaches, such as taking a nap, were used far less frequently.
Fewer than one in five participants reported their vehicle was equipped with fatigue detection technology, and many were unsure whether their vehicle had the feature or how it worked.
The researchers say effective interventions must recognise that many new parents have essential travel commitments and limited alternatives to driving, making practical advice, targeted education and supportive policies critical to reducing fatigue-related road trauma.
Read the research paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2026.07.012
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