Why do drivers continue driving while fatigued? An application of the theory of planned behaviour

A sample of 214 drivers was examined. Drivers with poor sleep quality or a history of fatigue all showed a greater tendency to continue driving while fatigued, to have a more positive attitude towards driving while fatigued, and to perceive a higher level of control while driving fatigued. Furthermore, hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed overall support for the predictive utility of the theory of planned behaviour, accounting for 30.4% of the variance of fatigued driving behaviour after controlling for demographic variables. Overall, the results suggest that subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and intention have significant effects on self-reported continued driving while fatigued. Hence, a multiple-strategy approach should be utilized in addressing this issue.