FOI 0339-2025/26 - Callouts relating to sleep, fatigue or tiredness

Request

The purpose of this request is to gather data on the number of emergency service callouts linked to sleep, fatigue or tiredness in the region.

Similar information has previously been released under the Freedom of Information Act: "Out of the 21 UK constituencies that responded to a Freedom of Information request, Thames Valley recorded the highest number of fatigue-related accidents over the three-year time period with nearly 400 accidents, while Surrey reported the highest number of fatalities."

Specifically, I am seeking anonymised data on the following:

The total number of incidents attended by your service where sleep, fatigue or driving while tired was recorded as a factor for each of the past five calendar years (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and partial data for 2025 if available)

Incidents could include, but are not limited to: Falling asleep while driving, road traffic collisions where driver fatigue was cited, etc

If there is no specific marker or code for "sleep" or "fatigue", I would be grateful if you could instead provide the number of incidents in which any relevant fatigue-related terms were noted in officer or incident logs-e.g., via keyword search for: "sleep", "fatigue", "tired", "exhaustion", "drowsy", etc.

Request for clarification – 18 July 2025

In order to provide the data you are requesting, we can either:

1. Look at all road traffic reports where the primary or secondary factor is fatigue.

2. Undertake a free text search in the occurrence summary and MO remarks for all incidents and crimes using the key words "sleep", "fatigue", "tired", "exhaustion", "drowsy".

Please confirm how you would like us to search. In addition, would you like to know the number attended by North Yorkshire Police or just the number of incidents reported (and not attended)?

Clarification – 18 July 2025

Would both searches be possible under the time and cost constraints of the Act? Just as I imagine this would give the most comprehensive picture.

If not, please undertake a free text search in the occurrence summary and MO remarks for all incidents and crimes using the key words "sleep", "fatigue", "tired", "exhaustion", "drowsy".

If you could provide just incidents attended by the force, that would be great.

Response

Extent and Result of Searches to Locate Information

To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted within North Yorkshire Police.

I can confirm that the information you have requested is held by North Yorkshire Police. 

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the following information to you.

Please see the table below showing the number of incidents reported between in the period 1 January 2020 to 22 January 2025, broken down by year, where there is a MVC report linked with one of the six contributory factors recorded as fatigue.

Please note that I have included only those incidents/crimes attended (dispatched officer linked to incident).

As requested, we have undertaken a free text search, however, results have not been provided as these are inaccurate.

Please note that systems used for recording information are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the data.  It should be noted therefore that this force’s response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other responses you may receive.