Current News
Driving and Sleepiness
Jim Horne, Professor of sleep research at Loughborough University, draws attention to the dangers of sleepiness and driving. Perhaps 10% of traffic accidents are sleepiness related. The risk is higher in the early hours of the morning. Drivers usually have insight into their sleepiness and may go to extraordinary lengths to attempt to reduce risk- such as the girl with the long hair who trapped it in the sunroof so if she nodded off her hair would be pulled to arouse her! With increasing obesity in the population and the association with sleep apnoea and thus sleepiness there are concerns for professional drivers with heavy loads. Truck bosses themselves have been convicted of manslaughter for pressing drivers to exceed EU rules. It is evidently better not to drive while sleepy at all but, when necessary, a 20 minute break with a coffee, a doze and then a brief walk is being recommended.
