Driving Consequences of Sleep Disorders

The Department of Transportation estimates that 100,000 accidents are the direct results of Driver Fatigue, putting the driver, passengers, drivers of other vehicles and their passengers, as well as pedestrians and property at risk.

• Another million crashes (1/6 of all crashes) are due to drivers' inattention (with fatigue).
• 20% of all drivers have fallen asleep while driving (at least 1 time).
• Teenagers are at very high risk for fatigue-related motor vehicle accidents.
• US and Canadian long-haul truck drivers get less than 5 hours of sleep.

~Miller, et al. - New England Journal of Medicine 337;755-761,1997

A move is on in Congress with legislation pending to subject drivers of long-haul, drivers hauling hazardous materials and bus drivers to sleep testing as part of licensing to diagnose those who may have a propensity for narcolepsy and daytime sleepiness.