Simulator Spots Sleepy Drivers

Sleep apnea, a disorder in which breathing is briefly and repeatedly interrupted during sleep, can affect more than a good night’s sleep – it can cause a driver to endanger him/herself and others on the road, according to a recent study published in the European Respiratory Journal.

Researchers tested 31 subjects with diagnosed sleep apnea by examining their driving skills in a driving simulator. The simulator exposed each individual to various conditions for 60 minutes at an average speed of 62 miles per hour. The drivers were asked to navigate in various weather conditions and to avoid various obstacles such as other cars, animals and people. Before treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), the most prescribed treatment for sleep apnea, participants were involved in an average of 2.7 simulated accidents and experienced 12.4 lapses in concentration.

After use of CPAP, participants caused on average less than one accident and 4.9 lapses of concentration. These significant results indicate not only that CPAP treatment can improve driving ability in sleep apnea patients, but also that driving simulators can help predict accidents committed by these patients and provide motivation for treatment.