Sleepy Driving
Don’t Sleep and Drive
Ambulance officers at a sleepy driver collision
Each year in Australia, more than 1,300 Australians are killed on our roads and over 32,000 are seriously injured. One cause for these tragic numbers is sleepy driving. Driving a vehicle or riding a motorbike requires perception, good judgement, responsiveness and a reasonable physical capability.
Sleep researchers explain the growing dangers of a ‘sleep debt’ which can very quickly add up. Sleeping as little as six hours a night for 12 days is similar to the dangers of cognitive and performance decline in being awake for 24 hours straight. And being awake for 24-25 is tantamount to having the same impairment as someone who has a blood alcohol level of 0.1 percent, which is twice the legal limit.
The National Transport Commission of Australia (NTC) have come up with medical standards for driver licensing. These standards include considerations for sleep disorders.
The standards were set for private and commercial drivers after extensive consultation with medical professionals, driver licensing authorities, industry representatives and drivers themselves.
Because a driver’s ability to drive or ride safely can be affected by sleep apnea, it is important that drivers are encouraged to seek advice, diagnosis and treatment if they suspect they have this condition.
SLEEPY DRIVING CAN BE FIXED
A driver’s GP in the first instance, may be the person to advise drivers about their fitness to drive. Drivers need to understand that if they come to their GPs for advise, it doesn’t necessarily mean they will lose their license.
But it may mean they may have to take the diagnostic sleep study, see a sleep physician, get CPAP treatment if necessary, and see their GP more often to ensure that sleep apnea is well managed.
These steps may well save their life and others.
If you feel you need a sleep study and prefer to have one in your own home, you will need to be referred to us by your GP. A referral form is downloadable from here. You would need to book an appointment with your GP and discuss your symptoms. Your GP will then fill in the form and sign it. Please fax this form to us on 07 3381-9025.
