Carried in the "National News" section of the Irish Independent newspaper on Mon 26 Feb 2007.  An article by Lisa Jewell, Journalist...

"Drowsy drivers are killers too"

ROAD crashes caused by sleepiness have probably killed more drivers and passengers than alcohol-related accidents, researchers believe.

A study on people who attended a sleep-disorder clinic found that 61pc felt drowsy while behind the wheel.

The study, by the respiratory sleep disorders unit at St Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin, is based on statistics gathered on 783 drivers who attended sleep laboratories between 2002 and 2006.

The findings were presented at the third annual conference of the Irish Sleep Society at the weekend.

Of those who reported feeling sleepy while driving, some 64pc had Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome.

In this condition, sleep is interrupted because of an obstruction or collapse of the airway at the back of the throat. The interruption of the flow of oxygen causes the sufferer to stop breathing for a few seconds before suddenly regaining their breath.

John Garvey, a researcher on the study, emphasised at the conference that the condition is very treatable.

Professor Jim Horne of the Loughborough Sleep Research Centre in Leicestershire, highlighted the dangers of a driver continuing to drive when feeling sleepy.

"Some 10pc of all road crashes, which means those attended by the police, are caused by sleepiness," he told the conference.

That figure could be doubled for motorways and major non-urban roads, he added.

He estimated that crashes caused by sleepiness probably killed more drivers and passengers than alcohol-related crashes.

Lisa Jewell
Issue Date Mon, Feb 26 2007