Don’t Drive If Sleep Deprived: NTSB’s Renewed Focus

In October, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) started a renewed focus on drowsy driving, its causes and prevention. That’s because it’s conservatively estimated that 100,000 accidents and 6,000 fatal crashes each year can be attributed to drowsy driving. Nobody knows exactly how many of these accidents involve drivers with sleep apnea.

One frightening AAA statistic: 41% of motorists report "falling asleep or nodding off" while driving at least once in their lifetime.

Drowsy driving can result in the same level of impaired driving as driving drunk. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, anyone who doesn’t sleep for 24 hours will have the fatigue impairment equivalent to blood alcohol content above the legal limit in all states.

The NTSB says even just two hours less sleep than you need in one night is enough to potentially impair your driving the next day.

Bottom line: Don’t drive if you’re sleep deprived. And don’t ride with anyone who is.

If you or someone you know is always tired, snores at night, suffers from anxiety or mood swings, they may have sleep apnea. A sleep test can tell – and can be the first step to CPAP therapy – and a good night’s sleep.