"Blood test for sleepy drivers could pave way for prosecutions"

[ChrisColumbus]

Many of us suffer from lack of sleep, so I thought this story might be of interest.

The link to the full story quoting authorities in Australia, the US and the UK is at the bottom, but in case you can't access that here's the opening :

"A blood test to measure whether a driver who has caused an accident was impaired by lack of sleep could be available within two years, making it easier to legislate against drowsy drivers or their employers.

The research, funded by the Australian Government Office of Road Safety, comes as fresh evidence suggests that driving on less than five hours’ sleep is as dangerous as being over the legal drink-drive limit in many countries.

It could also provide a “line in the sand” that could enable people to be prosecuted for driving while fatigued, which many sleep experts are calling for."

This is the link to the full story from The Guardian - unsure whether this can be read by members outside the UK:

theguardian.com/science/202...?

[ChrisColumbus]

Follow up to the above:

"Experts divided on ethics of testing and punishing tired drivers"

theguardian.com/lifeandstyl...?

[SueJohnson]

I could access it from the US. Interesting article.

[Kaarina Administrator]

Thank you for sharing. 👍

[ChrisColumbus]

Madeline Sprajcer et al's 30 odd page review, 'How Tired is Too Tired to Drive', referenced in the article, can be accessed here:

tandfonline.com/doi/full/10...

[Joolsg]

Thanks Chris. Fascinating. It may actually help RLS patients by forcing doctors to take sleep deprivation seriously.

[Munroist in reply to Joolsg]

Absolutely! Dr Matthew Walker (Sleep scientist based in US, not RLS expert in London) explains this and many other serious impacts of sleep deprivation in his excellent book “Why we Sleep” which is one of the few books I have read twice. He clearly explains the risks of sleep deprivation on driving and the tendency towards micro sleeps, which can result in accidents, but there are many other areas of health which are significantly negatively impacted by the lack of sleep, including immune system function and increased risk of diseases like cancer. All of these effects impact not only ourselves but potentially the rest of society through things like accidents and increased load on health services. This should be a driver (no pun intended) for increased research.

[Aujamw in reply to Joolsg]

Amen to that Joolsg! My neuro agrees that I most probably have sleep deprivation but compared it to when he had one night he was in on call and was grouchy the next day! Almost a slap in the face to compare one night to many nights in a row with insomnia and RLS symptoms! I feel that everyone thinks you look ok--but have no clue ehat is going on without sleep for days! I finally have an appointment with Mayo Clinic May 23. There is hope!

[BoldMove]

Thank you. Easily accessed in the US.

I imagine every form of litigation will circle the globe. Lawyers of every nationality do appreciate reasons to sue.

[ChrisColumbus]

I have to admit I very nearly had an accident briefly dozing at the wheel some 10 years ago when my RLS was active and my sleep was much worse. Luckily it happened in a suburban location at under 20 mph, rather than during the 70 miles of fast motorway that I'd come off a few minutes before, and I 'only' clashed wing mirrors.