Asleep at the wheel: who's at risk?

Careful assessment of car accident risk in patients with sleep disorders should guide advice

Alcohol and excessive speed, often combined with inexperience and youthfulness, are the most widely recognised causes of motor vehicle accidents (MVAs). There is, however, increasing recognition that fall-asleep MVAs contribute significantly to road accident statistics.1-5 The typical fall-asleep accident involves a sole driver driving at night or in the early afternoon "siesta" period at relatively high speed.1 As with other causes of MVAs, fall-asleep accidents are more common in men under 30 years.1,3,5