Deadly disorder at the wheel

esure motor insurance warns that over 300,000 UK drivers may be suffering from a sleep disorder that could put them in danger of falling asleep at the wheel, posing a huge threat to safety on UK roads.

According to NHS Direct, Obstructive Sleep Apnoea-Hypopnoea Syndrome, or OSAHS, affects over 1 in 100 people and is on the rise by a shocking 35 per cent due to the nation’s growing obesity and alcohol problem.

OSAHS is a sleep disorder in which a person has irregular breathing at night and as a result is excessively sleepy during the day. Alarmingly most sufferers don’t even know they have it, yet the disorder could put them at high risk of falling asleep behind the wheel.

But it doesn’t just stop there - those suffering from a common cold and blocked noses could also be at risk. Overweight men between the ages of 30 and 65 are most at risk as are those who consume excessive amounts of alcohol.

Research by esure motor insurance2 found that driving is the everyday activity that makes Brits yawn the most (21 per cent). The same research also revealed that a shocking eight per cent of drivers admit to having fallen asleep at the wheel and over a quarter (28 per cent) have been known to ‘micro-sleep’ - have not been able to recall certain parts of their car journey. The average driver admitted that the longest they’d ever spent behind the wheel without a break was just under four hours – double the recommended maximum amount.

Given that a fifth of people admit that long distance driving is a yawn, it would seem that the message behind the UK’s ‘tiredness kills, take a break’ signs aren’t getting through. esure found that drivers are using alternative methods to stay awake. Opening the window is the most popular way for drivers to keep themselves alert (81 per cent), but slapping themselves across the face (6 per cent) is one of the more extreme methods that drivers confess to resorting to, in order to wake themselves up.

The rise in OSAHS coupled with UK drivers’ increasing fatigue at the wheel is a major cause for concern when it comes to preventing road accidents.

Dr Chris Idzikowski, Director of the Edinburgh Sleep Centre, said: “OSAHS is on the rise and the fact that it affects so many UK drivers without them realising it, is concerning. Drivers should check for symptoms of OSAHS and be extra vigilant when planning long drives.

Sleeping on your front or side helps OSAHS. If you’ve got a cold take decongestants to improve the quality of your sleep and use your inhaler regularly if you’re asthmatic. It’s also important to avoid alcohol the night before a long journey. Those who suffer from the symptoms and are in a high risk category should visit their local GP for further advice.”

Symptoms of OSAHS include:

Excessive daytime sleepiness
Lack of concentration
Snoring (although not everyone who snores has Sleep Apnoea)
Frequent awakenings during the night
Difficulties with breathing
Feeling unrested after sleep
Gasping, choking or snorting during sleep
Irritability or change in personality
Excessive urination at night (Nocturia)
Morning headaches; and dry mouth on waking

Mike Pickard, Head of Risk and Underwriting at esure, said: “All motorists should check for symptoms of OSAHS, especially as research indicates that those who have it, don’t actually know they suffer from it.

“Tiredness kills and all drivers should think not only about themselves, but about other road users. Motorists should never start a long journey tired and always take plenty of breaks.”