Drowsy Driving: The Dangers of Microsleep

 

          Commonly referred to as “highway hypnosis,” microsleep is responsible for 16.5% of fatal car crashes in the United States. A further study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revealed that over 40,000 injuries and 1500 deaths yearly in the US are the results of microsleep. But what exactly is microsleep? Microsleeps refer to brief, unintended episodes of loss of attention and lack of responsiveness to the environment, lasting as little as a few seconds or as long as a few minutes. As the name suggests, it occurs so quickly that people experiencing microsleep may not even realise they have fallen asleep. During an episode, a person may appear to be awake and even have their eyes open, but their brain does not process information. 


          Microsleep occurs most as people who haven't slept enough or have slept poorly attempt to stay awake during monotonous tasks like driving a car, watching a computer screen or, frighteningly, monitoring air traffic. People suffering from sleep disorders such as insomnia or sleep apnea are at a higher risk. Microsleep episodes are fatal in situations involving responses to crucial stimuli. They thus not only factor into drowsy driving but they have also been involved in major disasters caused by human error including the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine and the Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska. 


          Furthermore, young drivers, particularly adolescents are more likely to experience microsleep while driving due to their insufficient sleep schedules caused by internal biological clocks that prefer later bedtimes combined with early high school start times. Drowsy driving is also a concern for people with shift work sleep disorder (i.e., people with sleep problems that stem from working long or irregular hours; outside the hours of 7 am and 6 pm). Such workers are three times more likely to experience a car crash. 


          Currently, there is no universal treatment recommended for microsleep, nor is microsleep identified as a sleep disorder or among the diagnostic criteria for any sleep disorder. However, prioritising sleep for 7-9 hours a night (more for teenagers) can leave people feeling refreshed and more alert. Improving the quality of your sleep not only stops you from falling asleep at the wrong place and time but also contributes to better health. 


      Some ways to improve the quality of sleep include: 

  • avoiding caffeine and liquids before bed, especially alcohol if you’re already tired

  • turning off any surrounding lights or sounds

  • avoiding stimulating activities before bed

  • keeping your bedroom at a comfortable temperature


         In essence, an adequate amount of sleep can improve your energy level, mood, and concentration, while reducing your risk for health problems.

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