|
|
Article: Falling asleep at wheel major cause of road accidents
- Article from:
- Belfast Telegraph
- Article date:
- May 5, 2001
CopyrightCopyright 2001 Belfast Telegraph. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
|
SLEEPINESS is a major factor in road accidents and should be
considered along with excessive speed and alcohol consumption where
prevention is concerned, a specialist has warned.
Dr Walter McNicholas of the Sleep Disorders Unit in St Vincent's
Hospital, Dublin, said studies of motorway accidents in Britain have
found that up to a quarter appear to be due to drivers falling
asleep at the wheel.
Accidents are particularly likely to occur in the early morning
or mid-afternoon.
He said: "Accidents associated with the driver falling asleep
tend to be particularly serious."
Sleepy drivers also report a high incidence of near misses on the
road.
Long-haul truck drivers are particularly at risk, Dr ...