A new study has found that just missing out on one hour of sleep can greatly increase one’s risk of a car accident. Researchers found that getting five hours of sleep or less was associated with a fourfold risk of a car accident the following day. That is comparable to driving with blood alcohol levels to be legally considered as drunk.
Study author Brian Tefft explained, “This is the first study to actually quantify the relationship between lack of sleep and the risk of being involved in a motor vehicle crash. [Sleep impaired driving has been] underestimated and underappreciated.”
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“Not everyone drinks and drives or texts while driving, but everyone gets tired. And far too often, drivers are putting themselves and others at risk by getting behind the wheel without the sleep they need,” Bryan Thomas, communications director at the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, added.
It is recommended that adults receive between seven and eight hours of sleep each night for maintaining good health. Lack of sleep contributes to slow reactions, decreases response accuracy, and leads to long lapses in attention.
Prior to this study, the impact of poor sleep on road safety was unknown. These latest findings shed light on the importance of good sleep and demonstrate how poor sleep can undermine one’s safety.
The youngest and oldest are most susceptible to the effects of sleep insufficiency.
The study also found that drivers who reported an accident were also more likely to report poor sleep in the last 24 hours.
The study raises awareness of the importance of sleep not only for health but for safety, too. If you are struggling with sleep on a nightly basis, you are increasing your risk of danger. Working towards improving sleep is a good tactics to reduce your risk of a road accident.
Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine (Homoeopathy), and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.
