What You Need to Know About Drowsy Driving and Sleep Apnea

Drowsy driving is the act of driving while feeling sleepy. It leads to decreased attention and decreased reaction times. It can even cause you to fall asleep behind the wheel.^1,2

Drowsy driving is a leading factor in car accidents. Data shows that in 2017, drowsy driving led to about 91,000 car crashes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) believes this resulted in 50,000 injuries and 800 deaths.^1,2

Sleep apnea is a main cause of excessive daytime sleepiness and increases the risk of car accidents. Research shows that people with sleep apnea are 2.5 times more likely to have an accident while driving. They also have higher rates of fatal auto accidents.³

The good news is that there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of drowsy driving. In fact, studies have found that most accidents related to sleep apnea can be prevented by sticking to your continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment plan.³

How does sleep apnea cause drowsiness?

Most people with sleep apnea wake up feeling tired, even after getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep. Other signs of sleep apnea include:^4,5

• Daytime sleepiness
• Snoring, choking, gasping for air while sleeping
• Morning headaches
• Waking up many times during the night
• Trouble focusing
• Having mood changes during the day

Untreated sleep apnea results in regular periods of wakefulness throughout the night and disrupted sleep. This disrupted sleep interrupts the body’s ability to rest, recuperate, and prepare for the coming day.⁴

Why is driving drowsy dangerous?

Driving while tired hinders skills that are important to safely operating a car, even if you do not fall asleep behind the wheel. Drowsy driving:⁶

• Makes you less attentive
• Slows your reaction time
• Affects your ability to make decisions

Signs of drowsy driving include:^6,7

• Frequent yawning or blinking while driving
• Nodding off or having trouble keeping your head up
• Trouble remembering driving the last few miles
• Missing your exit or turns
• Drifting into other lanes or the shoulder of the road
• Driving over rumble strips

Treating sleep apnea reduces drowsy driving

Research shows that in people with sleep apnea, following a treatment plan with CPAP is the main way to reduce the risk of car accidents caused by drowsy driving. A CPAP machine works by gently forcing pressurized air through a mask and into your airway. This keeps your airway from collapsing while you sleep.³

Several studies have found that people who stick to their CPAP treatment plan are able to reduce their rate of excessive daytime sleepiness and driving risks to those of people without sleep apnea. Plus, CPAP treatment improves the amount and quality of sleep, quality of life, and overall health costs.³

If you are having trouble following your CPAP treatment plan, talk to your doctor. They can help you make adjustments that make it easier and more comfortable to use a CPAP machine.

Other ways to reduce drowsy driving

When driving, it may be easy to believe you can overcome your sleepiness and stay alert behind the wheel. However, this only increases your risk of car accidents. There are several things you can do to stay alert on the road:⁶

• Get enough sleep on a daily basis. Aim for 7 to 8 hours of quality sleep.
• The night before a long car trip, get a good night’s sleep.
• Avoid alcohol, which increases sleepiness and impairment.
• Avoid driving during peak times of sleepiness, which are midnight to 6 am and late afternoon. If you must drive during these hours, watch for signs of drowsiness.

Good sleep is the best way to prevent drowsy driving. Focus on your sleep hygiene, which includes sticking to your treatment plan. If you have questions or need help with your treatment plan, talk to your doctor.