When we think about avoidable traffic accidents, alcohol and texting tend to come to mind quicker than other causes. However, recent studies have shown that falling asleep at the wheel is becoming a higher part of the statistics every year.
Much of this is due to the economy and that people are settling for more demanding jobs that require them to drive longer distances as part of their commute. And, as expected, freight and delivery drivers tend to rank quite highly in this statistic.
What does this have to do with snoring? Well for one, if you are driving on the interstate and the guy next to you is wearing an anti snoring chin strap, keep a nice safe distance (to the tune of about 5 miles). But seriously, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) affects approximately 25 to 40% of the population over the age of 45. Therefore, people who are struggling with the ensuing drowsiness that affects them during the day as a result of not getting any sleep are more likely to doze off behind the wheel of a car.
Toyota has designed and is currently testing a device that monitors a driver’s eye movements and the timing between blinks. This is done through a miniature camera installed in the steering wheel of the vehicle. Should a driver’s blinks last more than what is acceptable; the device on the steering wheel sends a message to the driver seat, and the driver’s seat will begin to shake the driver back to consciousness.
But one should not wait around for technology, if you find yourself nodding off while driving: stop driving. It simply isn’t worth it to get into an accident in this manner.