The professor suggested introducing mandatory sleep screening for professional drivers

The problem of fatigue behind the wheel is becoming not just a medical challenge, but a matter of national security and economics. Up to 20% of all road accidents in Russia are related to drivers falling asleep. It is necessary to introduce mandatory screening of sleep disorders for motorists. This was stated on December 12 to Izvestia by Eduard Yakupov, head of the Sleep StudyRU study, Professor, Honored Doctor of Tatarstan.

"Every third driver in Russia shows signs of sleep disorders, and more than 32% admitted that they fell asleep at the wheel at least once. These are not isolated episodes, this is a systemic safety threat," Yakupov stressed, saying that such accidents are especially severe: a sleeping driver does not have a braking distance, the car often goes into the oncoming lane, which dramatically increases the risk of death.

Based on international data, more than 20 thousand Accidents in the country can occur annually due to drowsiness at the wheel. Direct and indirect economic damage amounts to hundreds of billions of rubles: the cost of medical care, the work of emergency services, the restoration of infrastructure and the lost working years of the victims. According to the head of the study, sleep is becoming an economic category, and not just a matter of well-being.

The engine of regression: they plan to recover CTP damages from those responsible for the accident

Insurance companies will be required to file lawsuits against violators in cases of accidents with aggravating circumstances.

The survey revealed a high prevalence of sleep disorders among professional drivers: 89% have attention problems, 60% have severe daytime sleepiness, and 20% are diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). At the same time, it is apnea that makes driving extremely dangerous: the risk of an accident with apnea is higher than that of a driver who is moderately intoxicated. But most people don't know about their disease. The work schedule is particularly critical: more than 70% of drivers work more than 11 hours a day, which leads to chronic sleep deprivation and slow reactions.

Yakupov proposed introducing mandatory screening of sleep disorders for drivers, especially passenger and freight transport, reviewing the length of shifts, launching federal sleep hygiene programs and expanding access to CPAP therapy, which reduces the risk of accidents after two weeks of use. In addition, the expert considers it important to introduce technologies for monitoring driver fatigue and infrastructure solutions that warn about the risk of falling asleep everywhere.

"We are not talking about strict bans. We are talking about an accessible diagnosis and an elementary sleep culture, which should become the same norm as the use of a seat belt. It is enough to get enough sleep, observe the work and rest regime, and if sleep disorders are suspected, undergo an examination. This will not only save lives, but also reduce the burden on the economy," concluded the professor.

On December 8, the State Traffic Inspectorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia informed Izvestia that over the past first winter weekend, 447 road accidents were recorded on Russian roads, in which 70 people were killed and 607 injured. 53 of the dead were drivers and passengers.

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