A recent study by the Department of Psychiatry at AIIMS Rishikesh has revealed that sleep and related disorders are a leading cause of road accidents in Uttarakhand. Contrary to the popular belief that substance abuse is the main factor, the research highlights sleep deprivation and fatigue as major contributors—especially on everyday city roads.
Published in the US-based Cureus Medical Journal, the study analysed 1,200 accident victims admitted to AIIMS between October 2021 and April 2022. Out of these, 575 were drivers, with around 75% riding two- or three-wheelers. The research found that 21% of these accidents were due to sleep-related issues such as drowsiness while driving, while 26% were caused by fatigue-induced sleep due to overwork.
Though substance abuse contributed to 32% of the accidents, a large number of these drivers were also suffering from sleep issues, exacerbated by alcohol consumption. Alarmingly, about 68% of sleep-related accidents occurred on simple, straight roads that people use daily, mostly between 6 PM and midnight.
Dr. Ravi Gupta and Dr. Vishal Dhiman, who led the research, recommend that sleep health assessments be included in the driving license issuance process. They also advocate for periodic screening of drivers for sleep disorders and installation of in-vehicle alert systems to detect drowsiness.
The researchers further emphasize the need to educate drivers to take rest when they feel sleepy and for commercial vehicle owners to ensure drivers get adequate sleep.
