‘Dozing off behind the wheel very dangerous’
“With fatigue, accidents can happen in a matter of seconds. Just imagine someone closing their eyes while driving. They could quickly lose control. Someone falling asleep behind the wheel is even more dangerous,” said Al Barwani.
Researchers used the Berlin Questionnaire and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) among participants. The study was conducted to determine the proportion of young Omani adults who experience daytime sleepiness while driving and to investigate the links between gender, daytime sleepiness, and the risk of obtrusive sleep apnoea syndrome.
Insufficient sleep to blame?
Anuya Phule, a psychotherapist at Hatat Polyclinic, said the high number of drivers suffering from daytime sleepiness was because of a lack of sufficient sleep.
“Lifestyles have changed so much that people go to sleep very late at night and then wake up in the morning,” she told Times of Oman. “This is very bad for the brain, because for the brain, going to sleep is just like putting a car in the garage for servicing. That is when the brain sifts through all the thoughts that you have had during the day and throws away anything it does not need.”
“Many people don’t understand the importance of this,” added Phule. “In addition, many of the patients I see, suffer from insomnia because their thoughts are constantly running and this only adds to their fatigue. Their brain is so focused on these thoughts that they are unable to switch off, and over time, this affects people’s para-sympathetic nervous systems.”
People who drive cars to work blamed long commutes and workload for fatigue and sleepiness behind the wheel.
“Sleepiness is due to fatigue, frequent work, lack of sleep, and insufficient rest periods. Usually, that happens when the employee’s workplace is far away from his/her home and if he/she has other appointment in the evening. He/she has to wait in the office because there is not enough time to return home and take a break so he/she will not take enough time to rest,” said Anas Al Dheeb, a local resident.
Al Dheeb added: “I experience sleepiness behind the wheel once or twice a week. It happens when I have a lot of projects to finish. When I feel tired and need to sleep, I stop at the side of the road and sleep for a few minutes and then get back to driving, because sleepiness is very dangerous and causes many accidents.”
Abdulminem Abdullah, who drives to work, said: “I feel sleepy when I am on a long road trip for more than eight hours. It gets boring,” he added. “Sometimes I open the windows and sing to keep myself awake.”