Sleep And Road Accidents

EDM number 792 in 1998-99, proposed by Alice Mahon on 06/07/1999.

That this House recognises that a significant proportion of all road accidents resulting in death or serious injury is caused by sleepiness; notes the human misery caused by fatal road accidents, which cost around ú1 million each; further notes that at least 1 per cent. of the United Kingdom adult population has a medical cause for sleepiness; acknowledges the Royal College of Physicians' observation that untreated sleep apnoea sufferes may have driving impairments comparable with those of other drivers well over the legal alcohol limit; acknowledges that sleep apnoea is readily treatable with a machine costing ú300 which lasts 10 years; welcomes the launch of the British Sleep Foundation, whose aims are to increase the public and professional understanding of sleep-related disorders, to reduce the incidence of driving accidents and other health and safety problems related to insufficient sleep and untreated sleep disorders and to advocate public policy change which promotes education, research and NHS treatment; and calls on Her Majesty's Government fully to support the aims of the British Sleep Foundation.

This motion has been signed by a total of 69 MPs.