Sleep driving explained
Sleepwalk-driving,[1] or more commonly known as sleep-driving,[2] is a rare phenomenon where the person drives a motor vehicle while they are sleepwalking. If stopped by police, sleepwalk-drivers are totally incapable of having any interaction with the police, if they are still sleepwalking during the event.[3] Sleepwalk-driving can occur to people who normally don't experience sleepwalking, since some medications, especially zolpidem and eszopiclone, can cause sleepwalking as unwanted side effect.[4]
Cases
A case of a fatal hit-and-run accident involving the driver claiming to be sleep-driving has been recorded. However, no evidence of the claims could be found by a sleep expert during the following trial.[5] [6]
See also
- Drowsy driving
- Highway hypnosis, an altered mental state in drivers that result in them driving for significant distances, responding to stimuli in the correct manner, but with no memory of the time spent driving
Notes and References
- Book: Sobo, Frank. Crumpet Strumpet. 2004 . Nightengale Press. 9780974334837 . 10 July 2022.
- Web site: Roman. Frank. Why Sleepwalk When You Can Sleepdrive. Thefreelibrary.com. 22 September 2012. 10 July 2022.
- Pressman. Mark R.. Sleep driving: sleepwalking variant or misuse of z-drugs? . Sleep Medicine Reviews. 2 March 2011. 15 . 5 . 285–292 . 10.1016/j.smrv.2010.12.004 . 21367628 . 10 July 2022.
- News: Woodbury. Emily. You've heard of sleepwalking, but what about sleep-driving?. Rv Travel. 18 August 2021. 10 July 2022.
- Web site: Russell . Mark . 2 November 2021 . Expert doubts sleepwalk in fatal hit-run . 10 July 2022 . Canberratimes.com.au .
- Web site: Mitchell . Georgina . 2021-11-02 . Troy Grant’s father ‘drinking red wine, dozing in chair’ before hit-and-run, court told . 2024-08-11 . The Sydney Morning Herald . en.
