Sleep study shows dangers of driving drowsy
Notes from Dr. Norman Blumenstock
In a sleep deprivation study, a hand full of participants stayed up for 24 hours straight and was then monitored in a sleep study room. Dr Chris Hammond from the Ogden Clinic monitored their brain waves to show how sleep deprivation affects how people function.
OGDEN, UTAH (GOOD 4 UTAH) – The Utah Department of Transportation, the Utah Highway Patrol and the Department of Public Safety wants the public to know the dangers of driving drowsy. They say it’s one of the top five behaviors killing people on Utah roads.
It’s all part of Utah’s first Drowsy Driving Awareness week put together by the Utah Department of Transportation’s Zero Fatalities program and participating agencies.
UDOT tells Good 4 Utah already this year there have been 636 drowsy driving related crashes in Utah and they hope by bringing light to drowsy driving it will prevent the problem from growing.
In a sleep deprivation study, a hand full of participants stayed up for 24 hours straight and was then monitored in a sleep study room. Dr Chris Hammond from the Ogden Clinic monitored their brain waves to show how sleep deprivation affects how people function.
“Not only does it affect attention, but it affects memory and executive function, which entails good judgment and good insight. Without those two we don’t appreciate how sleepy we may be or how capable we are to safely driving on the road,” said Dr. Chris Hammond.
Right now Utah’s has three deaths related to drowsy driving, but still UDOT says it’s three too many and encourages drivers to avoid getting behind the wheel without enough sleep.
