Page 50 - TT Mag Oct 2023 Digital Edition

SAFETY

Wake Up Call:

Sleep Apnea’s Silent Threat on

Our Roads

In an era where road
safety is paramount,

one silent menace
continues to pose a grave
threat on our highways
- obstructive sleep

apnea (OSA). The lethal
combination of drowsy
driving and this sleep
disorder has quietly Dr. Randeep Guleria Dr Surya Prakash Bhatt

crept behind the wheels,
resulting in a surge of road accidents and fatalities. Dr. Randeep
Guleria, Chairman- Institute of Internal Medicine, Respiratory
& Sleep Medicine, Director - Medical Education, Respiratory

and Sleep Medicine, Medanta, Gurugram and Dr Surya
Prakash Bhatt, PhD+Post Doctoral, Senior Research Scientist,
Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, All
India Institute of Medical Sciences, explain why it is important

that we confront the looming menace of sleep apnea head-on.
O n September 22, on commercial vehicles, aligning OSA’s Lethal Impact

2022, Mr. Nitin
with European standards. The
“The risk of drowsy driving for
the
Gadkari,
Minister stressed the necessity of
individuals with OSA, a disorder
Union Minister for
establishing fixed driving hours for
causing recurrent breathing
Transport
Road
Highways,
and
exceptionally magnified. These
for pilots, in order to mitigate the
addressed a meeting of the National truck drivers, similar to regulations disruptions during sleep, is
interruptions, though often
Road Safety Council (NRSC). risk of accidents caused by driver undetected, have significant
During this meeting, he issued a fatigue. Additionally, he urged consequences, including
directive to officials, emphasizing NRSC members to collaborate on daytime sleepiness, fatigue, and
the importance of developing a various aspects of road safety to compromised concentration. In
policy that would require sleep enhance efforts aimed at saving India, the prevalence of OSA
detection sensors to be installed more lives. remains a growing concern. Recent
50 TrafficInfraTech / October 2023 / www.trafficinfratech-com-500653.hostingersite.com