Question

How does sleep deprivation affect your ability to drive? A recent study measured the effects on 19 professional drivers. Each driver participated in two experimental sessions: one after normal sleep and one after 27 hours of total sleep deprivation. The treatments were assigned in random order. In each session, performance was measured on a variety of tasks including a driving simulation.

Answer 1

Due to sleep deprivation drivers are seen to be drowsy while driving.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to the experiment on the drivers, it has been seen that drowsy driving is the reason behind several tragic accidents in U.S.A. Drowsy driving has the reason of sleep deprivation behind it.

If a driver drives without having sufficient sleep, it is quite obvious for him to fall asleep while driving. This hampers the concentration of the driver while driving and make him unable to drive properly. So, getting enough sleep is important for driving.

Answer 2

Sleep deprivation in general, is a very serious situation because it will affect the entire human system, and it can lead to severe health conditions, and even death.

In performing activities that require high levels of focus and coordination, like driving, a person requires all of his senses to be on keen alert, and all his reflexes and movements must be under control and coordinated.

However, sleep deprivation is considered today as serious as consuming alcohol when driving, because this situation deprives the brain, and the body at large, from that much needed coordination and control that it would have if it were rested. As such, when a person is sleep deprived, depending on the severity of the deprivation, they can loose coordination, loose control of their reflexes, lose focus, have memory and judgement impairment and even go so far as to suffer from narcolepsy, a condition in which the person literally loses all control of his body due to sleep deprivation. Basically, they fall asleep in the car. This can cause accidents that lead to death.