Final answer:
Those most at risk of falling asleep while driving include sleep-deprived individuals and those with sleep disorders like narcolepsy. College students often face significant sleep debt, impairing driving abilities much like alcohol does. Untreated narcolepsy can cause uncontrollable sleep episodes, adding risk while driving.
Step-by-step explanation:
Individuals who often fall asleep while driving generally include those suffering from sleep deprivation or sleep disorders such as narcolepsy. Sleep deprivation can make an individual fall asleep more quickly and have difficulty staying awake during monotonous activities like driving. On the other hand, someone with narcolepsy cannot resist falling asleep at inopportune times, which may include while behind the wheel, due to a lack of muscle tone or muscle weakness that accompanies these sleep episodes.
A significant group at risk includes college students, who are notorious for accumulating sleep debt due to varied sleep schedules and the demands of academic life. This sleep deprivation and the resulting sleep debt can lead to decreased cognitive and motor function, which impairs driving abilities similarly to the effects of alcohol intoxication. Furthermore, individuals with untreated or undiagnosed sleep disorders like narcolepsy are at risk, as they may experience uncontrollable sleep episodes during the day, which can include while driving, thereby increasing the chance of accidents.