Sleep Deprivation and Driving Performance

The various types of sleep deprivation, i.e., partial (acute or chronic) or total (acute) are common findings among clinical and general populations. In this article, the effects of the various types of sleep deprivation on driving performance are briefly reviewed. The study of the cognitive and behavioral effects in simulated driving conditions has shown the negative impact of sleep deprivation on driving performance, with impairments that are proportionate to the magnitude of the sleep restriction and the time of driving. The negative effect of sleep deprivation is usually associated with that of circadian factors as well as that of pathological (sleep disorders) and/or pharmacological or toxic factors. In the case of uncomplicated sleep deprivation, two countermeasures have been shown to be effective: caffeine and/or a short nap. Their use must be tailored to the need of each individual driver. The author concludes by considering the countermeasures available to address the problem of sleep deprivation.