Sleep monitoring in bus and truck drivers: relevant factor to consider for the renewal of the driving license

Abstract

The available information indicates that up to one third of the road traffic accidents are produced by the driver’s sleepiness. Sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (SAHS) is an organic disease that causes sleepiness. It can be diagnosed by a sleep register and can be controlled by different therapeutic means, varying their complexity according to its severity, which determines the final cost of the management of SAHS. In patients using the therapy thoroughly, the results are very good and achieve to control the sleepiness, improve the quality of life of the affected subject, protect his health and markedly decrease the risk of accidents due to sleepiness during driving. We put into consideration of the respective authorities the application of these tests in drivers suspected of having SAHS who renew their driving licenses type A-II and A-III.