The Hidden Hazard: Sleep Apnoea and Driving Performance November 25, 2025 The Hidden Hazard: Sleep Apnoea and Driving Performance Every time you get behind the wheel, you’re making a promise to yourself and everyone around you – that you’re alert, focused, and ready to respond to the unexpected. But for thousands of Australians living with untreated obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), keeping that promise becomes increasingly difficult. This common yet often undiagnosed condition quietly steals alertness throughout the day, turning ordinary car journeys into serious safety risks 1. Understanding the Connection Between Sleep and Safe Driving You might assume that poor driving comes down to obvious factors like speeding, distractions, or impaired judgement from alcohol. However, fatigue quietly ranks alongside these as one of the “Fatal Five” causes of deadly motor vehicle accidents. The problem is that fatigue from sleep disorders like OSA isn’t always obvious and many people don’t realise they have it 2. When you have untreated OSA, your brain doesn’t get the quality sleep it needs. Instead of resting peacefully, your airway repeatedly collapses during sleep, causing your breathing to stop and start hundreds of times throughout the night. Each pause triggers a brief awakening, so brief you might not even notice it happening. Over many hours, this fragmented sleep leads to chronic exhaustion that doesn’t improve, no matter how many hours you spend in bed 3. The consequence of this fragmented sleep extends far beyond feeling tired. Untreated OSA significantly impairs the very skills that make driving safe: alertness, reaction time, concentration, and decision-making ability 1. The Science Behind the Danger The real culprit behind compromised driving performance is intermittent hypoxia, a term for periods when your brain doesn't get enough oxygen. When your airway closes during sleep, oxygen levels drop. Over a night filled with hundreds of breathing interruptions, your brain experiences repeated oxygen deprivation. This chronic lack of oxygen damages cognitive function in ways that are strikingly similar to driving under the influence of alcohol 3. Think about it this way: if you've been awake for more than 20 hours before driving, your driving ability mirrors that of someone who has reached the legal blood alcohol limit. For people with untreated OSA, this level of cognitive impairment can occur night after night, making nearly every drive a gamble 4. Research shows this isn't theoretical. People with untreated obstructive sleep apnoea are between two and seven times more likely to be involved in a motor vehicle accident compared to the general population. In some studies, this risk climbs even higher. Almost one quarter of people with OSA report frequently falling asleep while driving — not gradually drifting off, but experiencing sudden microsleeps where consciousness simply vanishes for seconds at a time 2. When these crashes happen, they're often catastrophic. Drivers experiencing microsleep typically show no signs of braking. They're simply asleep at the wheel. These incidents commonly occur late at night or early morning, often involve a single vehicle veering off the road, and are more likely to be severe or fatal, particularly when the driver is alone 2. Recognising the Warning Signs The challenge with OSA is that it masquerades as normal tiredness. Symptoms include loud snoring, witnessed pauses in breathing, gasping or choking during sleep, and waking unrefreshed despite adequate sleep. Many people dismiss these signs as just part of getting older or having a stressful life. They blame their daytime tiredness on work, family demands, or poor sleep habits not realising they have a treatable medical condition. Excessive daytime sleepiness, the most telling sign, often shows up during passive activities like watching television, reading, or sitting in traffic. This is where the real danger emerges. If you’re struggling to stay awake in these situations, your ability to stay alert during active driving is already compromised. Other clues include morning headaches, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, mood changes, and frequent nighttime urination. Some people aren't even aware they snore or stop breathing. Oftentimes, their bed partner often notices first. The Good News: Treatment Works Here’s where the picture brightens considerably. The moment OSA is effectively treated, driving performance improves dramatically. Studies show that untreated OSA is linked to poorer driving performance, including slower reaction times and reduced alertness. Studies using driving simulators have found that when OSA is effectively managed with CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) therapy, these risks are significantly reduced, with patients performing similarly to individuals without OSA 1. Treating OSA can lead to noticeable improvements quickly. OSA symptoms like daytime sleepiness often start to ease within the first few days of beginning treatment such as CPAP therapy. Studies using driving simulators also show better alertness and reaction times within two to seven days when OSA is well managed. The long-term picture is just as positive: people who consistently treat their OSA, such as using CPAP for at least four hours a night, are shown to have a 70% reduction in motor vehicle accident risk compared to those with untreated OSA 4. This isn't just a minor improvement. It’s a life-changing difference. Treatment addresses the root cause of the problem: restoring healthy oxygen levels and restorative sleep, which allows your brain to return to normal alertness and cognitive function. Taking Action if You Suspect OSA If you experience symptoms that sound familiar, particularly if you’re struggling with daytime sleepiness or if someone has mentioned that you snore or seem to stop breathing during sleep, don’t wait. Speak to your doctor to get assessed for OSA and complete a questionnaire to evaluate your sleepiness. Based on the results, if your doctor suspects OSA, you can complete a bulk-billed at-home sleep study to confirm the diagnosis. The sleep study can then provide information on your sleep and respiratory behaviour needed to guide treatment decisions. Most importantly, if you’re experiencing any drowsiness while driving, especially if you’ve actually nodded off at the wheel, seek medical assessment immediately. Your doctor may recommend avoiding long-distance, night-time, or monotonous driving until your symptoms are properly controlled. Don't Let This Hidden Hazard Control Your Life Obstructive sleep apnoea affects roughly one in five Australians, and many go undiagnosed 5. This means thousands of people are driving when they shouldn't be putting themselves and others at unnecessary risk. If you recognise yourself in any of these descriptions, speak to your doctor or one of our Sleep and Respiratory Physicians today. OSA is highly treatable and seeking help isn’t just about improving your driving safety – it’s about reclaiming your alertness, your energy, and ultimately, your quality of life. Early diagnosis and treatment can dramatically reduce your crash risk and allow you to drive with confidence, knowing you’re truly alert and in control. Your life and the lives of others on the road depend on it. How Sove CPAP Clinic Can Help Founded in 2008, Sove CPAP Clinic has grown to become a leading provider of respiratory and sleep services and products in Australia, with over 80 clinics nationwide. Our comprehensive clinical team includes Respiratory & Sleep Specialists, Sleep Technologists, and CPAP Consultants, ensuring that you receive comprehensive and personalised care. All medical procedures, including sleep studies and lung function testing, are bulk billed to all Australians, with minimal wait time. If you would like to speak to a Respiratory & Sleep Physician, book a bulk-billed sleep study, or seek advice for your sleep apnoea, you can reach us at 1300 76 29 39 or info@thecpapclinic.com.au. ALWAYS FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. CPAP is used for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea treatment. When considering whether a sleep study or CPAP is right for you, speak to your doctor. Medicare criteria and T&C’s apply. References [1] Findley, L J, et al. “Driving Performance and Automobile Accidents in Patients with Sleep Apnea.” Clinics in Chest Medicine, vol. 13, no. 3, Sept. 1992, pp. 427–35, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1521411/. [2] “Managing Driving Risk in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea.” Healthed, 5 Sept. 2025. www.healthed.com.au/clinical_articles/managing-driving-risk-in-patients-with-obstructive-sleep-apnea/. Accessed 25 Nov. 2025. [3] Well, Driving. “The Hidden Danger: Obstructive Sleep Apnoea & Driving | Driving Well Occupational Therapy.” Driving Well Occupational Therapy , 16 May 2025, www.drivingwell.com.au/obstructive-sleep-apnoea-and-driving/. Accessed 25 Nov. 2025. [4] Tregear, Stephen, et al. “Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Reduces Risk of Motor Vehicle Crash among Drivers with Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis”. Sleep, vol. 33, no. 10, 2010, pp. 1373–1380, https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/33.10.1373. [5] “The prevalence of OSA in middle aged and older people is high but does not always produce symptoms or require treatment” OSA - Prevalence, www.sleepprimarycareresources.org.au/osa/epidemiology. Accessed 25 Nov. 2025.
