Sleeping pills and tranquilizers can significantly impair driving performance, according to PhD research by Tim Leufkens from Maastricht University.
While it was anticipated that these side effects might vary between insomnia patients, the elderly, and young healthy individuals, Leufkens' thesis demonstrates no such differences.
The negative impact of sleeping pills on driving skills remains consistent across these groups.
Key findings from the study include:
– Elderly individuals (up to age 75) and young adults show equal sensitivity to residual effects of sleep medications on driving.
– Untreated insomnia patients perform similarly to healthy sleepers.
– Long-term use of sleep aids diminishes but does not eliminate effects on driving ability.
– Women, who comprise about two-thirds of users, are no more susceptible than men to these residual effects.
– Zopiclone (Imovane), a newer sleep aid favored by many GPs over traditional benzodiazepines, still impairs driving significantly even 10 hours after intake.
