Sleep disorders can cause excessive sleepiness during the day. Excessive sleepiness can cause you to fall asleep unexpectedly. This increases your chance of crashing and puts other road users at risk.
Sleep disorders include:
- sleep apnoea
- insomnia
- narcolepsy.
People without sleep disorders can also feel excessive sleepiness. It could result from:
- sleep deprivation
- poor sleeping habits
- irregular sleeping patterns
- interrupted sleep
- the effect of prescription medication
- the effect of alcohol or drug use
Visit a doctor to investigate the cause of your sleepiness.
Don’t drive until your condition has been investigated by a doctor and treated.
The law states that you must report any medical condition that could affect your driving. A medical review will assess your ability to drive safely and hold a licence.
Heavy vehicle drivers must meet strict safety guidelines. A medical review will assess your ability to drive safely and hold a licence.
If you have a sleep disorder you may not be able to drive a heavy vehicle. Special consideration may be given if:
- you can demonstrate effective medication and treatment control over a long period of time
- a specialist medical report suggests that you meet the national standards.