Review of Regulations and Guidelines for Commercial and Noncommercial Drivers With Sleep Apnea and Narcolepsy

Studies show that persons with sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea and narcolepsy, have an increased incidence of automobile accidents. The goal of this study was to review any regulations or guidelines dealing with fitness to drive of persons with sleep disorders in all the 50 states and countries around the world. Several authorities in the United States and abroad in fact have produced guidelines or regulations stating that certain of these persons are not fit to drive. As of March 1994, only four states in the United States (Maryland, North Carolina, Oregon and Utah) had guidelines for narcolepsy, while two had guidelines for both narcolepsy and sleep apnea (California and Texas). In Maine, guidelines had been proposed for sleep apnea. In contrast, almost all Canadian provinces have guidelines for both sleep apnea and narcolepsy, as does the United Kingdom. There are, however, considerable variations in the nature of the regulations used in different states, Canadian provinces and countries. These variations are not based on scientific data. Currently the impact of these regulations on crash rates or on the practice of sleep medicine has not been assessed.