SLEEP APNOEA AND ROAD DEATHS

That this House notes that obstructive sleep apnoea is a common sleep disorder potentially causing drowsiness during waking hours that makes falling asleep at the wheel much more likely; expresses concern that recent academic research suggested that one in six lorry drivers may suffer from the disorder; further notes that, if left undiagnosed and untreated, sufferers pose a direct threat to themselves and others on the road when driving; further notes that one of the key causes of obstructive sleep apnoea is being overweight or obese and that long term, managed weight loss can contribute to effective treatment; welcomes recently published independent research which demonstrates that weight loss achieved using nutritional interventions and maintained over a year can considerably improve the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea; congratulates Brake, the road safety charity, on using its Parliamentary Reception to draw attention to the dangers of obstructive sleep apnoea; and calls on policymakers and practitioners to ensure that obstructive sleep apnoea is effectively diagnosed and treated to prevent sufferers of the disorder adding to the terrible toll of death and injury on roads.