A study by Discovery Insure has revealed that drivers with chronic sleep deprivation, or 'sleep debt', are significantly more likely to be involved in road accidents.

The research analysed four years of data from over 10,000 South African drivers, finding that those accumulating sleep debt over multiple nights faced up to a 36% higher accident risk compared to those with regular sleep patterns.

Drivers who consistently slept between seven and eight hours nightly were 32% less likely to be in accidents, while those with irregular sleep schedules had a 36% increased risk.The study highlights that poor sleep is a stronger predictor of accident risk than traditional insurance factors like speed or alcohol use.

Discovery Insure CEO Robert Attwell emphasized that inadequate sleep impairs concentration, reaction time, and decision-making, all critical for safe driving.The findings align with global concerns about driver fatigue, which contributes to one in five road accidents.The insurer has introduced sleep-based incentives through its Vitality Drive programme to encourage healthier sleep habits and improve road safety.The research underscores the need for public awareness campaigns to address sleep deprivation as a key road safety issue.