4 days ago
A killer – in the blink of an eye
PETALING JAYA: Dr Julius Goh Liang Chye of Universiti Malaya remembers his childhood journeys back to Kedah from Kuala Lumpur very well.
'As children, we always depended on our father to do the heavy lifting, including driving long hours during festive seasons.
'One particular journey took a frightening turn when he briefly dozed off at the wheel, jolting awake just in time to avoid a crash,' he said.
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'At that time, we were unfamiliar with the term microsleep,' said Dr Goh, who is now a consultant otorhinolaryngologist at Universiti Malaya's Faculty of Medicine.
Otorhinolaryngology deals with conditions affecting the ear, nose and throat (ENT), some of which have the potential to affect sleep quality.
Experts agree: (From left) Siti Zaharah, Louis and Dr Goh say microsleep poses a menace that threatens road safety everywhere.
Road safety experts as well as the medical fraternity now want sleep management, in particular addressing microsleep, to be part of the lexicon, given the immense potential of sleep-deprived persons causing accidents whether at the workplace or on the road.
Dr Goh, who specialises in sleep surgery and medicine, said fatigue-related crashes are often under reported, yet they pose a significant risk, particularly among drivers who embark on long-haul journeys with inadequate rest.
While microsleep is frequently associated with obstructive sleep apnoea, other sleep disorders can also contribute to its occurrence.
'These conditions include insomnia, restless legs syndrome, epilepsy and narcolepsy may all lead to episodes of microsleep, making accurate diagnosis by a medical professional essential,' said Dr Goh.
Dr Louis Adaikalam, president of the Malaysia Sleep Apnea Association, said there are enough hints that microsleep is behind a significant number of road crashes in Malaysia.
'In fact, microsleep has been linked to several major industrial accidents, along with lots of road accidents,' he said.
He believes that the emergence of the gig economy is also a contributing factor to sleep deprivation, where some people attempt to be e-hailing drivers or couriers after their official day job.
'Some people are sacrificing sleep to earn more, and of course, there is obstructive sleep apnoea and other sleep-related issues that need medical diagnosis.
'For example, fatigue can also be caused by diabetes or heart problems, which in turn, can lead to more dangerous driving such as greater risk-taking on the road,' said Louis.
Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research director-general Assoc Prof Dr Siti Zaharah Ishak said a collaboration is on the cards with a company to offer courses on managing microsleep at the workplace.
'This is being done through capacity-building and innovative training,' she said.
Get enough rest: Based on statistics provided by the police, drivers falling asleep due to fatigue caused over 1,300 fatalities on the road.— AZMAN GHANI/The Star
'Miros will also conduct more studies on sleep deprivation and its relation to road safety.'
In 2023, Malaysia recorded 598,635 incidents that resulted in 6,443 fatalities, with nearly two-thirds of deaths coming from motorcyclists and pillion riders.
Based on the last statistics provided by the police, 1,305 fatalities were attributed to drivers falling asleep due to fatigue between 2011 and 2021.
Datuk Ng Koong Sinn, president of the Malaysia Trucking Federation, said drivers under his company must take a 30-minute break after every four hours of driving.
'They are only allowed to drive up to eight hours a day, while the daily work hours (inclusive of driving) cannot exceed 12 hours.'
Another major logistics grouping, the Association of Malaysian Hauliers, acknowledged the risks posed by fatigue and microsleep among commercial drivers.
'Many of our members have implemented internal policies such as ensuring drivers are sufficiently rested before long hauls, providing safety bonuses for accident-free records, and encouraging break intervals where possible,' said association secretary Mohamad Azuan Masud.
'However, the reality on the road now poses several operational challenges. Long waiting times at port terminals, container depots and customer premises often stretch a driver's working hours unpredictably.
'The common practice of customers only allowing deliveries during office hours further restricts flexibility, while the ongoing driver shortage worsens the situation.
'Additionally, peak-hour road ban on heavy vehicles and a lack of proper rest facilities or parking bays at many R&R stops along highways make it harder for drivers to rest safely and on schedule,' said Azuan.
'Our members remain committed to upholding safety and continue to find ways to support their drivers through better scheduling, incentives, and the adoption of technology like Advanced Driver Assistance Systems where feasible.'
