Abstract
In 2000 it was reported that 1.26 million men, women and children were estimated to have been killed in road traffic accidents. The World Health Organization calculated the economic cost of these tragic deaths at US$518bn: the cost in human misery is incalculable. By far the single biggest contributing factor is driver sleepiness. It is estimated that as much as 25% of all road accidents on major highways can be contributed to falling asleep at the wheel – it kills more people than alcohol. (Author/publisher)