Basic sleep research is actually shrinking. 40 million Americans suffer from the chronic disorders of sleep and wakefulness related to sleep apnea, narcolepsy and insomnia. The commission estimates that 38,000 cardiovascular deaths due to sleep apnea occur annually. Individuals with obstructive sleep apnea are seven times more likely to have automobile accidents than others in the population. For each commercial truck driver who dies in an accident, over four innocent victims also die.
Insomniacs have twice as many car accidents as non-insomniacs.
The Department of Transportation estimates that 200,000 reported automobile accidents each year may be sleep related. Obstructive sleep apnea is more common than asthma.