Chinese doctors Li Qingyun and Li Ning, respiratory medicine specialists at Ruijin Hospital, said daytime sleepiness has been the leading cause of why people fall asleep while driving. The condition is called Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome (OSAHS).

Based on a recent survey, 60 percent of drivers with OSAHS claimed to have fallen asleep while behind the wheel, while another 25 percent said daytime sleepiness was a weekly occurrence.

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Around the world, up to 50,000 traffic fatalities were recorded, with driver fatigue and daytime sleepiness being blamed for half of the deaths.

Most of those who snore and experience short breathing while sleeping are most often suffering from OSAHS. Snoring and breathing problem while sleeping affect the quality of sleep and, thus, result to daytime sleepiness.

OSAHS incidence rate in China is 9 percent and the two Chinese doctors said the condition needs urgent attention in order to provide greater public awareness. OSAHS, they said, often leads to attention problems, slowed reactions and poor judgment among drivers who experience the condition.

While still a foreign word in China, OSAHS has long been considered a risk in other countries. In Canada and the United States, for instance, people with OSAHS are not allowed to drive any vehicle and are advised to undergo treatment.

The two Chinese doctors said people who think they are suffering from OSAHS should refrain from driving and seek expert medical advice. They said drivers with OSAHS are eight times more likely to be involved in road accidents.