Tests can show if crash driver has fallen asleep

  DRIVERS involved in car accidents could one day have their blood checked to find out if they fell asleep at the wheel, research shows.

- Hanna Geissler

Scientists have developed a test that can detect when someone has not slept for 24 hours.

It was more than 99% accurate when comparing a fresh blood sample with a sample taken from the same person when they were well-rested. And it was 89% accurate when used alone.

Study leader Professor Clare Anderson, an expert in sleep and circadian science at Birmingham University, said: "This is a really exciting discovery for sleep scientists - and it could be transformative to the future management of health and safety relating to insufficient sleep.