This is closer to your question: What Drives Sleep-Driving?
The FDA has announced it will require makers of certain sleeping pills
to warn consumers about serious side effects including allergic
reactions and sleep-driving.
Somnambulism (sleep-walking) incidents involving complex tasks like
driving, preparing and eating food, and having sex while asleep, with
no memory of the tasks when awakened, have made the news in recent
years. Now the FDA wants consumers and doctors to have direct warnings
on labels and in brochures.
The Z-drugs are a class of drugs called pyrazolopyrimidines, the
best-known being zolpidem (Ambien), eszopiclone (Lunesta, Imovane),
and zalepron (Sonata).
Somnambulism reference.
Calling your health care provider
You probably won't need to visit your health care provider if you are
sleepwalking.
However, discuss the condition with your doctor if:
- You also have other symptoms
- Sleepwalking is frequent or persistent
- You perform potentially dangerous activities (such as driving) while
sleepwalking
Older data.
Can people drive while asleep? from December 6, 2008 by John Cline.
Some sleep walkers have actually driven, sometimes for significant
distances. This is a frightening possibility as sleep walkers can be
injured while sleepwalking and most certainly can injure themselves or
others while sleep driving. Amazingly sleep drivers have been able to
get from one location to another without ever waking up. We do not
know how many driving fatalities may have resulted from sleep driving.
John Cline is a clinical psychologist, Diplomate of the the American Board of Sleep Medicine, a fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and a clinical professor at Yale University.
I'd still like to see some more references tho...
