Microsleep causes foreign driver to plough car into Melaka eatery

MELAKA: A 27-year-old foreigner who ploughed his car into an eatery at Jalan Bendahara here was experiencing microsleep, says Melaka police.

Melaka Tengah OCPD Asst Comm Christopher Patit said the driver sustained injuries in the incident at 8.40pm on Saturday (March 23) along the stretch of road close to the weekend car-free zone area in Bandar Hilir here.

The area was not busy at the time of the incident.

He said the foreigner, who works as an administrative assistant at Durian Tunggal here, also did not have a valid driving licence.

ACP Christopher Patit said the man told investigating officers that he was rushing to Melaka Hospital, where his wife was giving birth.

"The man was rushed to the same hospital in an ambulance, but his injuries were reported to be minor," he said on Sunday(March 24).

He added that the man was driving towards Melaka Hospital from Jalan Bendahara when the incident happened.

The risk of microsleep could be prevalent due to the current heatwave.

Based on the last statistics provided by police, 1,305 fatalities were attributed to drivers falling asleep due to fatigue between 2011 and 2021.