Carcolepsy? Are “Stop-Start” Systems Linked to Driver Narcolepsy?

by parksplug

“When the engine shuts off at a red light, for some reason I just can’t keep my eyes open,” said Ajax Funston, the owner of a 2015 Ford Fusion equipped with fuel-saving stop-start technology. “I usually wake up when the engine restarts, but not always,” he added.

Ajax Funston discusses his experiences with carcolepsy while visiting the Parksplug office

Dr. Mela Tonin, a sleep study expert from the University of….crap, we forgot to ask that….anyway, she said research has proven there’s a direct link between vehicle stop-start systems and driver narcolepsy, a disorder that causes one to suddenly fall asleep.

“Most drivers with narcolepsy didn’t have the disorder before purchasing a vehicle with a stop-start system,” said Tonin. “So there’s a definite link. We’re calling the condition Carcolepsy.”

Funston fell asleep during the interview and had no further comment.