A woman in New Zealand was sleeping while driving from Hamilton to Mount Maunganui on the night of Aug 13. Local authorities also said she was texting while driving her car asleep. The woman's mobile phone was on and she was believed to be texting while driving. Those who received her messages said the woman was already half asleep.

New Zealand police discovered the woman slumped over the steering wheel in Mount Maunganui in the morning. The authorities had been informed by the woman's friend who knew that the woman had just left her Hamilton home. The concerned friend made an emergency call shortly after midnight to inform the police about the woman's condition.

The friend said the woman had a sleeping disorder and had taken sleeping pills before leaving her house. She apparently drove 4 hours while asleep in the car. The woman was tracked by authorities to her former residence in Mount Maunganui.

When the police talked to the woman when she was awake, she had no idea what happened and could not remember driving her car. Police have already sought medical assistance and an order to prevent the woman from driving her car again while she is being treated.

Steve Cullen, a traffic lawyer, said that a person with a sleeping disorder and driving a car can use the condition as a court defence. He said sleeping while driving can be compared to a state of hypnotism.

This was not the first time that the woman had been found to be sleeping in her car while driving since it also happened 10 months ago in Tauranga.

Meawhile, Hamilton police in New Zealand are warning drivers who drive their cars with medical conditions. Police urged drivers to be honest, seek medical advice and follow any medical prescription issued by doctors. Police were also concerned that the woman was lucky to be found safe since her driving could have taken an unfortunate turn. She could have had an accident because she was asleep while driving.

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