The Dangers Of Driving Drowsy

The dangers of drowsy driving do not receive nearly enough attention as it deserves. Mostly, because it often goes unreported and is much more difficult to pinpoint as a cause or factor in car accidents compared to factors like speeding or alcohol. However, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration estimates that drowsy driving may contribute to more than 100,000 accidents per year. Though the NHTSA believes even that number is probably lower than is true. According to the National Sleep Foundation’s Sleep in America poll, it was found that 60 percent of Americans have driven despite feeling sleepy and 37 percent have even admitted to falling asleep at the wheel within the past year. There is even a chance that the numbers are higher since many people are unable to tell whether they are about to fall asleep or have fallen asleep. While you may believe that you can handle your sleepiness while on the road, you are putting yourself and others in danger each time you make that decision to do so. It is suggested that if you start to feel any of these signs, you should not be on the road:

• Daydreaming or disconnected thoughts
• Yawning repeatedly or rubbing your eyes
• Trouble focusing, frequent blinking or heavy eyelids
• Difficulty remembering the last few miles driven
• Drifting from your lane, tailgating or hitting a shoulder rumble strip
• Trouble keeping your head up
• Feeling extremely restless and irritable

It has become common knowledge that no one should ever drive drunk, yet we continue to tolerate driving drowsy despite its similar effects on driving ability. So why is telling someone not to drive drowsy so hard to do? One of the biggest issues that contributes to this tolerance for drowsy driving is that we are typically not good at accurately gauging our own level of sleepiness. This makes it all too easy to underestimate our level of fatigue and overestimate our ability to remain focused on the road despite our tiredness. What can make it even more challenging is the environment of driving, especially when driving at night, can actually bring about sleepiness unexpectedly. The repetitive sounds and sights of the road along with the rhythm of the moving vehicle can actually lull you into a dangerous sleepiness very quickly. The initial phase of sleep, also known as Stage 1 sleep, can actually allow you to feel as if you are and have been awake. However, during this stage, brain waves slow and hurts your ability to make quick decisions or be aware of your surroundings. While a struggle to keep your eyes open and head nodding can be an obvious sign that you are too tired to drive, not all signs will be so obvious or clear. As mentioned before, daydreaming, trouble focusing, and feeling restless can all be signs that you are not fit to be on the road. That aside, sleep deprivation without any drowsy sensations can be just as problematic. Even if you are not struggling to keep your eyes open, sleep deprivation can still greatly compromise safe driving. Being sleep deprived has been known to diminish motor kill performance and slow reaction time, especially for monotonous tasks like driving. Just one night of lost sleep or an ongoing pattern of not sleeping long enough or well enough on a regular basis can be dangerous while you are on the road. How can you avoid drowsy driving? The best strategy is to make sure you get plenty of sleep on a regular basis. If you find this to be a challenge, you may want to talk with your doctor about the possibility of having a sleep disorder or another health problem that may be disrupting your quality of sleep. That aside, these tips should also help you to improve the safety of your driving and avoid driving drowsy:

• Leave plenty of extra time to reach your destination when possible. If you are feeling drowsy or if the drive itself is a long one, try to schedule breaks in between to allow you to stretch your legs and break the monotony of the drive.
• Avoid driving late in the night or during the early morning as these times increase the risk of drowsiness.
• If you have another driver with you, try sharing the driving responsibilities to give each other a break.
• Do not use caffeine as a sleep substitute! This will only provide short-term alertness and can increase the risks of falling asleep once you ‘crash’.
• See if a family member or friend can drive you where you need to go when feeling sleepy.