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Drive Alert. Arrive
Alive.
How many times have you been driving, and just for a moment, nodded off? The
U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates 1.5% of all car
crashes are related to driver sleepiness. The National Sleep Foundation concurs:
About one million car crashes annually are thought to be the result of driver
inattention. Sleep deprivation and fatigue encourage lapses in driving
attentively.
Who’s at risk?
- Anyone who feels fatigued or is not well-rested.
- Those who drive long distances without breaks.
- Those who drive during periods when they are normally asleep.
- Those who drive alone.
- Those who drive on long stretches of highway or rural roads.
- Young people who tend to stay up late, sleep less, and drive at night.
- Shift workers, particularly those who work at night, or who have regular
change in shifts.
- Commercial truck drivers who often drive at night when the body is ready
for sleep.
- Individuals with undiagnosed sleep disorders, like insomnia, sleep apnea,
and narcolepsy.
What should the drowsy driver do?
- Look for warning signs of fatigue: wandering across lanes, yawning,
trouble keeping one’s eyes open, jerking your vehicle back into the lane.
- Don’t count on the radio, an open window, or coffee to keep you awake.
- Pull off into a safe area away from traffic and take a brief nap (15-45
minutes). Do so as soon as you notice signs of fatigue, because a microsleep
can occur at any time.
How to prepare for a road trip without fatigue?
- Get a good night’s sleep – generally eight hours.
- Plan to drive long trips with a companion so you can switch drivers.
Passengers should stay awake to help keep the driver awake.
- Schedule regular stops – every 100 miles or two hours.
- Avoid alcohol, over-the-counter and prescribed medications that may make
one drowsy.
- If you have trouble staying awake, even following these suggestions, talk
to your family doctor about feeling drowsy while driving.
Credit: National Sleep
Foundation
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