Avoid Drowsy Driving

Driving while sleepy can severely impair your driving and cause an accident. Studies have linked sleepiness and fatigue to decreases in reaction time, decision-making, and mind and body coordination. All of these factors are very important for safe driving.

According to estimates from the National Safety Council in 2017, one out of every five deadly traffic crashes is due to drowsy driving.

Drive when you feel alert. On long drives, plan 15-minute breaks to get out and stretch your legs every 2 hours. Avoid using food to stay alert. Closing your eyes for even a second (called microsleep) can be enough to travel blindly down the road (or off the road). If you drive while you are fatigued, you and anyone around you is at serious risk.

Signs of Fatigue

*  You can’t stop yawning.

*  You have trouble keeping your head up.

*  Your eyes close for a moment or go out of focus.

*  You have wandering, disconnected thoughts.

*  You have no memory of driving the last few miles.

*  You miss seeing a sign or your exit.

*  You slow down when you don’t mean to or brake suddenly or too late.

*  You drift across the road or veer off onto rumble strips.

What to do:

*  Pull to the side of the road or go to a rest stop.

*  Take a 15-20-minute nap. If you can, have 250-300 mg of caffeine (about 2 cups of coffee) before the nap.

*  Get a non-drowsy person to drive or find some way of getting to your destination without driving yourself.

*  Drive to a motel or place where you can sleep.