National Sleep Foundation

THE DANGERS OF DROWSY DRIVING©

™

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Overview NSF & the Drive Alert campaign Size of the problem Characteristics of drowsy driving Are you at risk? Effects of fatigue Reducing your risk

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What is the National Sleep Foundation?

Mission: The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) is anindependent nonprofit organization dedicated toimproving public health and safety by achievingpublic understanding of sleep and sleep disorders,and by supporting public education, sleep-relatedresearch, and advocacy.

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DRIVE ALERT…ARRIVE ALIVE

National Campaign Goals: Reach at-risk groups Create working partnerships Advocate effective countermeasures Promote research Maintain national clearinghouse of

drowsy driving information

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How Big is The Problem of Drowsy

Driving?

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National Crash Statistics

U.S.D.O.T. estimates: 100,000 police-report crashes annually 1,550 fatalities (4%) 71,000 injuries $12.5 billion in monetary losses Another 1 million crashes are linked to

inattention, which increases with fatigue

(Knipling, 1995)

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Crash Statistics are Conservative

Only half of crashes are reported (Miller, 1991)

6 states do not have fatigue codes (NSF, 1998)

Most police are not trained to detect fatigue There is no objective measurement (e.g.,

blood test) Self-reporting tends to be inaccurate Drowsiness is often linked to other factors

(e.g., alcohol, drugs)

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Other Statistics

NSF’s 1999 “Sleep in America” Poll found:

62% reported driving drowsy in past year

27% actually dozed off at the wheel 23% knew someone who had a fall-

asleep crash sometime in their life

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What are The Characteristics of Drowsy Driving

Crashes?

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Characteristics of Drowsy Driving Crashes

Most happen between midnight – 6:00am & in the midafternoon (circadian dip)

The driver is alone and more likely to be male A single vehicle drifts off the road and hits a

stationary object Most are rear-end or head-on collisions There is no evidence of braking or evasive

maneuvers Many involve serious injuries and/or fatalities

(Pack, 1995)

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Are You At Risk?

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Are You At Risk?

Before you drive, check to see if you are: Sleep-deprived or fatigued Suffering from insomnia, poor quality

sleep, or a sleep debt Driving long distances without proper rest

breaks Driving through the night, midafternoon or

when you would normally be asleep

(Knipling, 1994)

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Are You At Risk? (cont.) Taking sedating medications Working more than 60 hours a week Working more than one job and your

main job involves shift work Drinking even small amounts of

alcohol Driving alone or on a long, rural, dark

or boring road

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Special At-Risk Groups Include:

Young people Shift workers Commercial drivers People with undiagnosed or

untreated sleep disorders Business travelers The elderly

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The Effects of Sleepiness and Fatigue

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Common Sleep Problems Chronic or short-term insomnia

(more than 50% of all U.S. adults) Snoring (90 million Americans snore, 37

million habitually) Sleep Apnea (12 - 18 million Americans) Restless Legs Syndrome (2 - 15%) Narcolepsy (1 in every 2,000 Americans)

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The Effects of Sleepiness and Fatigue

Impaired reaction time, judgment and vision Problems with information processing and

short-term memory Decreased performance, vigilance and

motivation Increased moodiness and aggressive

behaviors Increased “microsleeps” – brief (2/3

seconds) sleep episodes

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Fatigue vs. Alcohol 18 hours sustained wakefulness

produces performance impairment = .05% BAC

24 hours = .10% BAC (Dawson & Reid, 1997; Williamson & Feyer, 2000).

People with mild to moderate untreated sleep apnea performed worse than those with a 0.06% BAC (Powell, 1999)

On 4 hours sleep, 1 beer can have the impact of a six-pack (Roehrs et al., 1994)

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How To Reduce Your Risk

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Recognize The Warning Signs of Fatigue

Trouble focusing, keeping your eyes open or your head up

Daydreaming; wandering/disconnected thoughts

Yawning or rubbing your eyes repeatedly

Drifting from your lane, tailgating, & missing signs or exits

Feeling restless & irritable

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Before A Trip

Get a good night’s sleep, preferably 8 hrs

Schedule breaks every 100 miles or 2 hours during long trips

Travel with a companion to help watch for the signs of fatigue

Avoid alcohol and sedating medications

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Before A Trip

Take a nap or drink caffeine before leaving work if tired

Consult your physician or local sleep disorders center if you are experiencing frequent daytime sleepiness or having difficulty sleeping at night

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Countermeasures While Driving

Stop driving Pull off the road at a safe place and

take a short nap Let a passenger take over the driving Consume caffeine Don’t rely on “drowsy driving

devices” Be aware of shoulder rumble strips

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Summary Drowsy driving is a major problem Fatigue is an impairment like alcohol

or drugs Anyone can be at risk There are simple ways to combat

drowsy driving Practice good sleep habits and

remember to Drive Alert…Arrive Alive

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For More Information Contact:

National Sleep Foundation1522 K Street, NW, Suite 500

Washington, DC 20009(202) 347-3471

or visit www.sleepfoundation.org