Drowsy Driving Syndrome

Baptist Memorial Hospital - Tipton

“Driving while drowsy is no different than driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” said Richard Gelula, the National Sleep Foundation’s executive director. “Sleepiness slows reaction time, decreases awareness and impairs judgment.”

Statistics

Each year, at least, 1500 people die in crashes related to sleepy, fatigued or drowsy drivers in the US.Each year, at least, 40,000 people are injured in drowsy driver crashes.62% of surveyed American adults (72% of men and 54% of women) reported driving while feeling drowsy.37% of surveyed American adults (49% of men and 26% of women) said they have dozed off while driving at least once.27% of surveyed American adults (36% of men and 20% of women) said they have dozed off while driving at least once.12% of surveyed people say sleeplessness affected their driving.

Warning Signs of Drowsy Driving

The inability to recall the last few miles traveledHaving disconnected or wandering thoughtshaving difficulty focusing or keeping your eyes openDrifting out of your driving lane, perhaps driving on the rumble stripsYawning repeatedlyAccidently tailgating other vehiclesMissing traffic signs

When Do Most Drowsy Driver Accidents Occur

Most crashes are near misses occur between 4:00am to 6:00am; midnight – 2:00am and 2:00pm – 4:00pm are also peak times for crashes to occur

Who is At Risk?Young People – In a North Carolina state study, 55% fatigue-related crashes involved people 25-years-old and younger; 78% of them were males.Shift Workers – studies suggest that 20 to 30 percent of those with non-traditional work schedules have had a sleep-related driving mishap within the last year. One study shows that shift workers are two to five times more likely than employees with regular, daytime work hours to fall asleep on the job.

Commercial Drivers – in addition to the high number of miles driven each year, truck drivers also drive during the night. Most people are programmed to sleep when it’s dark; experts suggest that driving be avoided during the “low” period between 2 and 6 a.m.

The following behaviors are scientifically unproven and probably won’t keep you awake:

Turning up the volume of your radioSinging loudlyChewing gum or eating foodGetting out of the car and running aroundSlapping or pinching yourselfSticking your head out the windowRolling down all the windowsChanging the temperature in the vehicleTrying not to stare at division line

Smoking or chewing tobaccoDriving over ruble stripsListening to stimulating or loud musicTaking off shoes or loosening clothingConversing with someoneRolling head and/or shoulders or other stationary exerciseDriving a stick shiftChanging driver’s seating positionScreamingPlaying games in the car

True or False Coffee overcomes the effects of drowsiness while driving? False

Caffeine is not a substitute for sleep. It works only in the short run and wears off fast. You are still subject to sleep deprived “micro-naps” that can last 4-5 seconds. At 55 mph, that is more than 100 yards!

I can tell when I’m going to sleep. FalseMost people think this is true. It simply is not. If you’re drowsy, you know generally when you might fall asleep, but the moment is something completely out of your control. You also do not know how long you have been asleep, and even a few seconds can end up with fatal results for you or someone else.

I’m a safe driver so it doesn’t matter if I’m sleepy. FalseThe only safe driver is the alert driver. A driving instructor becomes a menace if they are sleepy behind the wheel. The young man who was awarded “America’s Safest Teen Driver” in 1990 later fell asleep behind the wheel and was killed.

I can’t take naps. FalseMany people say this. If you think you can’t nap, stop the care and recline for 15 minutes anyway. Find a quiet place that is safe…the corner of a mall or a gas station. Lock your doors, and roll up your windows. I

True or False I get plenty of sleep. False

Ask yourself this…do you wake up rested? I know precious few people who can answer that yes. The average person needs 7-8 hours of sleep a night. If you don’t get it, you are building up a “sleep debt” which is cumulative.

Being sleepy make you misperceive things. True Have you ever driven at night and thought you’d seen an animal

but it turned out to be something else? A drowsy driver does not process information as fast or accurately as an alert driver and is unable to react quickly enough to avoid a collision.

Young people need less sleep. False In fact, teens and young adults need more sleep than people in

their 30’s. This is due to increased activity and output wich need more regeneration time.

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Fatal InjuryProperty Damage Only

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