Has this ever happened to you?  You are driving down the road when ALL OF A SUDDEN you realize you are crossing into another lane or driving off the road?  You wake up just in time to avoid a collision or incident.  Many drivers are too late.  Drowsy drivers are a major danger on the road.  More than 100,000 motor vehicle crashes each year are a result of drowsy driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates.

Because of their work schedules, shift-workers are at a significant risk for drowsy driving incidents.  Studies from the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), indicate that about 25% or higher, reported having a traffic accident or close call in the last year.

Driving while fatigued is a problem for a number of reasons.   According to NSF, drowsiness has a number of physical side effects that can impair driving, including tunnel vision, shortened attention span and reduced reaction times.  Drowsy drivers can’t process information as quickly or as accurately as an alert one.  This makes it much more difficult for a drowsy driver to become aware of a potential accident and react to it.

Fact or Fiction

Many people have misconceptions about sleep, which NSF dispels:

Caffeine can overcome drowsiness while driving.  Only sleep can truly overcome drowsiness.  Caffeine may make you feel more alert, but the results are temporary.  People who take stimulants while severely sleep-deprived are likely to have “micro sleeps,” which are essentially four to five second naps.  A vehicle traveling at 55 mph can cover more than 100 yards in four to five seconds.

I’m a safe driver so it doesn’t matter if I am sleepy.
The only safe driver is an alert driver.  When fatigued, ever the BEST drivers become confused and use poor judgment.

I can’t take naps.
Despite the fact that many people insist they cannot nap, sleep-deprived people can usually nap if they give themselves the chance.  Even if you think you can’t nap, pull over and recline for about 15 minutes.  It is likely you will be able to fall asleep.  Always be sure you do so in a safe area and lock ALL your doors.

I can tell when I am going to fall asleep.
Most people believe they can control and predict when they are about to fall asleep, NOT TRUE.  A drowsy person can fall asleep without even being aware of it.  People are also unable to tell how long they have been asleep.  It only takes a few seconds of sleep to cause a major collision or incident.
When Drowsiness Strikes
Under no circumstances should you drive while drowsy.  Turning up the radio, rolling down the window, getting out of the care and running, or slapping yourself (I know you have done at least one of these) are not effective means of waking yourself up.  The ONLY remedy for drowsiness is sleep.

If you find yourself becoming sleep while behind the wheel, other signs include:
· Drifting in and out of your lane
· Driving over the rumble strips
You should pull over immediately.  YOU HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP!!!

Some options for getting home safely include:
· taking a nap on the side of the road
· calling someone to drive you home
· taking a cab or public transportation

Drowsy driving incidents most often occur when a driver is alone in the vehicle.  Carpooling provides someone who can alert a driver of danger and can take over behind the wheel if necessary.

You can also take measures to prevent drowsiness from happening.  The average person requires about seven (7) to nine (9) hours of sleep.  Try and stick to a regular sleep schedule where you are getting this amount of sleep.  Shift-workers may have more difficultly maintaining a regular sleep schedule.  If you are required to sleep in the daytime hours, be sure to keep your room as dark as possible.  You can wear a sleep mask.  Run a fan or use other constant noise to block outside sounds.

Good uninterrupted sleep is essential for safety on the job and on the road.