We all look forward to the longer days of spring and summer. This year, we change our clocks on March 10 to give ourselves an hour of additional daylight, followed by a week long celebration of Sleep Awareness Week. This campaign was designed to remind us that the shift in our body clock can have a temporarily dangerous effect. We can all use a reminder of the dangers of drowsy driving.
Findings based on research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety:
- An estimated 1 in 5 fatal crashes involve a drowsy driver
- More than 1 in 4 drivers (25%) who reported having fallen asleep while driving over the course of that year reported that it had occurred between noon and 5:00 PM.
- Drivers missing 2-3 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period more than quadrupled their risk of a crash.
To remain alert and avoid drowsiness, AAA suggests:
- Get plenty of sleep (6-7 hours) the night before a long trip.
- Schedule a break every two hours or every 100 miles.
- Travel at times when you are normally awake.
- On long-distanced drives, stay somewhere overnight rather than driving straight through.
- Stop driving if you become sleepy. Even a few seconds of lost focus is just as deadly as texting and driving.
- Don’t try to push through. People who are sleep deprived, or have no routine sleep patterns, can nod off with little or no warning.
- Avoid medications that cause drowsiness or other impairment.
Symptoms of sleepiness include but are not limited to:
- The inability to keep your head up and eyes focused
- Daydreaming or having wandering, disconnected thoughts
- Drifting from your lane or tailgating
Despite our busy lifestyles, don’t ignore the risks. Keep up on your sleep. Don’t hesitate to pull over in a safe location. Taking a nap is more effective than just drinking coffee and energy drinks. Try your best to get plenty of sleep. Stay Awake, Stay Alive!
Mike Sweeney is a Traffic Safety Educator at AAA Hudson Valley. Get more safety tips and programs.
