(Newswire.net — November 10, 2019) — While American roads and highways have become safer over the years, driver safety is still a major concern. Car accidents injure and kill millions of people every year – it’s important that we adopt proactive strategies to help us prevent unnecessary catastrophes. Drowsy driving may seem like a minor issue, but it’s actually a major public safety problem.
The Lowdown on Drowsy Driving
If you study any list of the most common causes of auto accidents, you’ll see things like speeding, aggressive driving, distracted driving, and drunk driving at the top. But you may be surprised to see that drowsy driving is a major culprit for serious and deadly accidents.
According to the CDC, “Drowsy driving is the dangerous combination of driving and sleepiness or fatigue. This usually happens when a driver has not slept enough, but it can also happen due to untreated sleep disorders, medications, drinking alcohol, or shift work.”
Drowsiness is a serious issue with huge health concerns. It’s a major problem in the United States and has been shown to make drivers less capable of paying attention to the road/vehicles in front of them. It slows reaction times and negatively impacts decision-making. The CDC estimates that 1 in 25 adult drivers fall asleep behind the wheel every 30 days. This directly contributes to as many as 6,000 fatal crashes each year.
5 Ways to Avoid Drowsy Driving
Drowsy driving doesn’t get as much press as something like drunk driving, but it can be just as dangerous. If you frequently succumb to fatigue while behind the wheel, there are some smart steps you can take to prevent future incidents. Let’s take a look:
1. Get Some Sleep
“Being awake for 18 hours straight makes you drive like you have a blood alcohol level of .05 (for reference, .08 is considered drunk). If you’ve been awake for a full 24 hours and drive—say, after a night where you just couldn’t fall asleep—it’s like you have a blood alcohol level of .10,” National Sleep Foundation notes.
The best way to prevent drowsy driving is to get an adequate amount of sleep. While we all function differently, it’s highly recommended that you get a minimum of seven hours of sleep per night. If you get less sleep, a short nap in the early afternoon can help offset your lack of nighttime rest.
2. Don’t Drive Late at Night
Drowsy driving accidents are most common late at night and early in the morning. This is the period in which the body is trained to be asleep. If at all possible, avoid driving during the late evening and early morning hours. (The same could be said of the early afternoon hour directly after lunch.)
3. Be Wary of Medication Side Effects
Whenever you start a new medication, be sure to ask your doctor or pharmacist about any possible side effects that may lead to excessive drowsiness. You’ll typically notice a little sticker on your prescription bottle if there’s a correlation between the medication and sleepiness. It’s best not to drive immediately after starting a new medication. Give it some time to see how your body reacts.
4. Pull Over and Take a Break
If you notice yourself getting tired on a long drive, pull over and take a break. This is especially effective if you’re driving long, monotonous stretches of highways or interstates. Rest stops, gas stations, and restaurants are great spots to take a nap and/or get out of the vehicle and walk around.
5. Use Caffeine for a Short-Term Boost
You shouldn’t rely solely on caffeine to stay awake, but it can provide a temporary boost in energy and focus. Caffeine is most effective 20 to 30 minutes after consumption, so make sure you plan accordingly. If you need to eat in the middle of a long trip, lay off heavy meals and food items that are likely to make you drowsy. Small meals of fresh produce, nuts, yogurt, and lean meat can be beneficial.
Take Control Behind the Wheel
Drowsy driving may initially seem like a pretty innocuous offence, but the data and science behind it tell another story. Sleepy drivers kill thousands of Americans every year and it’s time that we finally did something about. Heed the advice outlined in this article and look for ways to stay alert and in control when behind the wheel.