Wide Awake and Ready to Roll?

Too many drivers across the U.S. are driving drowsy.

Reports in the news these days tell a scary story: The U.S. is filled with busy, productive and very sleep-deprived people. According to the Centers for Disease Control, almost half of all Americans don't get enough sleep for more than a week every month. Even worse, about 10 percent of people don't get enough sleep any night.

The pressures of today’s society don’t make it easy to get a solid eight hours of rest. Blackberrys are buzzing on many nightstands. Web-surfing and hi-definition TV have people staying up late, and long commutes have them getting up early. Economic concerns have people counting sheep, too—about a quarter of Americans are losing sleep over financial worries, according to the National Sleep Foundation.

All of these statistics add up to a tired society—and lots of drowsy drivers. While it’s hard to fault people for working long hours or cutting back on sleep to get more done, the impact of sleepy, less-than-fully alert drivers is dramatic: Drowsy driving contributes to more than 100,000 crashes and $12.5 billion in losses each year.

Drowsy driving is so dangerous that police officers report that they often mistake sleep-deprived drivers for drunk drivers. In fact, studies show that drowsiness impairs drivers to a degree equal to having a blood-alcohol content of 0.10 percent, a level higher than the legal limit for driving while intoxicated in every state.

Crashes that involve drowsy drivers also tend to be particularly severe, since sleeping or unaware drivers can rush headlong at full speed into opposing traffic or obstacles such as trees, walls and even buildings. These incidents lead to more than 1,500 fatalities each year.

As the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reports, though, drivers can use several strategies to defeat drowsy driving:

• Get more sleep. The simple truth is, most people need between seven and nine hours of sleep at night to be fully rested. If you’re going to be driving, especially if you’re taking a long trip, get a good night’s sleep first.

• If you’re drowsy, pull over to a safe spot and take a nap. Often, a 20-minute nap is all you’ll need to refresh enough to continue safely for a short distance. Don't sleep longer than that, though, or you’ll awaken groggy and less alert than before. Even when you’re not tired, stopping for a quick rest every 100 miles or so will help you avoid drowsiness.

• Avoid alcohol and medications that make you drowsy. Alcohol and driving never mix. Aside from impairing you, alcohol is a depressant that makes you drowsy. Some medications can act this way, too. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have concerns about your medications.

• Don't rely on caffeine, stimulants or ”urban myths.” Caffeine and stimulants may give you a brief jolt, but your energy level may drop fast. As far as the other popular strategies for beating fatigue—such as keeping the car windows open or blasting the radio—chalk them up to fiction. Studies show that these actions have little or no effect on drowsiness.

• Ask passengers to watch for signs of drowsiness. If you’re in a car with someone who is yawning repeatedly, dropping his head every few seconds, drifting out of the lane or acting a little incoherent, ask him to pull over and rest. If you observe a driver in another car behaving this way, report it to police as soon as you can call safely.

People face a lot of competing priorities today, and sleep often loses out to other activities. But your safety and the safety of your passengers and other road users should never take a backseat to anything. As a driver, it’s your responsibility to ensure that you drive safely and responsibly at all times.

For more great tips about ways you can make your trips safer, visit the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety at AAAFoundation.org.

The information in this story was accurate when it was published in the November/December 2009 issue of AAA World.

Signs of Drowsy Driving

Do you recognize the signs that you may be too drowsy to drive?
• Yawning repeatedly
• Head feeling heavy or sagging onto chest
• Trouble keeping your eyes open
• Losing track of where you are
• Slow reactions/missing traffic signs and signals
• Drifting out of lane or onto rumble strips
• Needing to stop short/tailgating accidentally
• Feeling unfocused or dazed
For tips about combating drowsy driving and other safe-driving techniques, visit AAAFoundation.org.

Quiz: Are You Too Drowsy to Drive?

Driving when you are tired and drowsy can be as dangerous as driving after you've been drinking. Your attention flags, your reflexes slow, and your judgment can become clouded—all which can spell disaster behind the wheel. Here's a quick quiz you can take to learn more about drowsy driving.

1. You find yourself yawning repeatedly as you're driving. This means that:
a. your passengers are lousy company.
b. the scenery along this road is uninspiring.
c. you should have had more carbs at lunch.
d. you are too tired to drive safely.

2. The best way to combat fatigue as you drive is to:
a. turn up the radio and sing along.
b. open the car windows to get fresh air.
c. drink another Red Bull every 50 miles.
d. pull over to a safe location and take a 20-minute nap.

3. Drowsy driving is an issue that affects:
a. seniors.
b. long-haul truckers.
c. students and workaholics.
d. All of the above and more—everyone faces drowsiness sometime.

4. Drowsy-driving accidents are most likely to occur:
a. on long trips, especially during a full moon.
b. on very straight, boring roads.
c. when drivers are alone.
d. in the middle of the night and in mid-afternoon.

5. A good strategy to avoid drowsy driving is to:
a. listen to audio books while driving.
b. switch to caffeinated coffee for two days before a long trip.
c. stock up on menthol cough drops to use as you drive.
d. get plenty of rest and exercise, and avoid drinking liquor.

6. What are signs of drowsiness that passengers should look for in drivers?
a. Driver refuses to stop and ask directions when lost.
b. Driver insists on listening to talk radio.
c. Driver tries to order fast food at toll booths.
d. Repeated yawning, drifting out of lane, tailgating and trying to order fast food at toll booths.

If you answered anything but "d" to these questions, get some sleep. Then, visit AAAFoundation.org to learn more about drowsy driving and other road safety issues.