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Driving while drunk and texting while driving are proven menaces on the road, but new research shows that driving while drowsy is deadly as well.
While almost 96 percent of Americans say drowsy driving is unacceptable behavior, nearly one-third admit to driving during the past month while they were so sleepy they couldnt keep their eyes open, says a survey by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
The study follows up last years AAA Foundation study, Asleep At The Wheel, which found drowsy driving to blame in nearly one in six fatal crashes, one in eight crashes involving serious injury, and one in 14 of all crashes in which a passenger vehicle is towed.
Whats so alarming is that over half of these drivers reported having fallen asleep while driving on high-speed roads, says Jake Nelson, AAAs director of traffic safety advocacy and research.
The 2010 study also found that 57 percent of drowsy driving crashes involved a driver drifting into other lanes or going off the road. Additionally, two of three drivers involved in drowsy driving crashes were men, and younger drivers 16 to 24 were nearly twice as likely to be involved in a drowsy driving crash as drivers ages 40 to 59.
The AAA and the National Sleep Foundations have advice for drivers of all ages when it comes to being able to recognize the signs and prevent drowsy driving.
You:
- Have trouble keeping your eyes open and focused.
- Find yourself drifting from your lane or tailgating.
- Frequently yawn or repeatedly rub your eyes.
- Cant keep your head up.
- Find yourself daydreaming or having disconnected thoughts.
- Miss signs or drive past your intended exit.
- Drift off the road and hit the rumble strips.
- Are unable to remember how far you have traveled or what landmarks or locations you have recently passed.
- Feel restless and irritable
Gulping down some coffee or caffeinated drinks will not immediately wake you up. If you pull off the road for a coffee break, you need to allow 30 minutes for the caffeine to enter your bloodstream. The effects only last about three hours.
Remember, if you travel at a rate of 65 miles per hour, you can travel more than 100 yards in three seconds, and thats short and quick enough for a life-threatening crash.
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