Wake Up to the Dangers of Driving While Drowsy

Many people don’t make it a high priority to get a good night’s rest, whereas others would love to get more shuteye but just can’t find the time. In a recent survey, nearly one-third of American drivers admitted to driving at least once during the previous 30 days when they were so tired it was hard to keep their eyes open. One in 10 drivers aged 16 to 45 said they may drive drowsy as often as once or twice a week.¹

Drivers who are lacking sleep may be impaired due to delayed information processing, slower reactions, unclear vision, and poor judgment. Studies have shown that staying awake for more than 20 hours may result in a level of impairment equal to having a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.08%, which is the legal limit for drivers to be considered alcohol-impaired.²

The consequences of falling asleep at the wheel can be serious. At least one in six fatal crashes involves a sleepy driver, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that more than 100,000 auto accidents reported to police are fatigue-related. The official figures may be understated because these crashes typically happen when drivers are alone; often they are very deadly. And unlike drunkenness, there is no simple test to determine whether a driver was drowsy before a crash.^3–4

Symptoms of Sleepiness

Statistically, people aged 18 to 29 (and men in particular) are most likely to be in a crash caused by falling asleep. Commercial drivers, shift workers, adults with sleep disorders, and parents of young children may also experience more frequent bouts of fatigue on the road.

Many people know when they feel a little sleepy, but it may be possible to fall into a three- to four-second microsleep without realizing the lapse.⁵ You should probably stop driving right away if you notice any of the following signs, which may indicate a serious state of drowsiness:

Eyelids feel heavy, or you have trouble keeping your eyes open or seeing clearly.
Difficulty keeping your head up.
Yawning repeatedly.
Missing traffic signs, turns, or intended highway exits.
Tailgating, swerving, drifting from your lane, or passing over the rumble strips.
Inability to remember the last few miles driven.

How to Stay Awake

The following tips from the National Sleep Foundation may help you avoid dozing off at the end of a long workday or during a road trip.

Get plenty of sleep at night. Many people need seven to nine hours to stay alert the following day.
Travel with a passenger. On longer journeys, designate a friend or family member to stay awake and make sure the driver is alert. He or she can also take a turn at the wheel if the driver gets tired.
Take a break. Every two hours or 100 miles, stop to refresh with a snack or a short walk. Napping for 15 to 20 minutes may also help, but keep in mind that it might be difficult to wake fully and resume driving.
Drink a caffeinated beverage. It’s not as reliable as rest, but it could help make you more alert.
Try not to drive when you would normally be asleep. Many crashes happen in the middle of the night when the urge to sleep is strongest.
Remember that alcohol or certain medications may cause excessive drowsiness.

Losing consciousness for a few short moments, especially while driving at high speed, could result in a very serious car accident. Drivers who are aware of the potential for property damage, injury, and even death may be more motivated to stop taking this unnecessary risk.

1–3, 5) National Sleep Foundation, 2011
4) CNN.com, November 9, 2011

The information in this article is not intended as tax or legal advice, and it may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. You are encouraged to seek tax or legal advice from an independent professional advisor. The content is derived from sources believed to be accurate. Neither the information presented nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. This material was written and prepared by Emerald. © 2012 Emerald Connect, Inc.