They call it a rest area for a reason: Dangers of drowsy driving
There is a serious problem on the roads of the United States. Trucking companies and truck drivers do everything they can to avoid it. Companies have developed special equipment and products to combat it, but it still affects commercial and non-commercial drivers alike.
Here are some statistics on “the problem”:
Causes 100,000 traffic accidents every year
Causes 71,000 injuries each year
Causes more than 1,500 deaths each year
It is responsible for 1 in 6 fatal accidents each year.
Causes $ 12.5 BILLION in loss and damage each year
60% of drivers admit to having done it in the last year.
94% of drivers admit to having done it in their life.
96% of drivers say it is an unacceptable practice.
100% of people are able to prevent or avoid it.
Sounds like some kind of epidemic, right? Whatever you call it – Sleepy Street, Drowsy Drive, Tired Trail, Weary Way, Fatigue Freeway, or Pooped-Out Parkway – DROWSY DRIVING has become one of the most dangerous and least talked about problems of our time. Due to inconsistent monitoring and reporting by law enforcement and road safety agencies, estimates of accidents caused by tired driving range from 15% to 55%.
“I only nodded once. It’s not a big deal.” When you are tired, your faculties are not at fully functioning levels. Here are some of the things that can cause drowsiness:
Slower reaction times than usual
Lapses in the judgment of depth and time.
Blurred or darkened vision (cannot see through the eyelids)
Delays in processing sensory information.
If you’ve been alive for the past 30 years, you’ve probably noticed that all of these things sound like another popular road safety campaign: drinking and driving. This is because studies have found that lack of sleep has the same effect on a driver’s cognitive abilities as alcohol consumption.
In fact, a normal adult who has been awake for 18 hours has the same amount of disability as a person with a BAC of 05%. Someone who has been awake for 24 hours has the same level of physical and mental disability as a person with a 10% BAC. Interestingly, all 50 states have adopted 08% BAC as the legal limit for driving while intoxicated; the magic number for commercial drivers is 04% BAC.
Warning signs and countermeasures
Well known sleep physician Dr. William Dement puts it very clearly: “Drowsiness is the last step before falling asleep, not the first. Drowsiness means you are seconds away from falling asleep.” He also adds: “The crucial event that occurs when we fall asleep is an abrupt shutdown of the neural processes that allow us to perceive the world around us. In a moment we are awake and can see and hear. A fraction of a second later we are asleep, and we are completely blind and completely deaf. “
Most people can use common sense to determine whether or not they are tired. But, just in case, here is a list of warning signs that you might be heading down the Half-Awake Highway:
Focus disorder
Restless / Irritable
Rub your eyes
Heavy eyelids
Frequent blinking
Excessive yawning
Wandering / disconnected thoughts
Trouble remembering the last few miles
Skidding between lanes
Drifting over the shoulder / thunderous strips
Now that you know what it’s like to be tired, here are some things you can do to avoid a dangerous situation for yourself and all other drivers on the road.
Before you feel sleepy …
Get 7-9 hours of sleep the night before
Take breaks every 2-3 hours of driving (or every 100-200 miles)
Bring someone (or something) to talk to
Avoid alcohol or sedative medications.
If you start to feel drowsy while driving …
This one is tricky … STOP THE VEHICLE! Don’t try to fight fatigue; Acknowledge it. Stop at the next available exit or rest area. They call it “Rest Area” for a reason. So stop and …
Take a nap. A 15 to 30 minute nap will leave you feeling refreshed and recharge your batteries so you can safely reach your destination.
After you wake up …
Drink caffeine. A big cup of coffee or an energy drink or supplement, along with a nap, will help boost your energy and keep you alert and awake.
Those with truck driving jobs are well aware of the everyday dangers that their profession entails. Most likely due to deadline and schedule pressures; you are among the drivers who have fallen asleep at the wheel. If you are reading this, you made it out alive. But not everyone is so lucky. Unfortunate drivers, accident victims, and all of their families must pledge not to drive while tired or drowsy. It is not worth your life or someone else’s life. So take precautions when you start to feel a little drowsy. Your life depends on that!