You already know drunk driving and drugged driving should be avoided at all costs, but the same goes for drowsy driving. As the name suggests, drowsy driving means driving while sleepy and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it may be responsible for an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 fatal crashes each year.
CDC also reports that, in a survey of 150,000 adults throughout the U.S., more than 4 percent admitted to falling asleep at the wheel within the previous month. The driving fear can stem from the danger of falling asleep at the wheel yourself or from encountering a drowsy driver on the road. Even if the driver doesn’t fall asleep, being drowsy at the wheel results in decreased reaction time, the inability to pay acute attention to the road and a clouded ability to make decisions.
Those most prone to drowsy driving include commercial truckers, workers who work long shifts or the night shift and drivers on certain medications, especially sedatives. Those with sleep apnea and other sleep disorders are at a risk for driving while drowsy, as are those who don’t get adequate sleep.
The recommended amount of sleep for adults is at least seven hours per night. Drivers most likely to fall asleep at the wheel get fewer than six hours sleep or are known to consistently snore, according to CDC. A poll at DrowsyDriving.org showed 29 percent of participants got fewer than 6 hours of sleep on weekday nights. Approximately 41 percent got six to seven hours, 21 percent got seven to eight hours and 8 percent slept more than eight hours per night.
Signs of a Drowsy Driver
You can also keep an eye on yourself and others for the following signs of a drowsy driving:
- Heavy eyelids, constant blinking or problems focusing
- Wandering or disconnected thoughts
- Repeated yawning
- Daydreaming
- Hitting the rumble strip or drifting out of your lane
- Tailgating
- Missing your exit
- Constant yawning
- Problems keeping your head erect
- Feeling restless or irritable
How to Fix It
Getting enough sleep, of course, is the top method for avoiding drowsy driving. If you have problems getting adequate sleep, you can read our article that offers helpful suggestions for a good night’s sleep. When you’re already drowsy and on the road, however, your best bet may be to pull over to rest or even take a brief nap until you’re better able to drive safely.
Also refrain from drinking alcohol and taking sedatives or other medications where drowsiness is a side effect if you know you’ll be heading down the road. Knowing you are fully alert and awake while you’re at the wheel can help greatly help quell driving fears and driving anxiety that may stem from your own performance on the road.
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