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Drowsy Driving: The Silent Killer
Drowsy
driving
causes more
than 100,000
police-reported
crashes,
71,000
injuries and
1,550 deaths
each year.
But the
problem may
be more
serious than
we think.
Results from the 2005 Sleep in America poll indicate that 60% of America’s adults who drive or have a license report that, within the past year, they have driven a car or motor vehicle when feeling drowsy. This is a significant increase compared to results from recent years (51% in 2000, 53% in 2001, and 51% in 2002).
n
4% of the
respondents
who drive or
have a
license have had an
accident or
near
accident in
the past
year because
of dozing
off or being
too tired
while
driving.
n
Among these
respondents,
29% report
having had
an accident
or near
accident at
least once a
month in the
past year.
n
37% of the
respondents
who drive or
have a
license report
that they
have nodded off
or fallen
asleep while
driving a
vehicle,
even just
for a brief
moment.
n
Among these
respondents,
13% say they
have done so
at least
once a
month.
"With more
and more
people
admitting to
driving
drowsy,
there's a
good chance
you will be
on the road
near someone
who is
sleepy, and
is a danger
to
themselves
and others.
Drowsy
driving has
become a
major public
safety
issue," says
Richard L.
Gelula,
NSF's chief
executive
officer.
"When you
get behind
the wheel of
a vehicle,
whether it
is for a
short drive
or a longer
excursion,
make sure
you are
fully awake
and alert.
Remember
NSF's drowsy
driving
campaign
theme –
drive alert,
arrive
alive,"
Gelula adds.
Signs of
Drowsy
Driving
"There are
definite
warning
signs of
drowsiness
that drivers
should be
aware of,"
says Gelula.
"When you
feel your
eyelids
begin to
droop, feel
the need to
roll down
the window
or turn up
the radio,
you are
yawning a
lot and have
trouble
focusing
your vision,
then you
know you
need to pull
off the road
in a safe
area and
take a nap."
Gelula notes
that
caffeine
promotes
short-term
alertness,
but takes
about 30
minutes to
begin
working if
taken in
liquid form,
and its
effect is
diminished
if the user
regularly
consumes
caffeine.
"If you
drink a
caffeinated
beverage,
it's a good
idea to take
a nap while
you wait for
the caffeine
to kick in,"
he says.
Unfortunately,
many drivers
don't take
the time to
pull over
and nap when
they become
drowsy.
Rather, they
continue the
trip, hoping
they can
overcome it
and arrive
on schedule.
Many fail to
recognize
other
warning
signs of
drowsy
driving that
include
trouble
remembering
the last few
miles
driven,
missing
exits or
traffic
signs,
drifting
from the
lane or
tailgating
and
daydreaming.
Before
Getting
Behind the
Wheel, NSF
Recommends
the
Following
Tips to Stay
Alert:
n
Get a good
night's
sleep. While
this varies
from
individual
to
individual,
sleep
experts
recommend
between 7-9
hours of
sleep per
night.
n
Drive with a
companion.
Passengers
can help
look for
early
warning
signs of
fatigue or
switch
drivers when
needed.
n
Passengers
should stay
awake to
talk to the
driver.
n
Allow time
for breaks
every 100
miles or 2
hours.
n
Avoid
alcohol and
medications
(over-the-counter
and
prescribed)
that may
impair
performance.
Alcohol
interacts
with
fatigue,
increasing
its effects
-- just like
drinking on
an empty
stomach.
n
Avoid
driving
during or
close to
times you
would
normally
sleep,
especially
overnight.
Natural
sleep
rhythms
create more
sleepiness
at these
times.
NSF Background
NSF released the poll findings as part of its 10th annual National Sleep
Awareness Week® campaign, held March 5-11th. For more sleep tips for women,
as well as the Summary of Findings for the 2007 Sleep in America poll, visit
NSF’s Web site at
www.sleepfoundation.org
The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) is an independent nonprofit organization
dedicated to improving public health and safety by achieving greater
understanding of sleep and sleep disorders. NSF furthers its mission
through sleep-related education, research, and advocacy initiatives. NSF’s
membership includes researchers and clinicians focused on sleep medicine as
well as other professionals in the health/medical/science fields,
individuals, and more than 900 sleep clinics throughout North America that
join the Foundation’s Community Sleep Awareness Partners program.
NSF’s financial support comes from a variety of diverse sources, including
memberships, sales of educational materials, advertising, investment income,
individual donations, subscriptions, and educational grants from
foundations, federal agencies, and corporations including pharmaceutical and
non-pharmaceutical companies. Corporate grants are accepted on an
unrestricted basis only. NSF alone determines the ideas and content
published or promoted in its educational programs. NSF relies on positions
of government agencies, the published consensus of sleep and medical
professionals and peer-reviewed, publicized evidence for its public health
recommendations. A list of 2007 contributors can be found on NSF’s Web
site.
NSF does not solicit nor accept funding for its annual Sleep in America
polls; NSF polls are developed by an independent task force of sleep
scientists who provide guidance and expertise in developing the poll
questionnaire and analysis of the data. NSF can be found online at
www.sleepfoundation.org
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