Drowsy driving

Driving while drowsy continues to be a significant problem. It affects drivers of all age. I'm just referring to drivers who fall asleep at the wheel - also drivers who are sleep deprived enough to impair their reaction times on the road. This level of impairment can be difficult for a driver to recognize. Therefore a sleepy driver may push on, continuing to drive because they have not actually fallen asleep.

Here is a link to recent statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association citing that approximately one in four motor vehicle accidents is due to drowsy driving. Someday, sleep researchers may come up with a reliable and simple test of sleepiness that drivers could use to determine if they shouldn't drive. They could take a brief nap first. Although, this all may be moot if Google makes driver-less cars a reality.

What drowsy drivers do to remain alert

Driving drowsy is a big problem, and a discussion I have with my patients every day. Studies have shown that driving drowsy can be as dangerous as driving drunk. And the combination of alcohol with sleep deprivation is extremely dangerous. When I ask my patients what they do if they feel sleepy while driving, most tell me they do things that studies have shown are not helpful. Examples include rolling down the windows or turning the radio up. The first thing that I say is that if the patient feels sleepy, they should not drive or operate heavy machinery until they feel rested and wide awake. I then explain to them that if they get sleepy while driving, they should switch drivers or pull over to take a nap.

Here is a report on the top things drivers do to remain alert while driving. I got this information from a survey done by DMEautomotive. Some notable responses to what drivers do when they feel sleepy while driving include:

58% drink caffeine (not shown to be helpful)
39% open a sunroof or window (not shown to be helpful)
45% switch drivers (has been shown to be helpful IF the other driver is rested!)
23% pull over and take a nap (this is the THE most helpful thing a drowsy driver can do!)

As stated in the article, the best course of action for drowsy drivers is to pull over and take a nap. The only cure for sleepiness is more sleep! Please be safe on the road.

Drowsy driving

This article discusses a survey about driving while sleepy. Lots of drivers still do it. The survey showed more than a quarter of respondents admitted to drowsy driving in past 30 days. This was more common in young drivers. Perhaps it's because more young drivers take risks and are more likely to stay up later. Drowsy driving is a serious problem. If you are sleepy, do not drive. If you get sleepy while driving, you should pull over to a save location and take a brief nap. Or if you are driving with someone else, switch drivers.

One in 24 people report drowsy driving

This link describes research showing that 1 in 24 people report driving while drowsy. Insufficient sleep and sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea are to blame. Drowsy driving was more common in young and older drivers. I imagine the younger ones were sleepy from too little sleep and the older ones from sleep disorders and perhaps sedating medications.

This study highlights the importance of safe driving. Don't drive if you feel drowsy. If you get sleepy while driving, pull over and take a brief nap. Or if your traveling with another person, switch drivers.