Drowsy Driving
An overwhelming majority of drivers surveyed in AAA’s 2013 Traffic Safety Culture Index-95 percent-said that driving while extremely drowsy was unacceptable. But more than 28 percent of drivers admitted to driving when they had a hard time keeping their eyes open.
If
you are having trouble staying awake, pull over and find a safe place to rest. Schedule a break every two hours, and try to travel with a passenger. Never attempt an
"all-nighter"-instead,
stop overnight in a hotel.
Drugged Driving
Drivers who get behind the wheel after taking drugs whether prescription, over-the-counter, or illegal-can be impaired, too. The Institute for Behavior and Health estimates that in 2009,440,000 people were injured in car crashes as a result of drugged driving. Some medicines and prescription drugs can have dangerous side effects for drivers, such as drowsiness, slow reflexes and blurred vision. Use AAA’s Roadwise Rx tool at
roadwiserx.com
to look up side effects and potential drug interactions.
Drunken Driving
If
you're drinking, you experience some loss of judgment, and your ability to perform more than one task at a time declines long before your blood alcohol concentration level reaches the legal limit. But 13 percent of people surveyed in AAA's
2013 Traffic Safety Culture Index said they drove at least once in the past year when they thought their blood alcohol concentration level may have been close to or over the legal limit. Be safe: It's best to arrange for a ride home before you go out, and to simply not drink if you're going to drive. Driving while impaired is dangerous for everyone. By being aware of what influences your ability to drive safely, you can make responsible decisions and help keep everyone safe.
Article courtesy of AAA Foundation at
AAA.COM/AAALIVING
,
JANUARY/FEBRUARY
2015.
For more information on reducing risk or any of our other services, please contact Jeff Harrison at jeff.harrison@cbservices.org or 800.807.0300 ext 2543