According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, each year an estimated 100,000 police-reported crashes are the direct result of driver fatigue. This results in an estimated 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries, and $12.5 billion in monetary losses. These figures are only estimates because it is difficult to attribute crashes to sleepiness. There is no test such as a “breathalyzer” to determine if a driver was drowsy. Fifty-five percent of drowsy driving crashes are caused by drivers under the age of 25.
Those at risk of having a crash due to drowsy driving include commercial drivers- especially long-haul drivers (at least 15% of all heavy truck crashes are caused by fatigue), business travelers who drive excessively or who are jet lagged, individuals with untreated sleep disorders and those with short term sleep deprivation. Shift workers and employees working long hours increase their risk by almost 6%. Even drinking a small amount of alcohol puts you at risk for driving drowsy.
Follow these safety tips before you embark on your next journey.
Get plenty of sleep, approximately 7-9 hours
Take breaks – every 100 miles or every 2 hours on long trips
Bring along someone to talk and share the driving with
Avoid alcohol and sedatives
Drive the hours you would normally be awake
If you experience any of the following, you are at risk of “driving while drowsy” and should stop driving and rest. If possible, find a safe place to nap for 15-20 minutes.
Difficulty focusing, blinking frequently or droopy eyelids
Have trouble keeping your head up
Feeling restless and irritable
Daydreaming
Not remembering the last few miles driven, missing exits or traffic signs
Yawning excessively
Drifting from lane to lane, tailgating or hitting shoulder rumble strips
Consuming caffeine can help but only for a short amount of time and not for those who consume it on a regular basis.
Don’t snooze and lose! Get plenty of rest before you drive
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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.