Monthly Sleep Tip - November 2009

Did you know that driving drowsy is just as dangerous as drunk driving? Unfortunately, there is not a test to determine a driver’s level of sleepiness as a driver gets behind the wheel.

Each year in the U.S. there are more than 100,000 reported accidents that are caused by drowsy driving.

Utah Facts

• Each year in the United states, there are 71,000 accidents resulting in injuries and 1,500 deaths
• In Utah each year, statistics show that there are more than 1000 accidents attributed to drowsy driving, 30 of which resulted in death.  Since it is difficult to attribute crashes to sleepiness, this number could be higher 
• You may also be surprised to know that 62% of surveyed American adults reported driving while feeling drowsy
• According to the Utah Department of Public Safety poll, 40% of adult drivers in Utah – about 642,000 people – say they have fallen asleep at the wheel 
• About 90% of all fatigue/drowsy diving fatalities occur on rural roadways
• More people fall asleep at the wheel between noon and 5:00 PM than any other time of the day

How to know if you are at risk

• Sleep-deprived or fatigued (6 hours of sleep or less triples your risk)
• Driving long distances without proper rest
• Taking sedating medications (antidepressants, cold medication, antihistamines, painkillers)
• Working more than 60 hours weekly increased your risk of 40%
• If you are a shift worker
• Drinking alcohol, even small doses
• Driving alone or on a long, dark boring road
• You feel the need to drink large amounts of caffeine

What are the warning signs?

• Frequent blinking or difficulty focusing
• Persistent yawning
• Wandering thoughts, daydreaming, disconnected thoughts
• Drifting between lanes or onto the shoulder
• Irritable, restless and impatient
• You notice you have tension in your back
• Your eyes burn and your breathing becomes shallow
• Trouble remembering the last few miles driven

How to prevent driving drowsy

• Get a good nights sleep
• Schedule regular stops, every 100 miles or every 2 hours to get out of the car and walk around
• Take a companion on long trips
• Keep  the temperature cool in the car
• When you feel fatigued, get off the road and take a short nap in a well-lit area.  Do not simply stop on the side of the road. 

If daytime drowsiness affects your daily life and routine, seek diagnosis and treatment by a physician that is board certified in sleep medicine.

Ref.  http://ut.zerofatalities.com/popup_drowsy.php
www.utahsafetycouncil.org
www.americanindian.net/sleepstats.html