Don't Drive Drowsy

We all know it's dangerous to drink and drive, but many people do not realize that drowsiness can impair a driver's senses to nearly the same degree as a little alcohol. Drowsiness often causes a reduced awareness of surroundings and temporarily impairs vision. You may not notice that the car ahead has suddenly braked to a halt.

Even after you finally do sense the danger, drowsiness is likely to slow reaction time and keep the brain from quickly processing information that can help you prevent slamming into the rear bumper looming before you.

Who's at risk?

It is unknown exactly how many auto accidents are related to drowsiness. However, a 2005 poll by the National Sleep Foundation found that 60 percent of drivers admitted to driving drowsy in the past year, and 37 percent admitted to falling asleep at the wheel.

Certain people may be at increased risk of experiencing fatigue when driving. This includes people who work long hours, have untreated sleep disorders, and shift workers or commercial drivers. Statistics also show that young people, particularly males under age 26, are at higher risk for accidents related to drowsiness.

How do you know if you are too drowsy to drive? Typically, signs of fatigue grow steadily worse the longer you are behind the wheel. Your eyelids may droop and you may begin to nod off just before jerking back to attention. Constant yawning, disconnected thoughts and blurred vision are other signals of intense drowsiness when driving.

At this point, it is important to pull off the road safely and avoid driving until you feel rested again. Ignore these signals and you may suddenly find yourself veering toward the shoulder of the road or crossing over into a lane of oncoming traffic.

The best way to prevent such potentially disastrous scenarios is to take measures that combat drowsiness before it starts. Drowsiness can strike drivers at any time, but statistics show that crashes are most like to occur in the midafternoon and at night, when our body's daily rhythmic activity cycle, known as circadian rhythms, is most likely to experience sleepiness, according to the National Sleep Foundation.

Extra caution in the spring

During daylight-saving time, use extra caution when driving during these times. If possible, you may want to avoid driving at all in late afternoons and evenings until your body adjusts to daylight-saving time.

Tips for staying awake

Also keep the following tips in mind after daylight-saving time starts, but also at any time when you may be short on sleep:

During long drives, take rest breaks every 100 miles or two hours
Do not drive long distances at mid-afternoon or night
Avoid sedating medications (e.g., cold tablets and antihistamines) before driving
Abstain from alcohol, even in small amounts
Reschedule long drives on roads that are rural, dark or have dull scenery
Split the driving duties with someone else when traveling long distances
Get at least seven to nine hours of sleep each night
If you’re tired but must drive, drink something caffeinated or have a 15- to 20-minute nap before driving

Eventually, your internal clock will get back into synch with reality, and fatigue associated with daylight-saving time will pass. Until that occurs, proper vigilance can help keep drowsiness from derailing you on the way to your destination.

To learn more about getting proper sleep, visit the Sleep Center.