Crash in Bed Not on the Road

Crash in Bed Not on the Road 

Most people are aware of the hazards of drunk driving.  But driving while sleepy can be just as dangerous. Indeed, crashes due to sleepy drivers are as deadly as those due to drivers impaired by alcohol. And you don’t have to be asleep at the wheel to put yourself and others in danger. Both alcohol and a lack of sleep limit your ability to react quickly to a suddenly braking car, a sharp curve in the road, or other  situations that require rapid responses.

Here are some potentially life-saving tips for avoiding drowsy driving:

#1. Be well rested before hitting the road.  If you have several nights in a row of fewer than 7-8 hours of sleep, your reaction time slows.  Restoring that reaction time to normal can take more than one night of good sleep, because a sleep debt accumulates after each night you lose sleep. It may take several nights of being well rested to repay that sleep debt and make you ready for driving on
a long road trip.

#2. Avoid driving between midnight and 7 a.m.  Unless you are accustomed to being awake then, this period of time is when we are naturally the least alert and most tired.

#3. Don’t drive alone. A companion who can keep you engaged in conversation might help you stay awake while driving.

#4. Schedule frequent breaks on long road trips.  If you feel sleepy while driving, pull off the road and take a nap for 15–20 minutes.

#5. Don’t drink alcohol.  Just one beer when you are sleep deprived will affect you as much as two or three beers when you are well rested.

#6. Don’t count on caffeine or other tricks.  Although drinking a cola or a cup of coffee might help keep you awake for a short time, it won’t over come extreme sleepiness or relieve a sleep debt.