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Tips To Prevent Drowsy Driving

Most people know how drugs and alcohol affect a driver - - slowed reaction time, decreased awareness and impaired judgment. But many drivers are unaware that sleepiness can have the same effects, making driving drowsy as dangerous as driving drunk.

The groups most at risk for drowsy driving are young people, shift workers or those with non-traditional work schedules, commercial drivers, and people with undiagnosed sleep disorders.

Young people under the age of 25 account for over half of all sleep-related driving accidents. They are typically sleep-deprived from staying up late and sleeping too little, and they do much of their driving at the time of greatest risk, at night. Shift workers, find the morning drive home from work especially risky.

Commercial drivers are also especially susceptible to sleep-related accidents. In addition to the high number of miles they drive each year, much of their driving is done at night, when the body is sleepiest.

What time and situations put drivers at the most risk for sleepy driving? Between the hours of midnight and six a.m., or in the middle of the afternoon between one and four p.m. during the "afternoon lull" are prime times for drowsy driving accidents. Drivers are most likely to fall asleep at the wheel when driving alone or when on a long, monotonous drive. Waking up early to start a journey, or staying up late the night before a trip to prepare, also puts drivers at a greater risk.

The Insurance Council of New Jersey offers the following advice to help drivers prevent drowsy driving:

Recognize the danger signals for drowsy driving. If your eyes close or go out of focus by themselves, if you have trouble keeping your head up, cannot stop yawning, have wandering, disconnected thoughts, cannot remember driving the last few miles, drift between lanes, tailgate, miss traffic signs, or have a difficult time maintaining constant speed, take these as warning signs that you could fall asleep at the wheel.
Coffee and other stimulants are substitutes for sleep. They may help you feel more alert, but the effects last only a short time and you may still experience "micro-sleeps" (brief naps that last about five seconds).
Pull over frequently. Schedule a break every two hours or every 100 miles. During your break take a nap, stretch, get some exercise. If you pull over for a nap make sure you park in a safe spot and lock your doors.
Don't get hypnotized by the road. Drivers frequently get hypnotized by the lines on the road. Make a conscious effort to keep your eyes moving every few seconds from the road to the side and rear mirrors and back to the road again.
Keep your body relaxed. A tight grip on the wheel and tense neck and shoulder muscles add to fatigue.
Vary the climate control settings in your car. A cool car will keep you more alert. Rolling down the window for fresh air also helps.
Play games or find activities that keep you awake. Make sure however, that they do not interfere with your driving.
Listen to the radio, or cassette tapes.
Talk to your passengers; ask your front seat passenger to stay awake.
Switch drivers.
Plan to drive during the hours of the day when you are normally awake. Avoid driving during your body's down time, at night and during the mid afternoon.
Have your car checked for exhaust system problems. Carbon monoxide emissions can cause fatigue.