NEW YORK — As many truckers know when the clocks move back an hour this weekend as daylight savings time ends, the risk of drowsy driving increases.
“As daylight savings ends, we do more driving in the dusk and dark, and that’s when more crashes occur,” said Michelle Anderson of the National Road Safety Foundation “The change in time also can cause drowsiness.”
More than 60% of U.S. motorists have driven while fatigued, and nearly 37% admit to having fallen asleep at the wheel, surveys show. At highway speeds, a driver who dozes for only four or five seconds can travel more than the length of a football field, crossing into oncoming traffic or off the road.
Driver Fatigue Increases Crash Rates
Anderson cites National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that say an estimated 100,000 crashes each year are caused by drowsy driving, and AAA estimates that 21 percent of fatal crashes involve driver fatigue.
The National Road Safety Foundation urges drivers to be alert to these signs of drowsiness while driving:
- Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, rubbing eyes.
- Daydreaming or not remembering the last few miles driven.
- Head snaps and yawning.
- Drifting out of your lane, tailgating or hitting rumble strips.
What to Do About Driver Fatigue
If you experience any of these warning signs, find a safe place to pull over and take a break. Have a cup of coffee or a caffeinated snack or take a 20-minute nap. Allow 30 minutes for caffeine to enter your bloodstream. Some common remedies like blasting the radio or opening the car windows are not effective at avoiding drowsiness while driving.
Fatigue can cause ‘micro-sleeps’ lasting several seconds, which have devastating results when driving.
“We’ve seen too many examples of people trying to make it those last few miles when fatigued, only to crash a few blocks from home,” Anderson said. “Don’t try to tough it out.”
Anderson also encourages passengers to speak up if they are with a driver who seems fatigued.
“Speaking up about risky driving behavior, whether it’s drowsiness or speeding or distraction can save lives,” Anderson said.
NRSF has free programs on drowsy driving, including “Almost Home,” a compelling 18-minute video, as well as a drowsiness self-assessment quiz and a personal sleep log. Click here to download.
Dana Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has been featured in multiple newspapers, books and magazines across the globe.
