April 2004
Wake up to the risks of drowsy driving
| Getting behind the wheel when you're short on sleep is very risky business. The worst-case scenario, falling asleep at the
wheel, is surprisingly common. Drowsy driving is blamed for at least 100,000 accidents, 71,000 injuries, and 1,550 deaths
in the U.S. each year. In 2003, New Jersey enacted a first-of-its-kind law stipulating that sleep-deprived drivers who cause fatal accidents can be charged with vehicular homicide. New York is considering an anti-drowsy-driving measure. And other states have prosecuted fatigued drivers under existing laws. The New Jersey law defines a fatigued driver as one who has gone without sleep for more than 24 hours. But you needn't be that sleep-deprived to court trouble. People who sleep six to seven hours a night--the norm for many Americans--are nearly twice as likely to have a fatigue-related accident as those who sleep eight hours or more, according to a 1999 study of 1,403 drivers by the University of North Carolina's Highway Safety Research Center and School of Medicine. Like alcohol, fatigue slows reaction time and impairs judgment and vision. Being up for 24 hours is akin to being legally drunk. Getting enough sleep is the best way to avoid drowsy driving: Aim for eight hours a night. Other factors that can make you drowsy include the following: Circadian rhythms. Your body's urge to sleep is strongest from about midnight to 6 a.m. and in the midafternoon. Driving conditions. Late-night driving, long trips, and monotonous roads can make you tired, especially if you're alone. Alcohol. Even small amounts can exacerbate the effects of fatigue. Medications. Antianxiety medications, narcotics, and some antihistamines can make you drowsy. Also beware of drugs that can disrupt sleep, leaving you tired the next day. Check labels and also ask your doctor or pharmacist whether any of your medications could cause drowsiness or sleep disruption. Medical disorders. If you're often sleepy or fatigued for no obvious reason, visit a doctor to find out if an underlying disorder, such as sleep apnea, is to blame. If you find yourself fighting fatigue behind the wheel, the two best tactics are to either stop for the night or have someone else take over driving. If you can't, try this short-term fix: Pull over to a safe location, drink two cups of coffee, and take a 15- to 20-minute nap, which gives the caffeine time to enter your bloodstream. |
