Studies have demonstrated that driving while deprived of sleep – driving drowsy – can be just as dangerous as driving drunk. Sleepiness is second only to drunkenness as a cause of automobile accidents, and is the number one cause of heavy trucking accidents. At least one in every twenty Americans has caused an accident by falling asleep at the wheel.

Drowsy driving refers to drivers who actually fall asleep at the wheel; but driving drowsy can also create dangerous situations. Like drugs and alcohol, drowsiness slows a driver’s reaction time, decreases awareness, slows information processing, impairs judgment and increases the risk of a crash.

Drowsy Driving: Who Is At Risk?

The National Sleep Foundation found that half of American drivers admit to being drowsy behind the wheel during the previous year, and almost one in five admit to having fallen asleep behind the wheel. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that each year drowsy driving is responsible for at least 100,000 automobile crashes, 71,000 injuries, and 1,550 fatalities.

Drivers at risk for drowsy driving typically:

• Have short-term or chronic sleep deprivation;
• Travel frequently;
• Drive alone;
• Have not slept in 12 hours or more;
• Drive long distances without taking rest breaks;
• Drive at night or in the early morning;
• Take medication that causes drowsiness;
• Have consumed alcohol; and/or
• Drive on long, open high-speed highways or rural roads that are monotonous.

Prescriptions, especially anxiolytic hypnotics (like Valium), tricyclic antidepressants such as nortriptyline, and non-prescription medications, including antihistamines like Benadryl, and alcohol or codeine-containing products (like Nyquil or Tylenol 3) often cause drowsiness. Alcohol consumption and drug use can be particularly problematic when combined with other fatigue-inducing factors.

Sleep Deprivation Presents Real Car Crash Risk

Many drivers are sleep deprived in our modern society, and habitually restricting sleep one or two hours a night creates chronic sleepiness. Young adults are most at risk (especially males aged 16 to 29), who stay up late, sleep too little and drive at night. Others at risk include the elderly or overweight; those that work more than one job, more than 60 hours a week, nights, or change shifts; business travelers who drive a lot or may be jet lagged; long-distance truck drivers; and those with (often undiagnosed) sleep disorders such as insomnia, sleep apnea or narcolepsy.

A key danger for drowsy drivers are “microsleeps.” Given the monotony of the road, the ongoing effort to focus on driving and a warm vehicle, it is easy to nod off for just a few seconds. If you are traveling at 55 miles per hour, your car travels the length of a football field in just four seconds.

Turning up the radio, opening the windows, turning on the air conditioner, chewing gum, eating or drinking, yelling, singing, getting out of the car and running around, striking/slapping yourself or other common tactics are NOT effective ways to stay awake when driving.

Caffeine – the equivalent of two cups of coffee – can help overcome drowsiness for a short period of time, but it takes about 30 minutes for it to enter the bloodstream, and it will not greatly affect those who regularly consume it. The best thing to do is to pull off the road in a safe rest area and take a 15 to 45 minute nap. Be sure to take time to completely wake up, and be sure you are refreshed – consider taking a walk – before driving again.

Signs You Need To Stop Driving

What are the signs you need a nap?

• Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, heavy eyelids;
• Daydreaming; wandering/disconnected thoughts;
• Trouble remembering the last few miles driven; missing exits or traffic signs;
• Yawning repeatedly or rubbing your eyes;
• Trouble keeping your head up;
• Drifting from your lane, tailgating, or hitting a shoulder rumble strip;
• Feeling restless and irritable.

The best prevention for drowsy driving is a good night’s sleep the night before any trip of eight hours or more. Be sure to take a mid-afternoon break, and sleep between midnight and 6:00 a.m. Don’t travel alone; a companion can act as a co-pilot, talk to you, see early signs of fatigue and take a shift behind the wheel when needed. Take a break every 100 miles, or every two hours. Avoid alcohol and medications that may make you sleepy, and compound your fatigue. If you are frequently sleepy during the day, have trouble sleeping at night and/or snore loudly, have yourself evaluated for a sleep disorder.

If you were involved in an accident concerning a drowsy or distracted driver, contact an experienced automotive accident lawyer as soon as possible. Your car accident lawyer can help you file suit and possibly obtain compensation or damages for the injuries and economic cost sustained in the course of a car crash.