Drowsy Driving Causes More than 100,000 Crashes a Year

Approximately 1,550 deaths and 71,000 injuries are caused each year by drowsy driving. We have all heard the horrifying stories in the news; the Wal-Mart truck driver who struck Tracy Morgan, seriously injuring Morgan and killing another passenger. In the Wal-Mart matter, the truck driver had been awake for more than 24 hours at the time of the crash! But there are other stories as well.

Who is at risk of falling asleep at the wheel?

Unfortunately, we are all human and at risk. However, it is not only fatigue that causes us to fall asleep at the wheel. We know we should get a good night sleep. However, in a world where everything needs to be done right away and sleep comes second, that is not always possible. Additionally, most people work well over the 40 hours that were typical in older days.

With that being said, research has identified those at an increased risk for falling asleep at the wheel as:

young males, especially under 26 years old
shift workers or those working long hours
those working night shifts
those working rotating shifts where each day your work shift is different
business travelers who spend many hours driving or flying and become jet lagged
commercial drivers
people with untreated sleep disorders
peopel with short-term chronic sleep deprivation

Consider the following before you get behind the wheel:

Did you get enough sleep before driving?
Are you going to start a long driving trip? Do you have enough rest stops planned for breaks?
Are you going to be driving through the night hours alone?
Are you going to drive when you are normally sleeping?
Are you working too many hours and not sleeping enough in between shifts?
Do you have someone you can call when you start to feel tired to keep you awake?
Did you have any alcohol before driving that may make you more tired?
Did you take any medications before driving that could make you sleepy or groggy?

Where to learn more information?

drowsydriving.org