BUFFALO, N.Y. — This week is Drowsy Driving Prevention Week and AAA is offering tips on how to avoid falling asleep at the wheel.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has reported an estimate of 100,000 crashes caused by drowsy driving each year. This has resulted in over 71,000 injuries and $12.5 million in damages.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, drowsy driving is one of the four major causes of impaired driving along with drunk, drugged and distracted driving.
AAA did a 2023 research on traffic safety and found that drivers underestimate their drowsiness, making them continue to get behind the wheel when they shouldn't under these conditions.
What was found during a simulated highway driving experiment, that most drivers knew that they were drowsy, but didn't know how accurately.
Some of the study found:
- When drivers rated their level of drowsiness as low, 75% of them were, in fact, moderately or severely drowsy.
- Even when drivers’ eyes were closed for 15 seconds or longer over a one-minute window— indicative of severe drowsiness—one in four still rated their drowsiness as low.
- Drivers very rarely took breaks unless they perceived that they were very drowsy.
- Even when drivers recognized they were extremely drowsy, they still declined 75% of their opportunities to take breaks and kept driving.
Other recommendations from AAA to avoid include, avoiding eating heavy foods before driving and taking medications that cause drowsiness or any other impairments. AAA also says to avoid traveling at times when you normally wouldn't be awake.
Drivers traveling long distances should do as follows:
- Schedule a break every two hours or every 100 miles
- Travel with an alert passenger and take turns driving
- Do not underestimate the power of a quick nap. Pulling into a rest stop and taking a quick catnap — at least 20 minutes and no more than 30 minutes of sleep– can help to keep you alert on the road.
You can learn more information about safe driving here.
