Catch Some "Z's" Before Hitting the Road

MD DOT, Jan 27, 2005

Hanover, MD (March 25, 2004) - When was the last time you got a full night's sleep?  If you're like nearly one-quarter of American adults who responded to a recent National Sleep Foundation (NSF) poll, you may not even be getting the minimum amount of sleep necessary to feel fully alert the next day - a major problem, especially when you're on the road.

As part of the "12 Months of Safety" campaign, the Maryland Department of Transportation reminds motorists that "Crashes are No Accident, You Hold the Key."  That key can be found in getting enough rest to avoid drowsy and distracted driving - a major cause of crashes in Maryland.  Consider this: if you're driving at 60 miles per hour and close your eyes for only one second, you will have traveled 88 feet!

The quantity and quality of our sleep affects our safety.  Lack of sleep makes us less alert, reducing reaction time to traffic situations and more prone falling asleep while driving.  The consequences of sleep deprivation can be particularly lethal on the road.  A recent survey conducted by the NSF found that more than 50 percent of adult drivers reported driving while drowsy in the past year.

Nearly 20 percent - some 32 million people - said they actually fell asleep at the wheel.  Additionally, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that at least 100,000 police-reported crashes and 1,500 deaths occur in the US each year because of drowsy driving.

National Sleep Awareness Week, coordinated by the NSF during the days leading to Daylight Savings Time, is a perfect time for Marylanders to evaluate the amount of rest they usually obtain and to make a commitment to get a full night of uninterrupted rest.  "The theme of National Sleep Awareness Week, 'Sleep is a Good Choice,' stresses the importance of proper rest, especially before taking to the road," said Maryland State Highway (SHA) Administrator and Governor's Highway Safety Representative Neil J. Pedersen. 

"SHA's Highway Safety Office is proud to be a cooperative co-sponsor of the National Sleep Foundation's Sleep Awareness Week activities.  If we influence just one person to think twice before getting behind the wheel while tired, then this week has been a success."

National Sleep Awareness Week 2004 educates the public about the benefits of getting a good night's sleep, addresses the consequences of driving while drowsy or fatigued, and raises awareness about the importance of safe driving, paying attention to the road, and being alert at all times while traveling along Maryland roads.   

SHA will join hundreds of organizations around the nation to mark National Sleep Awareness Week 2004 beginning March 29 and extending through April 4.  Statewide educational efforts will reflect the commitment to promoting healthy sleep, and the ever-growing concern of distracted and drowsy driving related crashes. 

SHA's Highway Safety Office, in direct partnership with the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA), will provide free printed material at the Glen Burnie MVA location on March 29.  Additionally, staff will disseminate educational material to commercial truck agencies and to other drivers who often drive great distances for long periods of time.  Schools and Parent Teacher Associations will also receive information for Maryland's teens - our youngest and least experienced drivers. 

Danger signs of fatigued driving include:
 
repeated yawning, closing your eyes,suddenly jerking the wheel to get back in your lane,missing road signs or exits,
nodding off,disconnected thoughts,no memory of the last few miles, and drifting out of your lane.
 
What you can do to avoid drowsy driving:
 
Get a good night's sleep before a long drive.  If that is not possible, take a significant nap before you head out on the road. Drive with other people.  Conversation helps you stay focused, and your passenger can notice if you start losing your concentration.  It also allows you to switch drivers at regular intervals.

Make regular stops.  Try to stop at a rest area or convenience store approximately every two hours or 100 miles.  This gives you a little exercise, fresh air, and a change of scenery from sitting behind the wheel.
Make sure you are not on medication that will make you drowsy.  If you are taking any medication that could cause drowsiness, you need to be extremely careful or have someone else drive.

Don't push it if you are tired.