Driving Safety
Drowsy drivers pose major risks
Certain people were particularly likely to report drowsiness while driving, including those who slept less than six hours daily and those who snored at night, a potential sign of a sleep disorder. Falling asleep at the wheel during driving is one of the major factors that cause widespread impact. In many cases, deadly motor vehicle accidents involved a driver who was either sleepy or dozing off. Accidents involving sleepy drivers are more likely to be deadly or cause injuries, in part because people who fall asleep at the wheel either fail to hit their brakes or veer off the road before crashing. Recent study published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report revealed that short sleep duration and snoring were each independently associated with a greater likelihood of sleepy driving. Snoring is often â€" though not always â€" a marker for obstructive sleep apnea, which causes intermittent pauses in breathing at night. Researchers said that people might just close their eyes for a second or two. One of the warning signs is when they have trouble remembering the last few miles that they have driven, or when you miss an exit. It could be because you actually fell asleep for a second. Even being tired and sleep deprived without actually nodding off can be a serious problem on the road. Fatigue slows reaction times and can lead to poor judgment. Studies show that going without sleep for 20 to 21 hours and then getting behind the wheel is comparable to having a blood alcohol level of about .08 percent, which is the legal limit in most states. Researchers advised that people should look for a place in this situation to pull over and drift off for a few minutes. Then maybe grab a cup of coffee afterward. The safest thing is to look for a place that’s secure where you can take a quick nap.
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