According to a 2005 poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, 60% of adult drivers (about 168 million people) say that they have been behind the wheel while feeling drowsy. What makes this information so concerning is the fact that driving when you’re tired is comparable to driving while intoxicated. It creates slow reaction times, poor judgement and decision making. Because of this, it’s estimated that 100,000 police-reported crashes have occurred, resulting in about 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries and $12.5 billion in monetary losses. That begs the question, how can drowsy driving be avoided altogether? Well, we have a few suggestions below: Start by getting enough sleep. While the amount varies from person to person, it’s suggested that adults get 7-9 hours and teens get 8 ½-9 ½ hours of sleep each night. Schedule your stops. You should be taking a break every 100 miles or two hours, whichever comes first. Avoid alcohol and medications. Alcohol interacts with fatigue much like drinking on an empty stomach does, and some medications can do the same. Take a travel buddy. If you’re taking a longer trip, having someone in the vehicle with you is ideal. You can switch off drivers and will have someone to talk to, helping you stay alert. "Detection and Prevention." Drowsy Driving Stay Alert Arrive Alive RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Oct. 2016.
