The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that sleepy drivers cause at least 100,000 motor vehicle crashes each year. With Daylight Saving Time beginning on Sunday morning, April 1, a loss of an additional hour of sleep puts those on the road in even greater danger. One in five adult drivers report to having dozed off at the wheel last year. Russell Rosenberg, Ph.D., director of the Northside Hospital Sleep Medicine Institute, equates drowsy driving to driving while under the influence of alcohol.
Sleepiness slows a person s reaction time, decreases awareness and impairs judgment.
Sleep experts recommend that adults receive at least eight hours of sleep a night in order to function properly and maintain alertness. Yet, one in three adults sleep only six hours or less nightly during the week and often sacrifice sleep in order to accomplish more. Should you find yourself drowsy while driving, the NSF offers several tips to help regain alertness. Pulling off into a safe area and taking a brief nap often improves the sluggish feeling associated with sleepiness. Caffeinated beverages or brisk movement to get the blood flowing also offer short-term relief for tired drivers.