National Sleep Foundation Launches Annual Drowsy Driving Prevention Week(R) to
Prevent Fall-Asleep Crashes With Tips and Countermeasures
/ADVANCE FOR RELEASE AT 12:01 A.M. EDT, MONDAY, NOV. 2/
/ADVANCE/ WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Sleepiness is often
overlooked as a major contributor to vehicle crashes. The National Sleep
Foundation's 2009 Sleep in America poll shows that 1% or as many as 1.9
million drivers have had a car crash or a near miss due to drowsiness in the
past year. Even more surprising, 54% of drivers (105 million) have driven
while drowsy at least once in the past year, and 28% (54 million) do so at
least once per month.
"People underestimate how tired they are and think that they can stay awake by
sheer force of will," said Thomas Balkin, Ph.D., Chairman of the National
Sleep Foundation. "This is a risky misconception. Would there be 1.9 million
fatigue-related crashes or near misses if people were good at assessing their
own ability to drive when fatigued?"
"The problem," says Balkin, "is that although we are pretty good at
recognizing when we feel sleepy, we do not recognize the process of actually
falling asleep as it is happening. The process robs us of both self-awareness
and awareness of our environment. All it takes is a moment of reduced
awareness to cause a crash."
Studies show that being awake for more than 20 hours results in an impairment
equal to a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%, the legal limit in all
states. Like alcohol, fatigue slows reaction time, decreases awareness and
impairs judgment. But unlike an awake driver impaired by alcohol, a sleeping
driver is unable to take any action to avoid a crash.
"Too many Americans are exhausted when they get behind the wheel, and they may
not fully understand how dangerous it is to drive while drowsy," says David M.
Cloud, the National Sleep Foundation's Chief Executive Officer. "The National
Sleep Foundation recommends that drivers take practical measures when they
feel that sleepiness is impairing their driving. Unfortunately, many drivers
are misinformed on what to do in this situation. Understanding crucial warning
signs and countermeasures is key to preventing fatigue-related crashes."
Feeling Sleepy? Stop driving if you exhibit these warning signs!
The following warning signs indicate that it's time to stop driving and find a
safe place to pull over and address your condition:
-- Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking and/or heavy eyelids
-- Difficulty keeping reveries or daydreams at bay
-- Trouble keeping your head up
-- Drifting from your lane, swerving, tailgating and/or hitting rumble
strips
-- Unable to clearly remember the last few miles driven
-- Missing exits or traffic signs
-- Yawning repeatedly
-- Feeling restless, irritable, or aggressive
Countermeasures - National Sleep Foundation's Tips for Drowsy-free Driving:
-- Get a good night's sleep before you hit the road. Most adults need 7 -
9
hours of sleep to maintain proper alertness.
-- Don't be too rushed to arrive at your destination. Many drivers try to
maximize their time by driving at night or not stopping for breaks.
However, crashes caused by sleepiness are among the most deadly. It's
worth extra time and money to arrive at your destination safely.
-- Use the buddy system. Just as you should not swim alone, avoid driving
alone for long distances. A buddy who remains awake for the journey
can
take a turn behind the wheel and help identify the warning signs of
fatigue.
-- Take a break every 100 miles or 2 hours.
-- Avoid alcohol and sedating medications check your labels or ask your
doctor or pharmacist about side-effects.
-- Avoid driving at times when you would normally be sleeping.
-- Take a nap; if you feel that you are in danger of falling asleep find
a
safe place to take a 15 to 20-minute nap.
-- Pack a cooler with caffeinated beverages or keep caffeinated gum and
mints in the glove compartment. The equivalent of two cups of coffee
can
increase alertness for several hours. Since caffeine in liquid form
takes about 20 to 30 minutes to take effect, consume caffeine before
taking a short nap to get the benefits of both. However, it should
be
remembered that caffeine does not replace sleep, it only delays its
onset temporarily.
-- Adequate sleep remains the best countermeasure for sleepiness!
For more information about drowsy driving, visit www.sleepfoundation.org.
Drowsy Driving Prevention Week(R)
In an effort to reduce the number of fatigue-related crashes and to save
lives, the National Sleep Foundation is declaring November 2-8, 2009 Drowsy
Driving Prevention Week(R). This annual campaign provides public education
about the under-reported risks of driving while drowsy and countermeasures to
improve safety on the road.
About the National Sleep Foundation
The National Sleep Foundation is dedicated to improving sleep health and
safety through education, public awareness, and advocacy. It is well-known
for its annual Sleep in America poll. The Foundation is a charitable,
educational and scientific not-for-profit organization located in Washington,
DC. Its membership includes researchers and clinicians focused on sleep
medicine, professionals in the health, medical and science fields,
individuals, patients, people affected by drowsy driving and more than 900
healthcare facilities throughout North America. For more information about the
National Sleep Foundation and a directory of its sleep center members, please
visit www.sleepfoundation.org.
Sponsors for Drowsy Driving Prevention Week(R) 2009
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz continues to be a leader in developing technologies to help keep
drivers safe and alert. The ATTENTION ASSIST drowsiness-detection system, an
innovation released on the all-new 2010 E-Class sedan, is equipped with
sophisticated sensors that monitor the driver's operation of the vehicle
across 70 parameters that have proven to be strong indicators of alertness
levels. Mercedes-Benz is a proud sponsor of Drowsy Driving Prevention Week(R)
(Nov. 2-8). For more information, visit
http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/#/whatsnew/)
National Sleep Awareness Roundtable
The National Sleep Awareness Roundtable (NSART) is a national coalition of
governmental, professional, voluntary, and other organizations whose mission
is to raise awareness about the public health and safety impact of sleep
deprivation and sleep disorders by improving communication and collaboration
among local, state and federal agencies; professional organizations; and the
public. For more information, visit www.NSART.org
SOURCE National Sleep Foundation
Jennifer Cowher Williams of the National Sleep Foundation, +1-202-347-3471
x211, jwilliams@sleepfoundation.org
