National Road Safety Foundation offers tips to stay awake behind the wheel
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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – NEW YORK, March 7, 2012 — It’s an annual ritual that, perhaps more accurately than the groundhog, reminds us that spring is almost here. The switch to daylight savings time this weekend, however, also signals a greater risk to people on our roads and highways nationwide.
The National Road Safety Foundation warns drivers to be extra cautious at this time of year and to be especially aware of the risk of driver fatigue. The time change can disrupt normal sleep patterns, resulting in less sleep and the possibility of fatigue behind the wheel.
Drowsy driving results in more than 100,000 crashes every year, causing about 1,500 deaths, 71,000 injuries and more than $12 billion in losses, reports the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“Drowsy driving can be as dangerous as drinking and driving,” said David Reich of the National Road Safety Foundation, a non-profit organization that produces and distributes free driver safety education programs. Studies show 60 percent of motorists have driven while fatigued and more than a third admit to having fallen asleep at the wheel.
“Rolling down the windows or blasting the radio won’t keep you awake if you are sleep-deprived,” Reich said. “Your brain may take micro-sleeps for a few seconds or longer.”
During a three- or four-second micro-sleep, a car at highway speed can travel the length of a football field and veer out of its lane and into oncoming traffic or off the road and into a tree. Sleep-induced crashes are often very serious, since a dozing driver may not take evasive or corrective action as the vehicle leaves its lane.
Drivers need to recognize the signs of drowsiness that should warn a driver to stop and rest:
Difficulty focusing
Frequent blinking
Not remembering the last few miles driven
Head nodding
Repeated yawning or rubbing eyes
Drifting out of your lane, tailgating or going over rumble strips.
A driver who experiences any of these warning signs should pull over at the next safe spot and take a break — if possible, a 20-minute nap. Have a cup or two of coffee or a caffeinated snack and allow 30 minutes for the caffeine to enter your bloodstream. Don’t drink alcohol or take medications.
The National Road Safety Foundation produces films and teaching materials that have been used to train millions of young drivers. Its program “Recognizing the Drowsy Driver,” as well as others that deal with drinking and driving and speed and aggression can be downloaded free at www.nrsf.org or call by calling toll-free 1-866-SAFEPATH. In May, the group will introduce a new program for teens on prom driving safety. To request a free copy, email [email protected], with the subject line “Prom Safety Program.”
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