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Drowsy Driving & Fatigue |  |
Introduction | Programs & Solutions | FAQs | Safety Tips |
SLEEPING AND DRIVING DON'T MIX!
When you are behind the wheel of a car, being sleepy is dangerous. Although most people know how dangerous drinking and driving is, they may not fully realize that drowsy driving can be just as fatal as driving drunk. Like drugs or alcohol, sleepiness slows reaction time, decreases awareness, impairs judgment and increases your risk of a crash.
However, it's difficult to attribute crashes to sleepiness because there is no standardized test for drowsiness, as there is for intoxication. This lack of standard criteria for determining when a driver is sleepy may be one reason there is little or no police training in identifying drowsiness as a crash factor.
NEW YORK STATE TASK FORCE ON DROWSY DRIVING
Since 1994, the New York State Task Force on Drowsy Driving has coordinated statewide efforts to reduce drowsy driving. In 1994, the Task Force submitted a report with recommendations to the Governor, and the Task Force has met periodically to monitor the implementation of these recommendations and develop new initiatives. Currently, the Task Force includes representatives of the medical and research communities, state and federal agencies, the state legislature, and private sector organizations who have worked together to make New York a leader in saving lives.
The member organizations of the Task Force have implemented a wide array of additional countermeasures, including the following:
RUMBLE STRIPS
Fatigue-related crashes tend to be single-vehicle crashes in which a car or truck leaves the roadway and then turns over or hits a fixed object. It has been estimated that between 40 and 60 percent of these "run-off-road" (or ROR) crashes are due to driver fatigue, drowsiness or inattention. Run-off-road crashes constitute a serious highway safety problem, accounting for one-third of all traffic fatalities nationally and two-thirds of fatalities in rural areas.
Rumble strips are proving to be a valuable tool in the effort to prevent fatigue-related crashes. They are comprised of raised or grooved patterns installed in shoulder pavements or directly in travel lanes. Drive over one and you will immediately understand why they are called "rumble" strips. When a vehicle's tires pass over them, the driver is alerted by a sudden and loud rumbling sound accompanied by a jarring vibration of the vehicle.
Shoulder rumble strips are an effective way to grab a driver's attention and to warn them that they are about to leave the road. Rumble strips can reduce run-off-road crashes by an estimated 20 to 50 percent. As an example, the New York State Thruway experienced a 34 percent decrease in run-off-road crashes after rumble strips were installed. This is all the more impressive considering that overall crash rates increased by more than 11 percent at the same time.
Rumble strips can also be used to warn motorists of upcoming changes in the roadway or situations which demand a driver's immediate attention. For example, they may be used at toll plazas, in work zones, and before dangerous intersections.
Additional information on rumble strips may be obtained from the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) web page. Visit the FHWA web page at http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/rumble.htm.
What is the scope of the drowsy driving problem?
Based on a survey conducted by the Institute for Traffic Safety and Fact Finders, Inc., in 1994, 25 percent of NYS drivers have fallen asleep at the wheel; 55 percent drove drowsy within the past year.
How many highway crashes are attributable to drowsiness or fatigue?
Police-reported crash data underestimates the scope of the problem, because the involvement of drowsiness or fatigue is difficult for police to detect. Based on police accident reports, about one (1) percent of all crashes and about three (3) percent of fatal crashes are due to the driver falling asleep. New York's survey indicated that three (3) percent of drivers had a crash at some point when they fell asleep at the wheel, and two (2) percent had crashed due to drowsiness.
Which groups are at risk for drowsy driving?
Based on the crash data and survey and focus group research, the following groups of drivers are most at risk: young drivers; male drivers; persons who work long hours, nontraditional work schedules, and/or rotating shifts; commercial drivers; persons who have been drinking or have taken certain medications; and persons with undiagnosed sleep disorders. All drivers are at risk in certain situations, for example, when driving long distances without rest breaks.
What are the warning signs of fatigue?
Failure to remember the last few miles driven; wandering or disconnected thoughts; difficulty focusing, keeping eyes open, keeping head up; drifting from lane; yawning repeatedly; tailgating or missing signs; jerking car back into lane.
What can be done to help prevent drowsy driving?
Get a good night's sleep; drive with a passenger; schedule regular stops; avoid alcohol or medications that impair performance; seek medical help for a suspected sleep disorder.
What should a driver do if he/she becomes drowsy while driving?
Recognize the warning signs of fatigue; find a safe place to stop; take a brief nap (20 to 40 minutes); drink coffee to promote short-term alertness.
What programs are underway in New York to prevent drowsy driving?
Since 1994, the public and private partners involved in the Task Force on Drowsy Driving have implemented a number of countermeasures, including public information and education programs for the general public (Break for Safety, Drive Alert...Arrive Alive) and for high risk groups, such as commercial drivers; integration of sleep topics into driver training programs; improved crash reporting; installation of rumble strips along the Thruway and interstate roadways; police training; and research.
WARNING SIGNS OF DROWSINESS AND FATIGUE
If you:
then you may be suffering from drowsiness or fatigue. Continuing to drive in this condition puts you at serious risk of being involved in a fatigue-related crash. You should pull over in a safe place and get some rest before resuming your trip.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO STAY ALERT WHILE DRIVING:
Sleep / Take naps: Your best bet is to get enough sleep every day. If you must stay up late, afternoon naps are a great way to get more sleep. If you feel drowsy while driving, a 15-minute nap can be very effective. Make sure to pull over in a safe place.
Caffeine: Avoid caffeine during the last half of your workday as it may contribute to sleeping problems. You can gain short-term alertness by drinking coffee or other caffeine sources if driving, but it usually takes 30 minutes to take affect and wears off after a few hours.
Regular stops: You should stop every 100 miles or 2 hours. Switch drivers if you can.
Avoid Alcohol: If you have been drinking, please don't drive! In addition to being illegal, alcohol makes you sleepy and amplifies your fatigue.
If you are planning a long trip, AAA offers the following tips for avoiding fatigue:
"TRICKS" THAT DO NOT WORK
Opening the window, turning on the air conditioning, or playing loud music are not effective in keeping drivers alert for any extended period of time.
SLEEP IQ TEST
Think you know a lot about drowsy driving? -- Take the Sleep Quiz (from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety).
OTHER FATIGUE-RELATED SOURCES:
National Sleep Foundation http://www.sleepfoundation.org
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety http://aaafoundation.org/
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/sleep/index.htm
Federal Motor Carrier Highway Safety Administration http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/
Sleep Quest http://www.SleepQuest.com
American Sleep Apnea Association http://www.sleepapnea.org
National Institutes of Health, National Medical Library PUBMED (Sleep Research) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed
Drowsy Driving Awareness Fact Sheet - Print version, Adobe Acrobat® Reader required.
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