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LT. GOVERNOR URGES MOTORISTS TO AVOID DROWSY
DRIVING Lt. Governor Mary Donohue today launched a statewide public awareness campaign to alert motorists to the dangers of driver fatigue. The theme is "You Snooze You Lose - Wake Up to the Dangers of Drowsy Driving."
The informational campaign was launched in conjunction with National Sleep Awareness Week (April 1 - 7) and serves as a timely reminder of the April 7 change to Daylight Savings Time, when people could "lose" an hour of precious sleep. The Niskayuna High School audience included students aged 16-18, many of whom are newly licensed to drive. This age group is part of a statistically higher incidence of drowsy driving than other age groups in New York State.
Participants included representatives of the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee, Department of Motor Vehicles, State Police, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and local sleep experts. Campaign materials feature stickers, posters, informational cards and water bottles that remind our young drivers, "You Snooze - You Lose - Wake Up to the Dangers of Drowsy Driving!" "Drowsy driving doesn't sound very dangerous until you count all the people who are killed that way," said NHTSA Region II Administrator Thomas M. Louizou. "In the United States, more than 100,000 drivers crash each year because they think they can keep themselves awake. As a result, some 40,000 people are injured and more than 1,550 people are killed." Commissioner Martinez added, "In New York State alone, police reports from 1996 to 2000 indicate that driver fatigue was a contributing factor in at least 17,800 traffic crashes. Drivers aged 16-18 account for almost 10 percent of those reported crashes, and indications are that these incidents are grossly under-reported." "Education is the key to prevention," he added. "People don't always consider that lack of adequate rest may result in serious consequences, especially on the highway." Driver fatigue affects all age groups, especially young adults aged 16 to 24, faced with the multiple demands of employment, education, and extra-curricular activity; long-distance truck drivers who often drive at night without stopping for breaks; and shift workers required to sleep in noisy daytime environments. "Most motorists today recognize the dangers of mixing alcohol or drugs with driving a motor vehicle" said New York State Police Superintendent James W. McMahon, "Unfortunately, many people fail to recognize the very real danger of getting behind the wheel in a sleep deprived state. Drowsy driving can be every bit as deadly as driving while impaired with alcohol or drugs. I applaud Commissioner Raymond P. Martinez for his leadership as the Chair of the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee, and for his efforts to educate the public and raise awareness of the dangers of drowsy driving." Drowsy driving ranges from falling asleep at the wheel to simply not paying attention to driving because of fatigue or lack of sleep. Officials said warning signs include difficulty in keeping your eyes open, repeated yawning, having wandering or disconnected thoughts, drifting from your driving lane, or failure to remember the last few miles driven. Lt. Governor Donohue cautioned drivers to be well rested before travel and not to attempt staying awake by such remedies as opening a window, turning on air conditioning, or playing loud music. She said studies show that another popular choice, consuming caffeine, provides only a short-term benefit in driver alertness. "The best approach is to get adequate rest beforehand, share the driving with a passenger or take a break every two hours or every 100 miles," she said. "It helps to sleep, stretch, take a walk or get some exercise before resuming your trip." ### |
