State’s Wake-Up Call to Drivers –- "You Snooze, You Lose"

Governor George E. Pataki’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) today announced 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."

"Drowsy driving can be as dangerous as driving drunk," said Richard E. Jackson, Jr., GTSC Chair and Commissioner of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. "Just as drugs or alcohol can impair driver performance, sleepiness can slow reaction time, impair judgment and increase the risk of a crash."

The informational campaign was launched in conjunction with National Sleep Awareness Week (March 27 - April 2) and served as a timely reminder the week before Daylight Savings Time, when people could "lose" an hour of precious sleep. Ceremonies were held at Thruway rest stops in New Baltimore in Greene County, Sloatsburg in Rockland County and Pembroke in Genesee County.

Participants included representatives of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC), National Sleep Foundation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), State Police, Thruway Authority, AAA and the State Association of Traffic Safety Boards. The campaign materials feature radio messages, posters, informational cards and travel mugs, that can be filled with free coffee from Host Marriott Service Corporation at the three event rest areas.

"NHTSA research shows that drowsy/fatigued driving is a factor in nearly 4 percent of all fatal crashes, claiming more than 1500 lives a year. They also account for at least 100,000 crashes in the United States," said Thomas M. Louizou, Region II Administrator for NHTSA.

Commissioner Jackson added that "in New York State alone, police reports from 1996 through 1998 indicated driver fatigue as a contributing factor in at least 8,300 traffic crashes, and indications are that these incidents are grossly under-reported. 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, such as: 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.

"Drowsy driving can be deadly to you and your loved ones," said New York State Police Superintendent James W. McMahon. "I applaud the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, under the leadership of Commissioner and Chair, Richard E. Jackson, Jr. , for their public education campaign that has raised awareness of the dangers of driving drowsy and to help save lives."

"Driving fatigue is a major source of thousands of crashes each year and one of the leading causes of fatal crashes along the Thruway," said John Platt, Executive Director of the New York State Thruway. "While the Thruway has seen 70 percent reduction in fall-asleep crashes since the installation of ‘rumble strips’ along the shoulder to jolt sleepy drivers awake, we must do more to address this serious problem."

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.

Commissioner Jackson 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. 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," Commissioner Jackson said. "It helps to take a nap, stretch, take a walk or get some exercise before resuming your trip."

The new campaign is a follow up to efforts by the New York State Task Force on Drowsy Driving, a group of public and private officials organized in 1994. As a result of their recommendations, New York State implemented the nation’s first comprehensive public awareness campaigns on drowsy driving, revised police traffic crash reports to include a new code for fatigued driving, constructed new and revitalized existing facilities on the Thruway, and aided in the installation of continuous rumble strips on the shoulders of interstate highways.

Additional information on drowsy driving is available from the GTSC web site at http://www.safeny.com