FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Assistant Commissioner Chuck DeWeese of the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) was joined at a press conference today by student activists and state and federal agencies to help warn motorists of the dangers of drowsy driving.

"Drowsy drivers can be just as dangerous on our highways as those who drive while under the influence of alcohol and exhibit other reckless behaviors," Assistant Commissioner DeWeese said. "Fatigue impairs driving ability, lengthens reaction time and increases the risk of a crash. When combined with inexperience, the risk is even greater."

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death of young people ages 16-24 and fatigue is a common contributing factor. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, each year in America drowsy driving causes 100,000 crashes, resulting in an estimated 1,500 fatalities, 71,000 injuries and $12.5 billion in monetary losses. If fact, in New York State last year there were 4,585 crashes where the driver was identified as having fallen asleep or was drowsy that resulted in 23 fatalities. Studies show that 36 percent of teens drive drowsy on a regular basis and out of all of the crashes caused by fatigue, a full 55 percent involve drivers under the age of 25.

Assistant Commissioner DeWeese was joined at the press conference by Emmanuel Laury, a member of student advocacy group Project Aware and Dr. Ramez J. Awwad, a certified sleep medicine physician from Capital Region Sleep Wake. The event was conducted at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y., to highlight the impact of drowsy driving on young drivers, which is one of the most at-risk groups.

"When you're juggling classes, after-school activities and social lives, like the typical college student, it's easy to neglect sleep," said Laury. "We should be getting up to 9-1/2 hours of sleep every night. Not getting enough sleep can hurt academic performance, and - when someone is driving while drowsy - can be as deadly as drinking and driving."

"Sleep is as critical to good health as food and water, yet many of us - particularly young people - do not get an adequate amount of sleep," said Dr. Awwad. "Lack of sleep creates an accumulating 'sleep debt.' That debt must be repaid, often at unexpected times, such as behind the wheel of a car, which can have tragic results."

While falling asleep at the wheel is the most obvious example, drowsy driving can be as simple as not paying attention to driving due fatigue or sleep deprivation. The warning signs of drowsy driving include difficulty in keeping a person's eyes open, repeated yawning, wandering or disconnected thoughts, drifting from the driving lane and failure to remember the last few miles driven.

To avoid drowsiness while driving, it is recommended that drivers get adequate sleep before they drive and take breaks about every 100 miles or two hours on long trips. Drivers on long trips should also bring a passenger to help keep them awake and share the driving responsibilities. Of course motorists should never drink alcohol before driving and people should be aware of the potential side effects of any medications they might be taking, as some cause drowsiness.

Opening a window, turning on air conditioning or playing loud music should not be relied upon to overcome sleep deprivation and caffeine provides only a short-term increase in driver alertness. Drivers who experience drowsiness should pull over to find a safe place for a rest or to sleep for the night.

Driver safety tips and information are available by visiting the DMV's web site at www.dmv.ny.gov or the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee web site at www.SafeNY.ny.gov.