The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that in 2017 alone, drowsy driving caused 91,000 police-reported crashes, leading to an estimated 50,000 people injured and nearly 800 deaths.
How many times have you dozed off while driving—even for just one second?
How to avoid drowsy driving
If you value your life at all, consider changing the conditions or times around which you drive:
1. Sleep. If you have not slept, especially when you need to make a long drive, let someone else drive while you grab some much needed sleep in the passenger seat. If you have to drive alone, DO NOT DRIVE. Sleep!
2. If you’re taking medications that make you drowsy, DO NOT DRIVE. Or talk to your doctor about non-drowsy alternatives to your medication if you have to take them during the times when you’re driving.
3. If you drank alcohol or are intoxicated, DO NOT DRIVE.
4. If you’ve just had a shift change at work, PREPARE FOR IT. There are many references to how to manage night shifts, for example. Medical News has some tricks.
5. If you’re starting to feel tired during a long drive, STOP and STRETCH, or STOP TAKE A SHORT NAP. Meanwhile, while waiting for that rest stop to come into view, SLOW DOWN and drive on the slow lane.
6. Drowsy driving occurs most frequently between midnight and 6 a.m., or in the late afternoon. These hours are when your body is really tired for the obvious reasons. So brace yourself for the late afternoon drive from work to home—do some exercises that will keep you awake. And do not plan to keep driving at midnight and way after that unless you’ve prepared your body for it.
Having had over 20 years experience as web and graphic designer, and several years of doing SEO, SEM, and SMO work, Cecilia (aka Geej) is Absolute’s social media director and web manager.