Governor Jay Inslee has proclaimed Nov. 11 to 17 as Washington State Drowsy Driving Prevention Week.
While getting behind the wheel while tired or sleepy is not a crime like driving drunk, it can be just as dangerous and deadly. In 2010, sleepy drivers killed sixteen people and seriously injured 60 more in Washington state. Nationwide, drowsy drivers cause 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries and more than 100,000 accidents each year.
Experts say that after 24 hours without sleep, a driver is as impaired as if he or she were over the legal limit for alcohol. Young drivers, ages 16 to 24, are the most likely group to be involved in a drowsy driving accident. Men have twice as many drowsy driving crashes as women.
Besides the obvious advice to get enough sleep, here are some tips.
• If you know you are going on a big road trip or driving at night, get more than enough sleep (seven to nine hours) beforehand.
• Don’t be too rushed to arrive at your destination. Many drivers try to maximize the holiday weekend by driving at night or without stopping for breaks. It’s better to allow the time to drive alert and arrive alive.
• Use the buddy system. Just as you should not swim alone, avoid driving alone for long distances. A buddy who remains awake for the journey can take a turn behind the wheel and help identify the warning signs of fatigue.
• Take a break every 100 miles or two hours. Do something to refresh yourself like getting a snack, switching drivers or going for a run.
• Find a safe place to take a 15 to 20-minute nap, if you think you might fall asleep. Be cautious about excessive drowsiness after waking up.
• Avoid driving at times when you would normally be asleep.
• Consume caffeine. The equivalent of two cups of coffee can increase alertness for several hours.
• Don’t rely on stimuli from the radio and/or having the air conditioning turned up or an open window to keep you awake.
