We all know the dangers of driving while intoxicated, but many do not realize that driving while drowsy impairs judgment and reaction time just like alcohol and drugs. Studies tell us that being awake for more than 20 hours results in an impairment equal to a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08, the legal limit in all states.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conservatively estimates that 100,000 police reported crashes each year are caused primarily by drowsy driving and that such crashes result in more than 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries and $12.5 billion in monetary losses. According to the National Sleep Foundation’s 2005 Sleep in America poll, 60% of adult drivers – about 168 million people – say they have driven a vehicle while feeling drowsy in the past year, and more than one-third, (37% or 103 million people), have actually fallen asleep at the wheel. In fact, of those who have nodded off, 13% say they have done so at least once a month. Four percent – approximately eleven million drivers – admit they have had an accident or near accident because they dozed off or were too tired to drive.
Causes
“Not enough quality sleep is a huge and growing epidemic,” states Divine Savior Healthcare board-certified Sleep Medicine Specialist Dr. Clint Bonebrake. “When you pair the effects of being drowsy with driving a motor vehicle, the results can be deadly.”
According to the National Sleep Foundation, there are many underlying causes of sleepiness, fatigue and drowsy driving. Including sleep loss from restriction or too little sleep, interruption or fragmented sleep; chronic sleep debt; circadian factors associated with driving patterns or work schedules; undiagnosed or untreated sleep disorders; time spent on a task; the use of sedating medications; and the consumption of alcohol when already tired. These factors have cumulative effects and a combination of any of these can greatly increase one’s risk for a fatigue-related crash.
Warning Signs
“Many people, especially those who have sleep disorders, live in a constant state of drowsiness when awake,” states Bonebrake. “It may be difficult to recognize when you’re too drowsy to drive or when you’re about to fall asleep.” When your eyelids feel heavy, your head starts to droop, you’re constantly yawning and your vision becomes blurry you’ve got clear indications that your drowsy driving has become dangerous to yourself and others. While it might seem like an inconvenience to pull off the road, you could be saving your own life. Stop at a rest stop or gas station to walk around, get some fresh air and perhaps a caffeinated beverage for short trips. If you are driving a long distance, the best option is to choose a safe rest area or motel to get a full night of sleep.
Constant drowsiness is one symptom of a sleep disorder. If you notice that you’re a loud habitual snorer, you’re tired or groggy upon waking, you fall asleep quickly during normal wake hours or you have trouble falling asleep at night, it might be time to see a sleep specialists who can diagnose and treat your sleep disorder. If you’d like to make an appointment to talk about your sleep issues or inquire about a doing a sleep study in Divine Savior’s state-of-the-art sleep lab, contact Dr. Clint Bonebrake at 608-745-6320 or speak to your physician about a referral.
Know your risk
Before you drive, consider whether you are:
Sleep-deprived or fatigued (6 hours of sleep or less triples your risk)
Suffering from sleep loss (insomnia), poor quality sleep, or a sleep debt
Driving long distances without proper rest breaks
Driving through the night, mid-afternoon or when you would normally be asleep
Taking sedating medications (antidepressants, cold tablets, antihistamines)
Working more than 60 hours a week (increases your risk by 40%)
Working more than one job and your main job involves shift work
Drinking even small amounts of alcohol
Driving alone or on a long, rural, dark or boring road
*National Sleep Foundation