News Articles Archives
December 8, 2009
Sleep Center Reminds Drivers to Stay Alert During the Holidays
Pictured left: Dr. Jyoti Matta, Christ Hospital’s Sleep Center Director (center), Manager Steve Mahler (l)
and Coordinator Jim Gierla (r) urge the community to be cautious behind the wheel this holiday season.As we find ourselves in the midst of the holiday season, a time associated with more stress and fatigue for millions of people nationwide, The Christ Hospital Sleep Center and the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) caution holiday drivers to be especially alert behind the wheel.
“Like alcohol and drugs, sleep loss or fatigue impairs driving skills. It effects vision, handeye coordination, slows reaction time, decreases our awareness of surroundings, impairs our judgment and inhibition,” says Dr. Jyoti Matta, Medical Director of Christ Hospital’s Sleep Center. “Most drowsy driving crashes happen when the body’s need for sleep is greatest,” adds Steve Mahler, Sleep Center Manager. “Motor vehicle accidents are three times more likely to occur in the early morning hours (between 12 a.m. and 6 a.m.) with another lesser peak in the mid-afternoon. These times coincide with our bodies natural circadian rhythms.”
Studies also show that being awake for more than 20 hours result in an impairment equal to a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%, the legal limit in all states. Like alcohol, fatigue slows reaction time, decreases awareness and impairs judgment. But unlike an awake driver impaired by alcohol, a sleeping driver is unable to take any action to avoid a crash.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports traffic crashes are the leading cause of death of young people in the U.S, taking the lives of at least 5,600 teens each year. Sleep-related crashes are most common in drivers 25 years and younger, who tend to stay up late, sleep too little, and drive at night. As a matter of fact, reports show that 55% of all crashes in which the driver fell asleep involved this age category. And while the NHTSA estimates that at least 100,000 police-reported crashes each year are the direct result of driver fatigue, drowsy driving crashes result in 71,000 injuries and $12.5 billion in monetary losses.
The National Sleep Foundation's 2009 Sleep in America poll shows that 1% or as many as 1.9 million drivers have had a car crash or a near miss due to drowsiness in the past year alone. Even more surprising, 54% of drivers (105 million) have driven while drowsy at least once in the past year, and 28% (54 million) do so at least once per month. These numbers are down from previous years which may mean that as a nation, we’re making progress.
There are several signs to indicate fatigue while driving, although many people may not associate these symptoms with fatigue or sleepiness and continue to drive when they should stop. Here are some signs that should tell a driver to stop and rest:
- Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking and/or heavy eyelids
- Difficulty keeping your daydreams or wandering thoughts at bay
- Trouble keeping your head up
- Drifting from your lane, swerving, tailgating and/or hitting rumble strips
- Unable to clearly remember the last few miles driven
- Missing exits or traffic signs
- Yawning or rubbing your eyes repeatedly
- Feeling restless, irritable, or aggressive
- Turning up the radio or rolling down the window
Special at-risk groups for drowsy driving include young people, shift workers, commercial drivers, people with undiagnosed or untreated sleep disorders, and business travelers. However, any driver can experience fatigue at one time or another. Your risk for drowsy driving increases if you are:
- Sleep deprived or fatigued
- Driving long distances without proper rest breaks
- Driving through the night or mid-afternoon
- Working more than 60 hours per week
- Working more than 1 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
- Taking sedating medications such as cold tablets, antihistamines or antidepressants
- Experiencing jet lag or reduced sleep as a result of traveling across many time zones
To stay safe on the road and reduce your risk of drowsy driving:
- Get a good night's sleep before you hit the road. Most adults need 7 – 9 hours of sleep to maintain proper alertness.
- Don't be too rushed to arrive at your destination. Many drivers try to maximize their time by driving at night or not stopping for breaks. However, crashes caused by sleepiness are among the most deadly. It's worth extra time and money to arrive at your destination safely.
- 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 or help identify the warning signs of fatigue.
- Take a break every 100 miles or 2 hours.
- Avoid alcohol and sedating medications. Check your labels or ask your doctor or pharmacist about side-effects.
- Avoid driving at times when you would normally be sleeping.
- Take a nap; if you feel that you are in danger of falling asleep find a safe place to take a 15 to 20-minute nap.
- Pack a cooler with caffeinated beverages or keep caffeinated gum and mints in the glove compartment. The equivalent of two cups of coffee can increase alertness for several hours. However, it should be remembered that caffeine does not replace sleep, it only delays its onset temporarily.
- Since caffeine in liquid form takes about 20 to 30 minutes to take effect, consume caffeine before taking a short nap to get the benefits of both. Combining sleep and caffeine in this manner is a much more effective strategy than either on their own.
- Adequate sleep remains the best countermeasure for drowsy driving!
