First Annual Drowsy Driving Prevention Week Begins November 5th

National campaign designed to save lives of young drivers

Mequon, WI – While most people are educated about the dangers of driving while drunk, many fail to realize that the dangers of driving while drowsy are just as great. Like alcohol, fatigue slows reaction time, decreases awareness and impairs judgment. Endeavor Therapy & Sleep Center of Mequon, WI is participating in the National Sleep Foundation’s education campaign, Drowsy Driving Prevention Week which runs from November 5th-11th, to reduce injuries and deaths caused by drowsy drivers. The NSF’s annual Sleep in America poll said more than half of America’s drivers – more than 100 million people – admit to driving while drowsy. Two out of five – 32 million people – admit to having actually fallen asleep at the wheel within the past year.

“We’re targeting young people because most teens and college students know not to drink and drive, but many don’t hesitate to get behind the wheel of a vehicle when they’re tired,” says Karen Block, administrator of Endeavor Therapy & Sleep Center. “In fact, sometimes driving while tired is more dangerous than driving drunk because the driver has no reaction time. They’re not just impaired, they’re asleep.”

Research shows that 17 hours of sustained wakefulness means performance impairment equal to a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.05%.

After 24 hours, that number rises to 0.10%. That’s over the definition of legally drunk in Wisconsin. Block says these accidents are underreported, often because law enforcement officials aren’t necessarily trained in how to tell whether driver fatigue is a factor in an accident. “There’s one strong indicator – no skid marks. The driver is moving along, often at a high rate of speed and simply falls asleep. If they survive, they have no recollection of having fallen asleep for a few seconds,” says Block.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 100,000 fatigue-related accidents occur annually, resulting in 1,500 deaths nationwide and 71,000 injuries. The price tag associated with these accidents is $12.5 billion in diminished productivity and property loss.

Untreated sleep disorders often contribute to the risk of drowsy driving. People with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) have an increased risk of a crash by two to seven times and have greatly increased risk of severe car crashes. After treatment for their sleep disorder, their risk decreases to the same level as the general population.

In addition to young people, NSF’s Drowsy Driving Prevention Week will target other high risk groups such as commercial drivers, shift workers, and people with untreated sleep disorders. The goal is to educate the public, and to equip them with the tools needed to prevent fatigue-related crashes in the future. “Drowsy drivers aren’t just a danger to themselves, but to everyone else on the road,” notes Block.

To avoid drowsiness while driving:

• Get adequate sleep before you drive
• Allow time for breaks on long trips – about every 100 miles or two hours
• Use the buddy system – ask your passenger to stay awake during the drive, to help keep you awake and to share driving responsibilities
• Don’t drink alcohol and be aware of the potential side effects of any medications you may be taking – some cause drowsiness
• Consume caffeine – the equivalent of two cups of coffee can increase alertness for several hours but should not be relied upon to overcome sleep deprivation.

If you become sleepy while driving, prevent a crash by pulling over to find a safe place to take a nap or sleep for the night.