How to avoid drowsy driving during the holidays

In case you missed it, Nov. 5 to Nov. 11 was Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, according to the National Sleep Foundation.

We’re writing about this now because the topic of driving drowsy is just as important now as it was last month.

Drowsy driving will always be a major safety issue, and especially during the holiday season. Christmas Day can be a long day for people who travel and perhaps get on the freeway late at night to return home after a heavy meal and a few eggnogs.

Driving drowsy is an unappreciated road hazard that’s more common than many people think, and it leads to countless accidents and fatalities. AAA research found that drivers often don’t realize how drowsy they are and they continue to drive when they really should stop for a break. The good news is that driving drowsy is preventable with adequate sleep and other prevention measures.

“Drowsiness refers to a state of increased tendency to fall asleep” states an Auto Club article. “Beyond the danger of falling asleep at the wheel, drowsiness also impairs drivers by reducing their alertness. Crashes caused by drowsy driving tend to be severe because the driver may not attempt to brake or swerve to avoid a collision, so the resulting impact occurs at a high rate of speed. A drowsy driver may also be startled and lose control of the vehicle.”

The National Sleep Foundation encourages people to drive only when they are alert and to get enough sleep before driving. Its safety information can be found here.

Here’s how to recognize if you are drowsy and need to stop for a break.

If you are constantly yawning or blinking, drifting from your lane, miss an exit, don’t really recall the last few miles you’ve driven or your tires hit the noise dots or strips on the roadside, you are likely driving drowsy, according to MarketWatch Guides, which recently published a study on driving drowsy statistics.

Among the findings: 1 in 25 drivers admitted to falling asleep while driving in the past month, the study said, citing statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Also, drowsy driving-related accidents are more likely to occur between midnight and 6 a.m. and in the late afternoon, and more likely to happen on highways and rural roads.

Who is most at risk? Shift workers, young people and those with sleeping disorders, the study found.

AAA offers five safety tips:

• Drive at times of the day when you’re normally awake.
• Avoid eating heavy foods that make you tired and medications that cause drowsiness.
• For longer trips, take a break every couple of hours or every 100 miles or so.
• Travel with a passenger so you can take turns driving.
• Take a quick nap. Pull into a rest stop and snooze for 20 to 30 minutes to feel refreshed.