{"id":29930,"date":"2023-08-09T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-09T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog-staging.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/?p=29930"},"modified":"2023-07-25T14:33:31","modified_gmt":"2023-07-25T14:33:31","slug":"drowsy-driving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/drowsy-driving\/","title":{"rendered":"The Dangers of Drowsy Driving"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>You\u2019re several hours from home, finding yourself feeling tired while driving no matter how much you blast the air conditioning. Several times you\u2019ve found yourself startling because you swerved onto the \u201crumble strips\u201d on the side of the highway. No matter how much you try to stay awake, you\u2019ve succumbed to drowsy driving.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So what is drowsy driving? It\u2019s driving a vehicle when sleepy\u2014and it\u2019s a dangerous combination. It\u2019s also more common than you might think. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/sleep\/features\/drowsy-driving.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">survey report<\/a>\u00a0by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in 25 drivers over the age of 18 has fallen asleep while driving in the last 30 days. It\u2019s a statistic that\u2019s alarming for many reasons.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here, we\u2019ll explore the causes and dangers of drowsy driving along with tips to prevent it. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why is drowsy driving dangerous?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhtsa.gov\/risky-driving\/drowsy-driving\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Highway Traffic Safety Administration<\/a>&nbsp;(NHTSA), there were an estimated 91,000 reported crashes that were a direct result of sleepy drivers in 2017. Of those, almost 800 of them resulted in death.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Drowsy driving can affect paying attention to the road and other vehicles. It can also cause you to have a slower reaction time, making an accident more likely if you don\u2019t brake in time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-are-the-most-common-causes-of-drowsy-driving\">What are the most common causes of drowsy driving?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Common reasons why you might experience drowsy driving include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/sleep-deprivation-quiz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sleep deprivation<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Having certain&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/sleep-disorders\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sleep disorders<\/a>&nbsp;that make falling asleep at the wheel more likely<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Alcohol use<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Taking medications that make you drowsy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Being the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhtsa.gov\/risky-driving\/drowsy-driving\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">only person<\/a>&nbsp;in the car<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Driving on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhtsa.gov\/risky-driving\/drowsy-driving\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">rural roads<\/a>&nbsp;and highways<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Driving during certain hours (drowsy driving crashes&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhtsa.gov\/risky-driving\/drowsy-driving\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">tend to happen<\/a>&nbsp;either in the late afternoon or overnight between 12 a.m. and 6 a.m.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-who-s-most-at-risk-for-drowsy-driving\">Who\u2019s most at risk for drowsy driving?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Certain people have an increased risk of driving while drowsy. These include:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Shift workers:&nbsp;<\/strong>Drivers who work the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/shift-work-sleep-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">night shift<\/a>, such as nurses, are more at risk of driving drowsy. Up to 95% of crashes that involve nurses are because of drowsy driving,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/2327857919081041\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">according to research<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Commercial truck drivers:\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK384974\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Research<\/a> has found 13% of crashes were associated with truck driver fatigue.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Teens and young adults:&nbsp;<\/strong>This age group can be&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/sleepeducation.org\/drowsy-driving-teens\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">more at risk<\/a>&nbsp;for drowsy driving because they tend to be more sleep deprived than other age groups. &nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>People with certain medical conditions:&nbsp;<\/strong>Those who have&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/what-is-narcolepsy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">narcolepsy<\/a>&nbsp;or untreated&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/sleep-apnea-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sleep apnea<\/a>&nbsp;are&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/one.nhtsa.gov\/people\/injury\/drowsy_driving1\/drowsy.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">more at risk<\/a>&nbsp;of driving drowsy and getting in an accident.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-are-the-warning-signs-of-drowsy-driving\">What are the warning signs of drowsy driving?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are some ways to recognize when you may be experiencing drowsy driving and it\u2019s time to pull over for a break. These include:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Drifting into the other lane or on the shoulder<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Finding your head nodding up and down<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Yawning or blinking frequently<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Feeling like your eyes are tired or drooping<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Trouble focusing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Missing your exit<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Following the car ahead of you too closely<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Noticing your mind keeps wandering<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-do-you-avoid-drowsy-driving\">How do you avoid drowsy driving?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some tips that will help you in a drowsy driving situation, along with how to prevent drowsy driving from happening in the first place.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Make sure you\u2019re well-rested before heading out on a long car ride.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Don\u2019t drink&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/does-alcohol-help-sleep\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">alcohol<\/a>&nbsp;before you drive. This seems obvious when it comes to driving under the influence, but alcohol can&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/pubs.niaaa.nih.gov\/publications\/arh25-2\/101-109.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">make you drowsy<\/a>&nbsp;as well.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoid driving during the most at-risk hours (late afternoon and midnight to 6 a.m.).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoid driving long distances if you take a medication that can cause drowsiness.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pull off the road and take breaks when you find yourself getting sleepy behind the wheel.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Drive with someone else if possible so you can switch off driving or hold a conversation to keep you alert.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Don\u2019t try to keep awake if you notice yourself getting drowsy. It\u2019s better to pull over for a break than try to force yourself to stay awake.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be wary of relying on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/caffeine-and-sleep\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">caffeine<\/a>. It\u2019s a short-term solution and may not help you feel fully awake.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pull over to a safe spot and take a 20-minute \u201cpower nap\u201d if you feel drowsy. They can help you feel more alert and improve your focus,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/health.clevelandclinic.org\/power-naps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">according to the Cleveland Clinic<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-faqs\">FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-s-considered-drowsy-driving\">What\u2019s considered drowsy driving?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Drowsy driving has several warning signs that are important to recognize in order to avoid an accident. Frequent&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/why-do-we-yawn\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">yawning<\/a>&nbsp;or blinking, head nodding, drifting into another lane, and following another car too closely are all cues that it\u2019s time to pull off the road to rest.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-should-drowsy-drivers-do\">What should drowsy drivers do?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you find yourself drowsy while driving, pull off at a rest stop or on the side of the road if it\u2019s safe to do so. While turning up the radio, blasting the air conditioner, or singing can make you feel more awake, it\u2019s a temporary solution that can give you false reassurance that you\u2019re awake enough to drive. Taking a 15- to 20-minute nap can help you feel more rested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-are-the-consequences-of-drowsy-driving\">What are the consequences of drowsy driving?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you drive while drowsy, you&#8217;re significantly more likely to get in a car accident, injuring yourself and others, or worse. If you\u2019re feeling drowsy, it\u2019s much harder to pay attention to the road and your ability to stop in time or stay in your lane becomes impaired.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-do-i-stop-being-drowsy-while-driving\">How do I stop being drowsy while driving?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Preventing drowsy driving in the first place can help you avoid a potentially dangerous situation down the road (literally). Make sure you get plenty of sleep the night before, avoid alcohol and any medications that could make you sleepy, and don\u2019t try to keep yourself awake while driving if you\u2019re sleepy. It\u2019s better to take frequent breaks than to try to keep yourself awake. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Having trouble sleeping at night? Here are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/tips-for-treating-insomnia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">tips to treat insomnia<\/a> so you can catch the Z&#8217;s you need to function at your best. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You\u2019re several hours from home, finding yourself feeling tired while driving no matter how much you blast the air conditioning. Several times you\u2019ve found yourself startling because you swerved onto the \u201crumble strips\u201d on the side of the highway. No matter how much you try to stay awake, you\u2019ve succumbed to drowsy driving.&nbsp; So what [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67,"featured_media":29931,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[398,389],"tags":[],"coauthors":[420],"guest":[],"host":[],"class_list":["post-29930","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sleep-disorders-conditions","category-sleep-health"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29930","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/67"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29930"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29930\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29931"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29930"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29930"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29930"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=29930"},{"taxonomy":"guest","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guest?post=29930"},{"taxonomy":"host","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/host?post=29930"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}