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sleepiness & Driving: The Silent Killer


Drowsy driving causes more than 100,000 police-reported crashes, 71,000 injuries and 1,550 deaths each year.  But the problem may be more serious than we think.

Sleepiness, like excessive speed, alcohol, aggressive driving, and inclement weather, contributes to or causes motor vehicle crashes. In the past few years, sleep as a factor in automobile crashes has begun to be investigated but, without sufficient data, is still not fully understood

Nonetheless, sleepiness does cause and contribute to motor vehicle crashes; in fact, a higher percentage of fall-asleep crashes result in fatalities than those attributed to other causes. As more attention is paid to these crashes, the steps that can reduce these crashes need to be explored as well.

Sleepiness is generally caused by sleep deprivation, untreated sleep disorders, and circadian rhythm factors such as jet lag and shift work. In addition, sleepiness may be caused by medication (prescription or over-the-counter) and alcohol, or a combination. The most common cause of sleepiness is sleep deprivation. Studies to date indicate that most fall-asleep crashes are caused by young males under the age of 26, individuals who are most likely to be sleep-deprived. The number of sleep-related crashes due to untreated sleep disorders is not known.

Sadly, Americans have not been taught that sleep, like exercise and proper diet, is crucial to good health. The American Sleep Apnea Association strongly supports efforts to educate Americans about the importance of sleep, the causes of sleepiness, and the potential consequences of sleepiness: people must understand that ignoring sleepiness may be fatal. If drivers are sleepy, they should know not to get behind the wheel. Further, drivers should know what steps to take in order to correct the cause of the sleepiness or to prevent sleepiness.

Likewise, the ASAA supports efforts to educate Americans about the symptoms of sleep disorders so that these disorders can be diagnosed and treated appropriately. Untreated sleep apnea can cause medical problems such as high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease; when clinically significant, sleep apnea should be treated regardless of driving status.
Some states now have or are considering regulations to restrict the driving privileges of individuals with sleep disorders. The ASAA is concerned that such restrictions will discourage people who think they may have a sleep disorder from being diagnosed if they fear being diagnosed will lead unnecessarily to the revocation of their license. Such regulations may have an unintended effect and may harm efforts to reduce the number of Americans with undiagnosed and untreated sleep disorders

Source:
Visit http://www.sleepapnea.org for more information.


Results from the 2005 Sleep in America Poll indicate that 60% of Americas adults who drive or have a license report that, within the past year, they have driven a car or motor vehicle when feeling drowsy. 

4% of the respondents who drive or have a license have had an accident or near accident in the past year because of dozing off or being too tired while driving.
Among these respondents, 29% report having had an accident or near accident at least once a month in the past year.
37% of the respondents who drive or have a license report that they have nodded off or fallen asleep while driving a vehicle, even just for a brief moment. 
Among these respondents, 13% say they have done so at least once a month.
 

Warning Signs of Drowsy Driving  (All  drivers should be aware of)
Feeling eyelids begin to droop. 
Excessive yawning.
Having trouble focusing vision.
Trouble remembering the last few miles driven.
Missing exits or traffic signs.
Drifting from the lane or tailgating and daydreaming


Tips Before and During Driving to Stay Alert
Get a good night's sleep. While this varies from individual to individual, sleep experts recommend between 7-9 hours of sleep per night.
Drive with a companion. Passengers can help look for early warning signs of fatigue or switch drivers when needed.
Passengers should stay awake to talk to the driver.
Roll down the window or turn up the radio.
DO NOT continue the trip hoping they can overcome it and arrive on schedule.
Pull off the road in a safe area and take a nap
Drink caffeine beverage (promotes short-term alertness, but it takes about 30 minutes to begin working).
Allow time for breaks every 100 miles or 2 hours.
Avoid alcohol and medications (over-the-counter and prescribed) that may impair performance. Alcohol interacts with fatigue, increasing its effects -- just like drinking on an empty stomach. 
Avoid driving during or close to times you would normally sleep, especially overnight. Natural sleep rhythms create more sleepiness at these times.

"With more and more people admitting to driving drowsy, there's a good chance you will be on the road near someone who is sleepy, and is a danger to themselves and others. Drowsy driving has become a major public safety issue," says Richard L. Gelula, National Sleep Foundation's chief executive officer. "When you get behind the wheel of a vehicle, whether it is for a short drive or a longer excursion, makes sure you are fully awake and alert. Remember National Sleep Foundation's drowsy driving campaign theme  DRIVE ALERT, ARRIVE ALIVE!" Gelula adds.


Who's at Risk?
The groups of people that fall into the high risk category when it comes to drowsy driving, include:

Young people - especially males under age 26.
Shift workers or people who work long hours.  Working the night shift increases your risk by nearly 6 times; Rotating-shift workers and people working more than 60 hours a week need to be extra careful.
Commercial drivers such as long-haul drivers.  At least 15% of all heavy truck crashes involve fatigue.
People with untreated sleep disorders.  People diagnosed with OSA have been shown to have up to 7 times increased risk of falling asleep at the wheel.
Business travelers. Those who spend many hours driving or may be jet lagged.
Firefighter and emergency services, who are sleep deprived.


How to Prevent a Fatigue-Related Crash
The best way to prevent a drowsy driving crash is to get adequate sleep on a regular basis.  Listed below are some drowsy driving prevention tips:

Get a good night's sleep. While this varies from individual to individual, sleep experts recommend between 7-9 hours of sleep per night.
Use the buddy system. Drive with a companion.  A passenger who remains awake for the journey can take a turn behind the wheel and help identify the warning signs of fatigue. 
Allow time for breaks every 100 miles or 2 hours. 
Avoid alcohol and medications (over-the-counter and prescribed) that may impair driving performance and magnify the effects of sleepiness- just like drinking on an empty stomach. 
Avoid driving at times when you would normally be sleeping (midnight  6:00 am) and be aware that you are naturally less alert in the late afternoon (1:00 pm  4:00 pm).
Roll down the window or turn up the radio.
DO NOT continue the trip hoping they can overcome it and arrive on schedule.
Pull off the road in a safe area and take a nap when sleepy.
Drink caffeine beverage (promotes short-term alertness, but it takes about 30 minutes to begin working).
Avoid driving during or close to times you would normally sleep, especially overnight. Natural sleep rhythms create more sleepiness at these times.


Drowsy Driving is Common among Americans
The results of NSF's 2005 Sleep in America poll suggest that sleepiness does not prevent most Americans from getting behind that wheel.  According to the poll, 60% of adult drivers that is about 168 million people, say they have driven a vehicle while feeling drowsy in the past year, and more than one-third have actually fallen asleep at the wheel.

The combination of fatigue and driving is a dangerous one. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conservatively estimates that 100,000 police-reported crashes are the direct result of driver fatigue each year, resulting in an estimated 1,550 deaths and 71,000 injuries. These figures may be the tip of the iceberg, since it is difficult to attribute crashes to sleepiness.

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