Are you getting enough sleep? The matter is that a lot of people aren’t and the result is dangerous. In the U.S. approximately 100 000 police-reported crashes annually involve as a principle reason. Deadly ignorance about tired driving is putting lives at risk as an estimated 2.3 million drivers have dozed off behind the wheel.

According to the Farmers survey, almost three times as many men (15.9 percent) as women (5.8 percent) said they had fallen asleep while driving. Those ages 55 to 64 had the highest percentage of any age group surveyed.

Nowadays the researchers have no doubt that every driver has nodded off while driving only to be woken up by the edge of the road or even worse, hitting a road barrier. The research shows that the chances of falling asleep at the wheel and consequently of accident occurrence are greater in the early morning and most likely when the driver is an hour or so short of home. The only way to avoid the crash, which under these circumstances will happen sooner or later, is not to start a long or short drive while being tired, and not to continue it when drowsiness sets in.

Factors causing tiredness:

After eating a large meal - natural sleepiness occurs.

Changes in body rhythm - produce a natural increased tendency to sleep at two parts of the day:

* Midnight - 6 am
* 2 pm - 4 pm

Medication can cause sleepiness as side effect. Always check the label.

Alcohol - alcohol, consumed in the afternoon, may be twice as potent in terms of producing sleepiness as the same amount taken in the evening, although no one should take alkocholic drinks and drive at any time.

Are you tired and sleepy?

Sleepiness and fatigue are very often for drivers. Long dull roads and constant sitting in one and the same position for long hours is very exhausting. The lack of varied stimulants on wide, endless highways is also a factor. Certain cars produce hum, flat noise that also can make you sleep.

One of the most alarming findings in the U.S. shows that many people stay on the roads without stopping in spite of feeling sleepy, or even dozing off at the wheel. More than one-half of the drowsy drivers admit they did not stop because of their sleepiness.

Feeling sleepy some drivers tend to make fateful mistake - driving over the speed limit to get to the destination as soon as possible. Some also seek an alternative route which is less monotonous and demands more attention. However driving faster can lead you to an accident caused by other reasons than drowsiness. Taking the longer path may just waster time too. Actually there are many other ways drivers use not to fall asleep on the road.

Warning Signs of Fatigue While Driving

There are several signs indicating the drowsiness while driving. However researches show that many people often don’t associate these symptoms with tiredness and continue to drive when it is necessary to stop. Here are some promptings for the sleepy driver to stop and rest.

* Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, or heavy eyelids;
* Trouble keeping your head up;
* Yawning repeatedly;
* Trouble remembering the last few miles driven; missing exits or traffic signs
* Drifting from your lane, tailgating, or hitting a shoulder rumble strip;

The National Sleep Foundation says the best way not to fall asleep when driving a vehicle is to get plenty of sleep before hitting the road. If you start feeling tired while driving, stop or have a driving companion take over. If you do not have enough time to stop for the nigh as you have to get to the destination as soon as possible, find a safe, well-lit area to have a half an hour nap. Then drive to the closest safe resting spot - such as a motel, friend’s house, or the meadow and sleep.

But keep in mind that resting in your car on the side of the road or at a rest area can be dangerous - especially if you have a leaky exhaust system.

But if you insist on driving anyway, be very careful, as you can kill and be killed. STOP and do something about the situation.

There are many tricks that drivers usually use trying to deceive their organism. Here are some of the most efficient:

* Consider additional causes of daytime sleepiness. Sleep restriction is very common and sleeping less than five or six hours for even one night significantly increases the risk of falling asleep.
* Start an active conversation with a passenger. If you are driving alone try to speak to yourself. Of course, this is not what you should do in public but in this situation it may help.
* Listen to whatever involves you more on the radio ? a talk show you can shout back at or music you can sing and tap along to while driving. But avoid listening to a slow, quiet music or something else that can make you relax.
* Keep the climate inside the car fresh and even cool. If the air is warm it can make you nod.
* Chew on something that is noisy, such as raw carrots, celery sticks, pork rinds or something a little spicy.
* Keep in mind that the caffeine in coffee, cola or tea work of course, but for a short period of time.
* Take an active break. Get out of the car and trot around for a few minutes. Stretch, do a few jumping jacks or some exercises.
* Ask your companion to swap you from time to time.

Remember that caffeine from coffee or energy drinks can promote short-term alertness, but it takes about 30 minutes for it to enter the bloodstream and start to act. Listening to a radio, opening a window and similar “tricks” to stay awake are rather dangerous as they are seldom efficient. Other methods the motorists claimed to have used to stay awake at the wheel include singing to themselves, splashing water in their faces and slapping, hitting, or pinching themselves.

Bonnie McKenzie

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