Wake Up

I saw a horrifying video on the internet today, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IPQlMbAqEg, where a man was impaled through the neck by a fence post and miraculously survives. Andrew Linn reportedly fell asleep while driving. Where I’d like to think this was an isolated incident, I know drowsy driving is all too common.

Feeling sleepy is especially dangerous when you are driving. Sleepiness slows your reaction time, decreases awareness and impairs your judgment, just like drugs or alcohol. People who are very sleepy behave in similar ways to people who are drunk. In fact, police officers report pulling over suspected drunk drivers that turn out to be drowsy drivers on a regular basis.

When you’re tired your judgment can be impaired and your brain can play tricks on you. You may do the wrong thing, or you think you have performed a task you have not really completed. A drowsy driver may not realize that the car is going the wrong way into a divided highway, or that the car ahead is about to stop. Everyone, including doctors, police, engineers, and drivers, becomes less competent when they are sleepy.

Driving alert can save your life. Here are a few warning signals for drowsy drivers and some tips for keeping. If you have even one of these symptoms, you could be sleepier than you think.

Warning signals:
• You have trouble keeping your eyes open and focused
• You can’t keep your head up
• You daydream or have wandering, disconnected thoughts
• You yawn frequently or rub your eyes repeatedly
• You find yourself drifting from your lane or tailgating
• You miss signs or drive past your exit
• You feel irritable and restless
• You drift off the road and hit the rumble strips
• You are unable to remember how far you have traveled or what you have recently

Tips:
• Don’t drive when you are sleepy; try to travel during daylight hours.
• Get enough sleep the night before, especially before a long trip.
• Travel with a passenger
• Take a power nap; when planning your route, identify places where you can nap if the need arises. 20 minutes can make all the difference
• Schedule a break every couple of hours

With increased traffic, heavier and faster vehicles, driving is a serious matter and can change or end a person’s life in an instant. It is each of our responsibilities to do what it takes to remain a safe and proficient driver, not only for ourselves but for the safety of other drivers on the road. Come on everybody, Wake Up!