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Drowsy Driving & Fatigue |  |
SLEEPING AND DRIVING DON'T MIX!
When you are behind the wheel of a car, being sleepy is dangerous. Although most people know how dangerous drinking and driving is, they may not fully realize that drowsy driving can be just as fatal as driving drunk. Like drugs or alcohol, sleepiness slows reaction time, decreases awareness, impairs judgment and increases your risk of a crash.
However, it's difficult to attribute crashes to sleepiness because there is no standardized test for drowsiness, as there is for intoxication. This lack of standard criteria for determining when a driver is sleepy may be one reason there is little or no police training in identifying drowsiness as a crash factor.
Each year in NYS approximately, 2,800 people are involved in police reported crashes where "fatigued or fell asleep" was designated in the report. About fifty percent of the crashes occur between 11:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. Sixteen to twenty-four year old male drivers have the highest fatigue related motor vehicle crash rates. This type of crash often results in tragic consequences resulting in serious or fatal injuries.
NEW YORK STATE PARTNERSHIP AGAINST DROWSY DRIVING (NYPDD)
In 1994, a Task Force on Drowsy Driving was created in New York State. The original task force coordinated statewide efforts to reduce drowsy driving. In 1994, the Task Force submitted a report with recommendations to the Governor, and the Task Force met periodically to monitor the implementation of the recommendations and developed new initiatives. The original task force included representatives of the medical and research communities, state and federal agencies, the state legislature, and private sector organizations who worked together to make New York a leader in saving lives.
The member organizations of the Task Force had implemented a wide array of countermeasures, including the following:
- the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee implemented the nation's first comprehensive public awareness campaigns on drowsy driving
- revised the police crash report to incorporate a new code for falling asleep
- integrated drowsy driving topics into the training provided by New York State Police
- developed a standardized, medically accurate curriculum on the risk and prevention of drowsy driving and the incorporation of this curriculum into the major education programs for drivers
- implemented aggressive programs by the New York State Thruway Authority and the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) to install continuous shoulder rumble strips on interstate highways
- researched studies, including: focus group research; crash-based and survey research on the scope, nature, and risk factors related to drowsy driving among the general driving population; crash-based and survey research on sleepiness-related driving among long distance truck drivers; and a study of truck drivers' use and perceptions of public rest areas
- implemented major programs by the NYS Department of Transportation and the Thruway Authority to expand and revitalize public roadside rest areas. Those efforts included the construction of new rest areas, revitalization of existing facilities, expansion of parking for commercial vehicles, and enhanced security.
To date, statewide efforts continue under the New York State Partnership Against Drowsy Driving (NYPDD). New York's Partnership Against Drowsy Driving (NYPDD), which was created in 2004, is a joint effort to educate the public and high-risk groups about the dangers of drowsy driving and promote the adoption of preventive strategies. Members of the NYPDD include representatives from the New York State Governor's Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC), New York State Thruway Authority, New York State Police,New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), New York State Motor Truck Association, New York State Association of Traffic Safety Boards, New York State Movers and Warehousemen's Association and New York State Department of Transportation. Partners meet regularly to share traffic data on drowsy driving and work cooperatively to conduct projects to raise public awareness of the risks of drowsy driving and encourage the adoption of prevention strategies among the general public and high-risk populations.
RUMBLE STRIPS
Fatigue-related crashes tend to be single-vehicle crashes in which a car or truck leaves the roadway and then turns over or hits a fixed object. It has been estimated that between 40 and 60 percent of these "run-off-road" (or ROR) crashes are due to driver fatigue, drowsiness or inattention. Run-off-road crashes constitute a serious highway safety problem, accounting for one-third of all traffic fatalities nationally and two-thirds of fatalities in rural areas.
Rumble strips are proving to be a valuable tool in the effort to prevent fatigue-related crashes. They are comprised of raised or grooved patterns installed in shoulder pavements or directly in travel lanes. Drive over one and you will immediately understand why they are called "rumble" strips. When a vehicle's tires pass over them, the driver is alerted by a sudden and loud rumbling sound accompanied by a jarring vibration of the vehicle.
Shoulder rumble strips are an effective way to grab a driver's attention and to warn them that they are about to leave the road. Rumble strips can reduce run-off-road crashes by an estimated 20 to 50 percent. As an example, the New York State Thruway experienced a 34 percent decrease in run-off-road crashes after rumble strips were installed. This is all the more impressive considering that overall crash rates increased by more than 11 percent at the same time.
Rumble strips can also be used to warn motorists of upcoming changes in the roadway or situations which demand a driver's immediate attention. For example, they may be used at toll plazas, in work zones, and before dangerous intersections.
Additional information on rumble strips may be obtained from the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) web page. Visit the FHWA web page at http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/rumble.htm.
What is the scope of the drowsy driving problem?
Based on a survey conducted by the Institute for Traffic Safety and Fact Finders, Inc., in 1994, 25 percent of NYS drivers have fallen asleep at the wheel; 55 percent drove drowsy within the past year.
How many highway crashes are attributable to drowsiness or fatigue?
Police-reported crash data underestimates the scope of the problem, because the involvement of drowsiness or fatigue is difficult for police to detect. Based on police accident reports, about one (1) percent of all crashes and about three (3) percent of fatal crashes are due to the driver falling asleep. New York's survey indicated that three (3) percent of drivers had a crash at some point when they fell asleep at the wheel, and two (2) percent had crashed due to drowsiness.
Which groups are at risk for drowsy driving?
Based on the crash data and survey and focus group research, the following groups of drivers are most at risk: young drivers; male drivers; persons who work long hours, nontraditional work schedules, and/or rotating shifts; commercial drivers; persons who have been drinking or have taken certain medications; and persons with undiagnosed sleep disorders. All drivers are at risk in certain situations, for example, when driving long distances without rest breaks.
What are the warning signs of fatigue?
Failure to remember the last few miles driven; wandering or disconnected thoughts; difficulty focusing, keeping eyes open, keeping head up; drifting from lane; yawning repeatedly; tailgating or missing signs; jerking car back into lane.
What can be done to help prevent drowsy driving?
Get a good night's sleep; drive with a passenger; schedule regular stops; avoid alcohol or medications that impair performance; seek medical help for a suspected sleep disorder.
What should a driver do if he/she becomes drowsy while driving?
Recognize the warning signs of fatigue; find a safe place to stop; take a brief nap (20 to 40 minutes); drink coffee to promote short-term alertness.
What programs are underway in New York to prevent drowsy driving?
Since 1994, partners involved in alerting the public to the dangers of driving while drowsy/fatigued have implemented a number of countermeasures, including public information and education programs for the general public and for high risk groups, such as commercial drivers; integration of sleep topics into driver training programs; improved crash reporting; installation of rumble strips along the Thruway and interstate roadways; police training; and research.
WARNING SIGNS OF DROWSINESS AND FATIGUE
If you:
- can't remember the last few miles driven
- have wandering or disconnected thoughts
- experience difficulty focusing or keeping your eyes open
- have trouble keeping your head up
- drift from lanes or hit a rumble strip
- yawn repeatedly
- tailgate or miss traffic signs
- find yourself jerking your vehicle back into lane
then you may be suffering from drowsiness or fatigue. Continuing to drive in this condition puts you at serious risk of being involved in a fatigue-related crash. You should pull over in a safe place and get some rest before resuming your trip.
Tips to avoid driving while tired:
- Stop Driving
- Sleep... take a nap for at least 15 to 20 minutes
- Take frequent breaks at rest areas or Travel Plazas
- Ensure adequate sleep the night before a long trip
- Avoid Alcohol
- Travel with someone and share the driving
- Be aware of the signs that you are tired
To avoid falling asleep at the wheel, motorists are advised to take turns driving or take frequent breaks: Every two hours or 100 miles!
"TRICKS" THAT DO NOT WORK
Opening the window, turning on the air conditioning, or playing loud music are not effective in keeping drivers alert for any extended period of time.
SLEEP IQ TEST
Think you know a lot about drowsy driving? -- Take the Sleep Quiz (from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety).
OTHER FATIGUE-RELATED SOURCES:
National Sleep Foundation http://www.sleepfoundation.org
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety http://aaafoundation.org/
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/sleep/index.htm
Federal Motor Carrier Highway Safety Administration http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/
Sleep Quest http://www.SleepQuest.com
American Sleep Apnea Association http://www.sleepapnea.org
National Institutes of Health, National Medical Library PUBMED (Sleep Research) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed
Drowsy Driving Awareness Fact Sheet - Print version, Adobe Acrobat® Reader required.
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