Search Results for: blog drowsy drivers

It’s Drowsy Driving Prevention Week

Studies show 60% of adult drivers – about 168 million people – say they have driven a vehicle while feeling drowsy in the past year, and more than one-third (or 103 million people) has actually fallen asleep at the wheel. Are you one of them? Regular readers of this blog have read my past drowsy driving experiences (none of them were pretty). And now there’s an entire week dedicated to educating travelers about the dangers of getting behind the wheel without proper sleep. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 100,000 police-reported crashes are the direct result of driver … Continue reading →

Drowsy Driving

I’ve told you about the midnight drives I used to take to visit my college boyfriend after I finished working the second shift at my first TV job. It seems like an eternity ago, but I still remember with great clarity how I used to fight to stay awake behind the wheel. I would make the 2-hour drive after working a 10-hour shift and to say I was fatigued would be an understatement. The fact that I had to splash water on my face while I was driving really should have been a sign that I shouldn’t have been driving. … Continue reading →

Drowsy Drivers

Tomorrow we spring ahead for the start of daylight savings time. This, of course, means that it will still be light out well after many of us have eaten dinner. For some of us it also means it will still be light out as our spouses drive home from work. But, did you know that the start of daylight savings time also means that our roads and highways become more dangerous? According to the National Road Safety Foundation, a non-profit group that provides free driver safety programs for schools and other organizations, the time change throws off our internal clock, … Continue reading →

Sleep Deprived Parents Should Stay Home

You wouldn’t dream of getting behind the wheel after downing a pint of Jagermeister, but would you consider driving your kids to school after getting only three hours of sleep? According to a new report, driving while drowsy is a lot like driving drunk. U.S. News and World Report just published a fascinating article with mounting data that suggests driving while sleep deprived is not much better than navigating the streets after pounding a six-pack of beer. Even more interesting is the fact that the popular magazine chose to open the article with a parenting anecdote. Apparently, the writer (a … Continue reading →

Stay Awake (and Alive) on the Road

It’s a holiday weekend here in the United States — and lots of people are taking an end-of-summer trip. The roads were extra crowded yesterday and this morning as people headed out of town for summer’s last hurrah. One danger of road trips is getting sleepy when you’re behind the wheel. And it isn’t just vacationers who are at risk! Folks who work third shift, people who drive long distances every day, and people who don’t get enough sleep are at risk for heavy eyelids while on the road. Here are some things you can do to help stay awake … Continue reading →

Preventing Fatigue-Related Crashes

In a previous blog I told you about my days as a drowsy driver. I also gave you proof that there are many more drowsy drivers on the highways than you might think. I ended the blog by asking you if you have ever driven while fatigued. If you answered yes, then this blog may offer you some aid. The following are tips to help you prevent drifting off behind the wheel. Drive During Daylight Hours. Research has shown that fatigue-related crashes are most common between midnight and 6 a.m. As such, experts advise avoiding driving during those hours if … Continue reading →

Start The Engine! Auto Travel and The Winter Car Trip.

Driving in winter conditions requires skill and concentration. Taking a long trip on unknown winter roads requires some preplanning. If you have already taken all the steps before the engine starts, now it’s time to talk about the actual journey. If your aren’t used to driving on snow or ice be sure to review the Five Tips For Driving on Icy, Slippery or Snow Covered Roads . This time of year can bring surprises when you least expect them and some of the roads we travel may be affected by winter conditions. It’s always a good idea to keep the … Continue reading →