News Release 

TOMPKINS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Alice Cole, RN, MSE – Public Health Director

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 5, 2008
For more information contact: Theresa Lyczko at 274-6710

 

Drowsy Driving – Be Careful this Spring!

 
Spring forward! This Saturday we move our clocks ahead and add an hour of daylight to our daily schedules. Along with that harbinger of spring, most of us will lose an hour of sleep. And that loss of sleep may put us at risk when we take to the road.

Almost everyone is aware of the dangers of drinking and driving. However, the dangers of drowsy driving are less well known.

“Drowsy driving can mean falling asleep while driving or the inability to pay adequate attention to the road and traffic due to fatigue or lack of sleep,” warns Theresa Lyczko Director of the Health Promotion Program at the Tompkins County Health Department. “It can be just as dangerous as driving drunk, because falling asleep even for a few seconds can result in serious injury or death to you or someone else,” she added.

The warning signs of drowsy driving include yawning repeatedly; difficulty focusing or keeping your eyes open; inability to recall the last few miles driven; and wandering or disconnected thinking. Other signs include weaving between lanes; tailgating; missing traffic signs; or driving on the rumble strips on the shoulder of the road.

Busier schedules and longer commuting distances compete with our need for sleep. Shift workers, new parents and teens and young adults are at particular risk. Those between the ages of 16 – 24 years old require an average of 9.2 hours of sleep per night. But they often get less sleep than most people due to late night television, part-time jobs, school and a busy social schedule.

Here are some ways to stay alert while driving: Get enough sleep every day. For those who stay up late and don’t get enough sleep, afternoon naps are a good option. Plan a long trip with a companion who can drive as well as keep the driver alert. Schedule stops every 100 miles or two hours. If you feel drowsy while driving, a 15 – minute nap can be very effective; pull over to a safe place. Avoid alcohol and medications that impair driver performance.

For more information on drowsy driving and ways to prevent it, call the Tompkins County Health Department at 607-274-6710, or visit the Department’s web site at www.tompkins-co.org/wellness/drowsydriving

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