Is Drowsy Driving A Big Problem?

December 21, 2016

Not just in Louisville, KY but across the country, drowsy driving is a big problem: It is a significant contributor to car accidents in this country. In fact, 1 out of 6 fatal auto accidents are directly caused by drowsy driving. One of every 8 accidents requiring hospitalization is caused by drowsy driving. Preventing this behavior could save numerous lives each year and spare even more people from serious injury.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, adults need between 7-9 hours of sleep every night. This amount of sleep is important for cognition, concentration, alertness, and your ability to react quickly and decisively.

So what can you do to prevent yourself from driving when you shouldn’t be? Here are a few tips:

• Prioritize getting at least 7 hours of sleep each night
• If you have not slept for 24 hours or more, do not drive
• Practice good sleep habits, including sticking to a set bedtime and removing laptops, smartphones and tablets from your bedroom
• Speak to a doctor if you believe you may be suffering from a sleep disorder

Drowsy driving is a serious and urgent problem. Even if you don’t think you are tired enough to fall asleep at the wheel, fatigue can severely impact your ability to pay attention, react and make good judgements on the road.