The National Sleep Foundation Reminds Drivers to Drive Alert, Arrive Alive During This Holiday Season

30.8 million Americans expected to travel by car this Thanksgiving; 51 million for the entire Holiday Season*

Washington, DC, Nov. 21, 2005 – As holiday travelers take to the roads this holiday season, the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) cautions drivers to be especially alert behind the wheel. Many travelers will face winter weather conditions and earlier sunsets that can compromise visibility, making safe driving difficult for even the most alert driver. And the typical activities of the holiday season may mean more stress, more fatigue, and more sleepiness for millions of people. What it shouldn’t mean is more people being sleepy behind the wheel.

According to NSF’s 2005 Sleep in America poll, about 6 out of 10 adults licensed to drive say they have driven a motor vehicle while feeling drowsy….that’s some 118 million people putting themselves and others at risk on our nation’s local roads and major highways. Four percent of adult licensed drivers – about 8 million people – have actually had a crash or near miss because they dozed off or were drowsy while driving, according to the poll findings.

"Being drowsy behind the wheel can have the same effects as being drunk," warns Richard L. Gelula, NSF’s chief executive officer. "But if you’re sleep deprived, go out and party, and have a few drinks, and then get behind the wheel, the results can be especially dangerous, if not deadly."

In fact, 24 hours without sleep has a similar effect to a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10 percent, more than the legal threshold for drunken driving in many states, Gelula notes.

"Too often, people will stay out late at holiday gatherings and rise early to travel the next morning. Long stretches behind the wheel, coupled with lack of sleep, can cause severe impairment," Gelula adds.

NSF’s 2005 Sleep in America poll found that young adult male drivers are at the greatest risk for drowsy driving. According to the poll, males are more likely to drive drowsy than females (38% vs. 28%), and nearly one-half of drivers 18-29 (46%) said they have driven drowsy at least once a month in the past year, compared to 39% of drivers 30-49, 30% of those 50-64, and 14% of drivers 65+.

There are several signs to indicate fatigue while driving, though many people may not associate the symptoms with fatigue or sleepiness and continue to drive when they should stop. Here are some signs that should tell a driver to stop and rest:

* Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, or heavy eyelids

* Trouble keeping your head up

* Yawning repeatedly

* Trouble remembering the last few miles driven; missing exits or traffic signs

* Drifting from your lane, tailgating, or hitting a shoulder rumble strip

"It’s important to recognize these signs and find a safe place to stop. When possible, have a companion take over the driving," says Gelula. "Caffeine from coffee or energy drinks can promote short-term alertness, but it takes about 30 minutes for caffeine to enter the bloodstream; take a 15-20 minute nap while waiting for the caffeine to kick in.

"This season, make sleep a priority to help ensure that you and your loved ones celebrate safe, happy holidays. Remember the NSF campaign slogan…’Drive Alert...Arrive Alive,'" he says.

More information about drowsy driving can be found at NSF’s drowsy driving Web site, www.drowsydriving.org, a valuable online resource for tips, countermeasures, research and advocacy on the subject. Additional information about sleep and sleep disorders can be found at www.sleepfoundation.org.

The National Sleep Foundation is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to improving public health and safety by achieving understanding of sleep and sleep disorders, and by supporting sleep-related education, research, and advocacy. NSF is based in Washington, DC.

*Source: AAA, www.aaanewsroom.net