The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) Reminds
Thanksgiving Travelers to Drive Alert and Arrive Alive
NSF offers tips for staying awake at the wheel and preventing a drowsy driving
crash during the busy Thanksgiving holiday travel period
WASHINGTON, DC, November 9, 2007 – Thanksgiving marks the official kick off to the holidays. It is a time when U.S. roadways are bumper to bumper with millions of Americans traveling to visit family and friends. NSF urges all drivers to stay safe on the roadways this holiday season by getting adequate sleep before hitting the road and by watching out for signs of sleepiness behind the wheel.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there is an increase in vehicle fatalities surrounding holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. This increase may be due to more people being on the road, an increase in alcohol consumption, early sunsets, and winter weather. However, sleepiness is also a major contributor to vehicle crashes. Studies show that being awake for more than 20 hours results in an impairment equal to a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%, the legal limit in all states.
"People are often in a hurry to get out of town for the long holiday weekend," explains NSF Acting Chief Executive Officer Darrel Drobnich. "They may choose to drive at night or very early in the morning in order to beat traffic and arrive at their destination as early as possible; this is especially true of college students who are anxious to get home for the long weekend break. But driving at times when you would normally be sleeping puts you at an increased risk of drowsy driving," he says. Instead, NSF urges all holiday travelers to allow time for adequate sleep – to make it a priority -- before getting behind the wheel in order to drive alert and arrive alive.
NSF recently kicked off (November 5-11) Drowsy Driving Prevention Week™ (DDPW), the nation's first public awareness and advocacy campaign about the dangers of driving while drowsy. With increased holiday traffic, NSF urges everyone on the road to educate themselves about the dangers of drowsy driving in order to prevent possible tragic consequences.
NSF recommends these tips to stay awake behind the wheel:
- Get adequate sleep - most adults need 7-9 hours to maintain proper alertness during the day
- Schedule proper breaks - about every 100 miles or 2 hours during long trips
- Arrange for a travel companion - someone to talk with and share the driving
- Avoid alcohol and sedating medications - check your labels or ask your doctor
- Take a nap - find a safe place to take a 15 to 20-minute nap
- Consume caffeine - the equivalent of two cups of coffee can increase alertness and driving performance for several hours. However, caffeine should not be relied upon for the long term.
These are signs that you may be at risk of a drowsy driving crash:
- Trouble focusing, keeping your eyes open or your head up
- Daydreaming and wandering thoughts
- Frequent blinking, yawning, heavy eyelids
- Not remembering the last few miles driven
- Drifting from your lane, tailgating and missing signs or exits
- Feeling restless, irritable or aggressive
Understanding the signs of driving while sleepy and learning countermeasures to combat fatigue while driving will save lives. Be warned that tricks such as turning up the radio and rolling down the window are actually signs that you are tired and not effective at preventing a sleep-related crash. If you notice drowsiness coming on while driving, pull over immediately and look for a safe place, well off the road, to take a short nap or find a hotel to sleep for the night.
In addition to the newly redesigned site, www.DrowsyDriving.org also features a Drowsy Driving Memorials and Testimonials site that tells the stories of individuals whose lives have been permanently affected by a drowsy driving crash and preserves the memory of those whose lives were lost. NSF and its partners encourage people to visit www.DrowsyDriving.org to find materials and information to share with loved ones during this holiday travel season.
About NSF
The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to improving public health and safety by achieving greater understanding of sleep and sleep disorders. NSF furthers its mission through sleep-related education, research, and advocacy initiatives. NSF’s membership includes researchers and clinicians focused on sleep medicine as well as other professionals in the health, medical and science fields, individuals, patients and more than 800 sleep clinics throughout North America that join the Foundation’s Community Sleep Awareness Partners program. For more information, visit, www.sleepfoundation.org.
####
Contact: Lisa Tumminello
Phone: (202) 347-3471, ext. 211
Email: ltumminello@sleepfoundation.org
| 
