National Sleep Foundation THE DANGERS OF DROWSY DRIVING © ™

© National Sleep Foundation Overview  NSF & the Drive Alert campaign  Size of the problem  Characteristics of drowsy driving  Are you at risk?  Effects of fatigue  Reducing your risk

© National Sleep Foundation What is the National Sleep Foundation? Mission: The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to improving public health and safety by achieving public understanding of sleep and sleep disorders, and by supporting public education, sleep-related research, and advocacy.

© National Sleep Foundation DRIVE ALERT … ARRIVE ALIVE National Campaign Goals:  Reach at-risk groups  Create working partnerships  Advocate effective countermeasures  Promote research  Maintain national clearinghouse of drowsy driving information

© National Sleep Foundation How Big is The Problem of Drowsy Driving?

© National Sleep Foundation National Crash Statistics U.S.D.O.T. estimates:  100,000 police-report crashes annually  1,550 fatalities (4%)  71,000 injuries  $12.5 billion in monetary losses  Another 1 million crashes are linked to inattention, which increases with fatigue (Knipling, 1995)

© National Sleep Foundation Crash Statistics are Conservative  Only half of crashes are reported (Miller, 1991)  6 states do not have fatigue codes (NSF, 1998)  Most police are not trained to detect fatigue  There is no objective measurement (e.g., blood test)  Self-reporting tends to be inaccurate  Drowsiness is often linked to other factors (e.g., alcohol, drugs)

© National Sleep Foundation Other Statistics NSF ’ s 1999 “ Sleep in America ” Poll found:  62% reported driving drowsy in past year  27% actually dozed off at the wheel  23% knew someone who had a fall-asleep crash sometime in their life

© National Sleep Foundation What are The Characteristics of Drowsy Driving Crashes?

© National Sleep Foundation Characteristics of Drowsy Driving Crashes  Most happen between midnight – 6:00am & in the midafternoon (circadian dip)  The driver is alone and more likely to be male  A single vehicle drifts off the road and hits a stationary object  Most are rear-end or head-on collisions  There is no evidence of braking or evasive maneuvers  Many involve serious injuries and/or fatalities (Pack, 1995)

© National Sleep Foundation Are You At Risk?

© National Sleep Foundation Are You At Risk? Before you drive, check to see if you are:  Sleep-deprived or fatigued  Suffering from insomnia, poor quality sleep, or a sleep debt  Driving long distances without proper rest breaks  Driving through the night, midafternoon or when you would normally be asleep (Knipling, 1994)

© National Sleep Foundation Are You At Risk? (cont.)  Taking sedating medications  Working more than 60 hours a week  Working more than one job and your main job involves shift work  Drinking even small amounts of alcohol  Driving alone or on a long, rural, dark or boring road

© National Sleep Foundation Special At-Risk Groups Include:  Young people  Shift workers  Commercial drivers  People with undiagnosed or untreated sleep disorders  Business travelers  The elderly

© National Sleep Foundation The Effects of Sleepiness and Fatigue

© National Sleep Foundation Common Sleep Problems  Chronic or short-term insomnia (more than 50% of all U.S. adults)  Snoring (90 million Americans snore, 37 million habitually)  Sleep Apnea ( million Americans)  Restless Legs Syndrome (2 - 15%)  Narcolepsy (1 in every 2,000 Americans)

© National Sleep Foundation The Effects of Sleepiness and Fatigue  Impaired reaction time, judgment and vision  Problems with information processing and short-term memory  Decreased performance, vigilance and motivation  Increased moodiness and aggressive behaviors  Increased “microsleeps” – brief (2/3 seconds) sleep episodes

© National Sleep Foundation Fatigue vs. Alcohol  18 hours sustained wakefulness produces performance impairment =.05% BAC  24 hours =.10% BAC (Dawson & Reid, 1997; Williamson & Feyer, 2000).  People with mild to moderate untreated sleep apnea performed worse than those with a 0.06% BAC (Powell, 1999)  On 4 hours sleep, 1 beer can have the impact of a six-pack (Roehrs et al., 1994)

© National Sleep Foundation How To Reduce Your Risk

© National Sleep Foundation Recognize The Warning Signs of Fatigue  Trouble focusing, keeping your eyes open or your head up  Daydreaming; wandering/disconnected thoughts  Yawning or rubbing your eyes repeatedly  Drifting from your lane, tailgating, & missing signs or exits  Feeling restless & irritable

© National Sleep Foundation Before A Trip  Get a good night’s sleep, preferably 8 hrs  Schedule breaks every 100 miles or 2 hours during long trips  Travel with a companion to help watch for the signs of fatigue  Avoid alcohol and sedating medications

© National Sleep Foundation Before A Trip  Take a nap or drink caffeine before leaving work if tired  Consult your physician or local sleep disorders center if you are experiencing frequent daytime sleepiness or having difficulty sleeping at night

© National Sleep Foundation Countermeasures While Driving  Stop driving  Pull off the road at a safe place and take a short nap  Let a passenger take over the driving  Consume caffeine  Don’t rely on “drowsy driving devices”  Be aware of shoulder rumble strips

© National Sleep Foundation Summary  Drowsy driving is a major problem  Fatigue is an impairment like alcohol or drugs  Anyone can be at risk  There are simple ways to combat drowsy driving  Practice good sleep habits and remember to Drive Alert…Arrive Alive

© National Sleep Foundation For More Information Contact: National Sleep Foundation 1522 K Street, NW, Suite 500 Washington, DC (202) or visit