According to a recent National Sleep Foundation poll, less than half of Americans say they get a good night’s sleep every night. In fact, 28% of American drivers have admitted to falling asleep at the wheel, and more than half (54%) said they have driven while drowsy.
November 8-14, 2010 is Drowsy Driving Prevention Week™ (DDPW). DDPW is a public awareness campaign designed to educate young drivers (and everyone on the road!) about the dangers of driving while sleepy. The National Sleep Foundation’s website provides a Toolkit with resources to inform your community about healthy sleep and drowsy driving prevention during DDPW and beyond. Get involved today.
Warning Signs: Feeling Sleepy? Stop Driving!
If you start to exhibit any of these warning signs, it’s time to get off the road.
- Have problems focusing, blink frequently and/or have heavy eyelids;
- Drift from your lane, swerve, tailgate and/or hit rumble strips;
- Have trouble remembering the last few miles driven;
- Miss exits or traffic signs;
- Have trouble keeping your head up;
- Yawn repeatedly;
- Find yourself rolling down the window or turning up the radio.
Find a safe place to pull over!