Drive Alert
DROWSY DRIVING IS JUST AS DANGEROUS AS DRUNK DRIVING
Drive Alert
“A drowsy driver’s choice changed our lives forever.”
- Jordin Petersen Seamons
“Do I believe it was his time? Not even close. THIS WAS A RESULT OF DROWSY DRIVING!”
– Jordin Petersen Seamons
YOU’RE MORE LIKELY TO FALL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL IF YOU ARE:
- Sleep-deprived or fatigued (six hours of sleep or less triples your risk)
- Driving longer than 100 miles or two hours without proper rest breaks
- Driving alone — having a companion can help you stay alert
- Driving on a long, rural or dark road
- Driving through the night, mid-afternoon or when you would normally be asleep
- Taking sedating medications (e.g., antidepressants, cold tablets, antihistamines)
- Working more than 60 hours a week (increases your risk by 40 percent)
- Suffering from insomnia or poor quality sleep
- Drinking even small amounts of alcohol
DROWSY DRIVING WARNING SIGNS INCLUDE:
- Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking or heavy eyelids
- Daydreaming or wandering thoughts
- Trouble remembering the last few miles driven
- Yawning repeatedly or rubbing your eyes
- Trouble keeping your head up
- Drifting from your lane, tailgating or hitting a shoulder rumble strip
- Feeling restless and irritable
Don't be a Bob
Never risk drowsy driving. Pull over, switch drivers, find a safe place to sleep. Drowsy driving is not worth your life, or the lives of others.
REMEMBERING MADELINE
“I learned the hard way about the dangers of drowsy driving-when I fell asleep behind the wheel and crashed and my little sister, Madie, died.”
– Taylor Morris
WHEN FEELING DROWSY, DRIVERS SHOULD FIRST PULL OVER, THEN:
- Switch drivers
- Take a 10- to 20-minute nap
- Get out of the car and stretch or jog for a few minutes
- Eat a snack
- Find a safe place to sleep for the night
Staying awake for 18 hours is equal to being intoxicated
Those who average 6 hours of sleep or less, are 3X more likely to crash
Drivers under age 25 are involved in 42 percent of all drowsy driving crashes
