Winter roads in Alaska pose many difficulties: icy corners, snow-choked roadways, low visibility from ice fog, and heavy snowfalls are dangers northern drivers are all too aware of. And when you partner poor road conditions with drivers that are intoxicated, aggressive, texting, or simply not paying attention, the chances of accidents increase significantly. In recent years another kind of hazardous driving condition is beginning to get more national recognition: drowsy driving. You may be familiar with this past summer's news story in which a Wal-Mart truck driver, fatigued from being awake for more than 24 hours, struck the limousine of comedian Tracy Morgan on the New Jersey Turnpike. The accident claimed the life of fellow comedian James McNair and critically injured Morgan and four other passengers.
The accident also made the public very aware of the dangers of drowsy driving. The Dangers of Drowsy Driving According to a poll by the 60% of Americans claim to have driven while feeling sleepy and 37% admitted to falling asleep at the wheel in the past year.
Drowsy driving in many states is being cited in the same class as intoxicated driving. Both types of drivers exhibit similar impaired cognitive functions whether under the influence of alcohol, or driving after being awake for more than 24 hours. The article states that, 'after about 24 hours awake, impairment is equivalent to a BAC of 0.10%, higher than the legal limit in all states.'
T he National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 2.5% of fatal crashes and 2% of injury crashes involve drowsy driving. Although it is believed the estimates may be a bit conservative and that up to 5-6 thousand fatal crashes each year may be caused by drowsy driving. What are the warning signs of drowsy driving?. Persistent yawning. Unable to keep your eyes open. Feeling like you're 'nodding off'. Can't remember the last few miles of driving.
You miss road signs or miss your exit. You drift from your lane, hit rumble strips, or catch yourself tailgating other drivers Who is most at risk? Drivers under 30 years old (especially males) are considered the age group most likely to be involved in drowsy driving accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 'drivers younger than 30 accounted for almost two-thirds of drowsy-driving crashes, despite representing only about one-fourth of licensed drivers.
These drivers were four times more likely to have such a crash than were drivers ages 30 years or older.' Theories as to why young drivers are highest risk to drive while tired are many, but the most prevailing theories are that young people have different sleep needs.
Especially teenagers, who experience in which they naturally feel tired later at night and require more sleep and need to sleep in longer, but rarely report getting consistent quality sleep. Add to it cultural and social lifestyles that demand more school work, increased after school activities, after school jobs, late night socializing, or sleep loss from being new parents, makes this the most likely group to experience traffic accidents related to fatigue. Shift workers. Our society has evolved to be able to run on a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week schedule.
Many jobs and industries require staff to work around the clock and keep strange hours.Typical shift work jobs include firefighters, police officers, medical personnel, retail clerks, truckers, pilots, and many more. Unfortunately, while society has evolved to meet the demands of consumers, human biology has not, and many shift workers have difficulty getting consistent, quality sleep. Shift workers includes workers with schedules atypical to the usual 9 a.m. This includes people who work nights, early mornings, late afternoons, and those with rotating shift schedules. Shift work can lead to a condition known as. Rotating shifts have been found to cause the most severe sleep disruptions for workers out of all the shift types. Drivers with untreated sleep disorders. Drivers with untreated sleep disorders such as and run a higher risk than the average driver for fatigued driving accidents.
In both OSA and narcolepsy the most common symptom is. Furthermore, studies have shown that those with more severe sleep apnea were far more likely to be in an accident than those with mild sleep apnea. State Laws and Education Pertaining to Drowsy Driving Laws As drowsy driving garners more research and national attention, state laws, policies, and procedures have been adopted to reduce such risk.
However, in most states, there is no specific citation for drowsy driving, but most fall under the individual state's unsafe driving laws, reckless driving laws, or distracted driving laws. Charges in accidents can vary from reckless driving to negligent homicide and manslaughter. Some states do however have specific drowsy driving laws. New Jersey for instance has a law stating that drivers who have been awake for more than 24 hours are considered to be driving recklessly, in the same class as intoxicated drivers. 13 states have adopted driver's license restrictions for motorists with untreated sleep disorders including: California, Conneticut, Florida, Iowa, and Maine. More state laws and bills concerning drowsy driving can be found It's not just states that have taken to passing restrictions on drowsy driving as they pertain to sleep disorder. The (FAA) lists untreated obstructive sleep apnea as a disqualifying medical condition.
However, pilots with diagnosed OSA who are under the care of their physician and Aviation Medical Examiner may fly. Education The greatest prevention of accidents from fatigued driving isn't in lawmaking, but in educating the public. Many states have taken to educating their drivers about the dangers of drowsy driving:. In Florida, the state passed the 'Ronshay Dugans Act' declaring the first week of September as 'Drowsy Driving Week.'
. Massachusetts marks the second week of November as 'Massachusetts Drowsy Driving Prevention Week.' . Some states have training for police officers in identifying fatigued drivers: Alabama, Arizona, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, and many others.
Many states have drowsy driving information mandated in their driver education courses and/or in their driver's manual including the state of Alaska's (see page 56). What You Can Do The problem with drowsy driving is that it's not always clear to the driver whether they're driving safely or not. Many people may not realize how fatigued they really are, and may falsely believe that they can fight through the urge to fall asleep.
Many drivers may have the attitude 'I've done this a hundred times, and never had an accident,' but the truth is, it only takes one brief moment of losing concentration on the road for disaster to strike. Plan your driving during times when you're most awake. If you know you're going to take a long drive, attempt to take a nap before leaving.
Narcolepsy And Driving
If you begin to feel drowsy while driving, ask another passenger to drive. If possible, pull over at a rest stop for a few hours.
Consume caffeine. Caffeine has been proven to promote alertness in tired people, but the effects may only last up to an hour. Don't stare straight ahead. Move your eyes around and focus on things near and far. Seek treatment for any possible sleep disorders. Therapy has been proven the most successful therapy for obstructive sleep apnea, and certain drug treatments have been shown effective for narcolepsy. If you're a shift worker, talk to your employer about your schedule, or inquire about taking brief 10-30 minute naps during your shift.
If working a rotating schedule t alk to your employer about moving your next shift 'forward' as it's easier on the circadian rhythm to sleep in a little more rather than less. If you have ever experienced difficulty staying awake while driving, or often feel tired during the day, there is a chance that your symptoms may be due to an untreated sleep disorder. At the Alaska Sleep Clinic we treat thousands of Alaskans every year for sleep disorders, and for many patients the most comomon complaint is chronic drowsiness. Give us a call today and we can help you start sleeping better so you can drive safer.
Image via Ohio Revised Code 4511.79 makes is a minor misdemeanor for a someone to drive “a commercial motor vehicle” “while the person’s ability or alertness is so impaired by fatigue, illness, or other causes that it is unsafe for the person to drive such vehicle.” The law also provides that, “no driver shall use any drug which would adversely affect the driver’s ability or alertness.” Furthermore, O.R.C. 4511.79(B) prohibits an owner from “knowingly” permitting a driver in any such condition to drive. Repeated violations result in enhancement of the charge from a minor misdemeanor to a fourth degree misdemeanor. The National Highway Transportation Administration has conducted extensive study of drowsy driving in, linked.
Although no driver is immune, the following three population groups are at highest risk, based on evidence from crash reports and self-reports of sleep behavior and driving performance. Young people (ages 16 to 29), especially males.
Shift workers whose sleep is disrupted by working at night or working long or irregular hours. People with untreated sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) and narcolepsy. Has represented commercial drivers/truck drivers for over fifteen years and understands the issues involved in cases. Often these types of cases involve serious crashes or the possibility of loss of a driver’s career.
If you are in need of an attorney who can help you save your CDL , contact Charles M. Rowland II today at 1-888-ROWLAND (888-769-5263), (937) 318-1DUI (318-1384) or visit. Related articles. (physorg.com). (psychologytoday.com).
Driving Devices For Narcolepsy
(abclocal.go.com). AAA Study: 2-of-5 Drivers Admit Nodding Off (abcnews.go.com).
Narcolepsy And Driving Laws
(daytondui.com).