Don't let driver fatigue play a role in your travel safety

  • Published
  • By Jim Moats
  • 452nd Safety Office
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. --  This is the time of year many of us will spend extra time behind the wheel as we drive to vacation destinations or to and from recreational or social activities. Very often, that time driving slowly erodes our ability to operate a vehicle safely as the miles go by.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration calculates drowsy or fatigued driving causes at least approximately 100,000 police-reported crashes and kills more than 1,550 Americans each year. Sleepiness slows the driver's reaction time and decreases awareness. Drowsiness can also impair the driver's judgment and increases the risks of crashing.

Fortunately, the NHTSA also provides some helpful tips to avoid driver fatigue:

Step 1 First and most importantly, get plenty of rest before you need to drive anywhere. Sleep deprivation can creep up on a person, so know that you have been getting proper sleep that is neither uninterrupted nor fragmented.

Step 2 Recognize the signs of driver fatigue: drowsiness, difficulty focusing, blinking more than normal, yawning, heavy eyelids, your head will nod, and rubbing your eyes. If you have any of these symptoms or signs, don't continue driving. Either avoid driving altogether, or have someone else take over the wheel.

Step 3 If you must continue driving, stop for frequent breaks. Get out of the vehicle and move around; get the blood pumping through your body. Every two hours or 100 miles is a good time frame to shoot for when taking breaks.

Step 4 Schedule a travel buddy. This is someone who could take your place driving if you get too tired. This is especially important for very long road trips.

Step 5 Some other techniques that work for some people are to open the windows to have the cold air wake them, turn up the radio and sing along and consume caffeine.

Tips & Warnings

· Know your required amount of sleep and get it; most adults require 7-9 hours.
· Don't take medications that can make you drowsy before you drive.
· Don't drink and drive.
Using these strategies can be the difference between terrific summertime travel and a tragic experience. Be safe and smart while driving and remember that driver fatigue is a hazard to be guarded against every time you are behind the wheel, summer or not!

Editor's note: Chris Tirey, 88 ABW, contributed to this story.