Charlie Gaines, a sophomore in journalism: drifts off at the wheel. Driving while drowsy can put all motorists in danger. Morgan Thacker / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR
A driver’s eyelids droop with heaviness and his head starts to nod. He is trying to stay focused on the road, but sleepiness is taking its toll.
This scenario is the product of drowsy driving and is a problem some college students say they have experienced.
Because the number one specific at-risk group for drowsy driving is people under the age of 26, according to the National Sleep Foundation, Nov. 10-16 has been designated as the National Sleep Foundation’s Drowsy Driving Prevention Week.
NSF is raising awareness of the dangers of drowsy driving and providing resources for advocacy at the state level.
Sleepy drivers cause 100,000 crashes a year, according to NSF (www.drowsydriving.org).
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has estimated that 100,000 police-reported crashes are the direct result of drowsy driving each year. This results in an estimated 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries and $12.5 billion in monetary losses.
Lisa Tumminello of the National Sleep Foundation said their studies have shown adults between ages 18-29 are much more likely to drive while drowsy, compared to other age groups. She said 71 percent in this age group were found to drive while drowsy, while 52 percent of 30-64 and 19 percent of 65+ age groups fell into the category.
She also said men are more likely than women to drive while drowsy (56 percent versus 45 percent) and are almost twice as likely as women to fall asleep while driving (22 percent versus 12 percent).
NSF says definitions of drowsy driving depend on how the concept of fatigue is defined. Fatigue, they say, is a word used to describe the experience of being sleepy, tired, drowsy or exhausted.
All of these words have various meanings in a research or clinical setting, but they mean the same thing in traffic safety or transportation fields.
Being sleepy on the road can cause the following, according to the NSF: Impaired reaction time, judgment and vision, problems with information processing and short-term memory, decreased performance, vigilance and motivation and increased moodiness and aggressive behaviors.
In addition to the dangers of driving drowsy, several states are considering legislation that would allow police to charge drowsy drivers with criminal negligence if they injure or kill someone while driving, if they have not had adequate sleep.
Drowsy driving is not a subject Auburn students are unfamiliar with. Many have said they have experienced it and have discovered their own ways to help keep their eyes open and mind alert during a drive down a long, boring road or one where they find themselves sleepier than they should be.
Brooke Glassford, a junior in public relations, said she has been guilty of driving drowsy before.
“The times when I have driven tired is not often, but when I have, I roll down my windows and blast my music to wake me up,” Glassford said.
Some students, such as Lindsay Westlake, a sophomore in elementary education, have found caffeine can help with driving under the influence of fatigue.
“I usually stock up with a big cup of coffee and some dark chocolate,” Westlake said.
NSF said caffeine helps, but only produces short-term alertness. Also, it takes 20-30 minutes to kick in and does not have the best effect on those who consume it regularly. NSF also suggests drowsy drivers pull over and take a short nap to boost their energy.
