Driving and Drowsiness -- A Dangerous Combination

2 September 1998

Driving and Drowsiness -- A Dangerous Combination; AAA Study Shares Stay-Alert Strategies That Work

    SAN FRANCISCO--Sept. 2, 1998--Drivers don't know how to cope with sleepiness, suggests a new study released today by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
    "Getting behind the wheel when you're sleepy is just as irresponsible as driving when you're drunk," says David Willis, President of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. "We're trying to educate drivers about stay-alert strategies that work, before they leave for the Labor Day weekend."
    The study, conducted by Dr. David Dinges, Beatrice A. Jauregui, and Lan Nguyen at the University of Pennsylvania, concluded that the only effective ways to stay alert while driving involve taking naps and using caffeine. Yet most drivers believe that rolling down the window, listening to tapes, or taking their shoes off will keep them awake.
    "AAA recommends sleep, exercise to eliminate grogginess, and then caffeine. The combination allows a few more hours of wide-awake driving." The study recommends that rest areas be made safer so motorists will be more likely to take a sleep break. Motorists should also be sure to get a good night's sleep before hitting the road.
    The survey asked sleep professionals for signs that a person is about to fall asleep. The most common answers included:

    -- involuntary eyelid closures

    -- inattention

    -- yawning

    -- inability to stay in lane

    -- being disengaged from the environment and feeling tired

    "These symptoms mean you're tired, no matter what time it is," Willis says. Drowsy driving crashes often occur between midnight and 7 a.m., but are also common in mid-afternoon. Drivers who feel drowsy should take the feeling seriously. "Sleep can strike without warning," Willis says. "It only takes a second to shut your eyes, leave your lane, and cause a crash."
    The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a not-for-profit charitable organization funded by donations from AAA and Canadian Automobile Association motor clubs and members. Its safety education programs include teen driver education; antilock brake (ABS) safety; drowsy driving; aggressive driving and road rage; and older driver safety. Located in Washington, D.C., the Foundation has been devoted to preventing crashes and saving lives through research and education since 1947.
    A free copy of the AAA brochure "Wake Up" is available through the California State Automobile Association Traffic Safety Department, 150 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102.