With this blog post, I want to write about drowsy driving and how to prevent it because I have just started to drive and I have noticed how hard it can be to stay awake. I know that many other teens have thought the same way about getting sleepy while driving and so I want to share with you how important it is to be able to deal with being tired while driving.
What is Drowsy Driving? Who does it affect the most?
Drowsy driving happens when a driver is too tired to stay alert. A driver is at higher risk of having slower reaction times, reduced road attention, and making impaired decisions. The AAA Foundation for Traffic states that more than 6,000 fatal crashes are associated with drowsy driving. The National Safety Council suggests that about 50% of these drowsy driving crashes have people under the age of 25 driving the car. Teens are more at risk for drowsy driving because they have less driving experience and don't understand the consequences of driving while tired. Not only this, but teens have to balance schoolwork, sports, friends, and everything else and all this pressure can be too much and cause teens to be very tired when driving from activities.
What are the warning signs of drowsy driving?
Yawning or blinking frequently
Missing your exit
Drifting from your lane
Trouble remembering the past few miles
What are the risks of drowsy driving?
The main risk of drowsy driving is a car crash. The crash could be a small accident or a fatal accident but either way, drowsy driving can cause one. Not only this but many people have been jailed for drowsy driving. People can owe millions of dollars for damaging property or hurting people. In some states, the state troopers will pull you over if you are drifting around in your lane. A trooper could also ask how much you have slept and give you a warning or even a ticket.
Teen Drowsy Driving Study
In a study carried out by Liberty Mutual Insurance and the Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), they found that of 2,500 high school students from across the country about 1 in 10 licensed teens said they had fallen asleep while driving. About 1/3 (32%) said that they have driven drowsy at least a little bit and 56% said that they have driven when they are too tired to focus.
Dr. Gene Beresin, a senior advisor on adolescent psychiatry with the SADD states-
"The pressures of school, sports, extracurricular activities, and friends can be overwhelming, and teens may not have the confidence...to raise a hand and ask for help if they are running on empty"
Other Studies (showing how prevalent drowsy driving is in teens)
Prevention:
What can teens do to prevent drowsy driving?
Get a good amount of sleep (for teens it is at least 8 hours per day)
Develop good sleeping habits (ie. stick to a schedule)
Treatment options (if you have a disorder)
Avoid drinking alcohol
Avoid taking medicines that make you tired
What can adults do to prevent drowsy driving with their teens?
Talk to teens about how dangerous drowsy driving can be
Tell them about the warning signs
Try to make sure they are getting enough sleep and proper balance in their schedules
Call them a ride
What is the government doing now that it can do more of to prevent drowsy driving?
Install road signs indicating that drowsy driving can cause crashes
Build more rest stops
How does this theme tie into youth injury prevention?
The drowsy driving theme ties back into the theme of youth injury prevention because the consequences of drowsy driving in teens is a conflict that needs to be prevented. The methods above and resting before taking drives are all ways to prevent teens from getting in car wrecks and in accidents due to drowsy driving.
For more information:
https://www.libertymutualgroup.com/about-lm/news/articles/new-study-finds-one-three-teens-are-driving-while-drowsy#:~:text=Be%20flexible%3A%2056%20percent%20of,teen's%20schedule%20may%20need%20adjusting.
For more info on Accidents and Recovery:
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