©2009 American Academy of Sleep Medicine
What is Drowsy Driving?
Drowsy driving is
common and often
deadly:
• Too tired to remain
alert
• Unable to maintain
focus
• Can fall asleep
• May lose control of
the vehicle
©2009 American Academy of Sleep Medicine
What Are the Consequences of
Drowsy Driving?
• At least 100,000 motorvehicle crashes each year
• More than 1,500 deaths
per year
• An estimated $12.5 billion
in annual loss
• A factor in 14% of
crashes
©2009 American Academy of Sleep Medicine
What Are Typical Features of
Drowsy-Driving Accidents?
• Occur late at night
or early in the
morning
• Occur at high
speeds
• Are single-vehicle
crashes
• Lack avoidance
maneuvers
©2009 American Academy of Sleep Medicine
How Common is Drowsy Driving?
•37% of people reported
driving drowsy
•10% of drowsy drivers
reported driving drowsy in
the past month
•7.5 million drivers had
driven drowsy in the past
month
©2009 American Academy of Sleep Medicine
How Common is Drowsy Driving?
• School breaks
• Homecoming and
Prom Season
©2009 American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Who is Most Likely to Drive Drowsy?
•
•
•
•
Sleep Deprived
Alcohol Consumption
Medication
Night shifts or
rotating shifts
• Untreated sleep
disorders
• Teenagers
©2009 American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Why Are Teens Likely to Drive
Drowsy?
• Teens need a little more than 9
hours of nightly sleep.
• Only about 15 percent sleep for 8.5
hours on school nights.
• About 26 percent sleep only 6.5
hours on school nights.
• Teens accumulate a large sleep
debt.
• This ongoing sleep loss has a
severe effect.
©2009 American Academy of Sleep Medicine
How Sleep Deprived Are You?
• What is your
typical weekday
bedtime & wake
time?
• How many hours
of sleep does this
schedule allow?
• Subtract this
average from nine.
• Multiply by five.
©2009 American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Why Are Teens So Sleep Deprived?
• A biological change causes
a “delayed sleep phase.”
• Early school start times
limit your sleep
opportunity.
• Multiple obligations
compete for your time.
• Lifestyle choices and
technological distractions
hinder sleep.
• Irregular sleep schedules
cause restlessness.
©2009 American Academy of Sleep Medicine
What Are the Effects of Sleep
Deprivation?
•
•
•
•
•
Mental distress
Lack of focus
Increased errors
Slowed thinking
Delayed response
times
• “Microsleeps”
• Lack of awareness
©2009 American Academy of Sleep Medicine
What Are the Effects of Sleep
Deprivation?
• Being awake for 18 hours = being
at 60% of the legal limit for drinking
• Being awake for 24 hours = being
25% OVER the legal limit for
drinking
• Drinking one beer with four hours
of sleep is equivalent to drinking a
6-pack with 8 hours of sleep
©2009 American Academy of Sleep Medicine
How Drowsy Are You?
• Do you ever struggle to stay awake during class?
• Do you struggle to stay awake while reading a
book?
• Do you feel sleepy when you do your homework?
• Do you ever fall asleep while watching TV?
• Do you feel drowsy when you ride in a car?
• Have you ever nodded off or fallen asleep while
driving?
©2009 American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Can Drowsy-Driving Accidents
Be Prevented?
• Using roadside
rumble strips
• Developing alertness
monitoring systems
©2009 American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Can Legislation Deter Drowsy
Driving?
• “Maggie’s Law” in
New Jersey in
2003
• “Rob’s Law” in
Massachusetts in
2005
©2009 American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Avoiding Drowsy Driving:
Improving Your Sleep
1. You keep yawning.
2. You are unable to keep your
eyes open.
3. You catch yourself “nodding
off” and have trouble
keeping your head up.
4. You can’t remember driving
the last few miles.
©2009 American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Avoiding Drowsy Driving:
Recognizing the Signs
5.
6.
7.
8.
You end up too close to
cars in front of you.
You miss road signs or
drive past your turn.
You drift into the other
lane of traffic.
You drift onto the
“rumble strip” or onto the
shoulder of the road.
©2009 American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Avoiding Drowsy Driving:
Making the Right Choices
1.
2.
3.
4.
Arrange for
someone else to
give you a ride.
Get a full night of
sleep before
driving.
Avoid driving late
at night.
Avoid medications
that cause
sleepiness.
©2009 American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Avoiding Drowsy Driving:
Making the Right Choices
5.
6.
7.
8.
Avoid driving alone.
On a long trip, share
the driving with
another passenger.
Use caffeine for a
short-term boost.
Pull over at a rest
stop and take a nap.
©2009 American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Be Alert About Drowsy Driving to
Be Safe Behind the Wheel
• Drowsy driving can be deadly.
• Drowsy driving is common among sleep-deprived
teens.
• Sleep deprivation impairs driving performance.
• Getting enough sleep is the best method of
prevention.
• You should recognize the warning signs for drowsy
driving.
• You must make the right choices to avoid drowsy
driving.
©2009 American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Resources
Resources to help you learn more and get help:
• SleepEducation.com
• SleepEducation.blogspot.com
• SleepCenters.org
©2009 American Academy of Sleep Medicine
American Academy of Sleep Medicine
www.sleepeducation.com | www.aasmnet.org | 630.737.9700
©2009 American Academy of Sleep Medicine