Roadside Chat - Nap in a hammock, not in driver's seat
Those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer are here! The longer, sunnier days provide lots of light to get things done. But if you’re trying to cram too much in each day, you could end up drowsy by the time you head back home.
You might not think that getting behind the wheel when you’re drowsy is a big deal but consider this, the Sleep Foundation notes: “Drowsy driving is dangerous even if a person doesn’t actually fall asleep. Research shows that sleep deprivation leads to mental impairment that is similar to drunkenness with 24 hours of sleep deprivation roughly equating to a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.10%.”
If you notice any of the following signs of drowsy driving, you should look for the next available opportunity to stop and rest:
- Frequent yawning
- Feelings of dozing off
- Tired eyes, droopy eyes, or an increase in blinking
- Drifting into other lanes or hitting “rumble strips” on the road
- Inability to remember the last few miles
- Missing a road sign or exit
- Following other cars too closely
- Difficulty maintaining proper speed
Missing just one hour of sleep can impact your driving - https://youtu.be/EQNvn3CTaig
So far in 2021, there have been 160 deaths in traffic crashes. That is an increase of eight since last Monday. To see statistics published daily by the Office of Driver Services, go to the daily fatality report at https://www.iowadot.gov/mvd/stats/daily.pdf