Driver Impairment

Drowsiness

Drowsiness, or fatigue, is the culprit in about 100,000 automobile accident reports annually, and almost 30,000 of these involve fatal injuries. Presently, there is no method for quantifying drowsiness unlike alcohol, which can be detected at the crash site with a breathalyzer. However, drowsiness is still believed to be one of the leading contributors to accidents throughout the US. In fact, it may play a role in more accidents than we think.

Fatigue is caused by a variety of circumstances including:

• Sleep disorders (e.g., sleep apnea, narcolepsy, restless legs syndrome, and parasomnia like sleepwalking)
• Insomnia caused by a professionally diagnosed disorder or daily stress from work or personal life.

In our fast-paced society, it seems that we often don't have enough hours in a day because we are so busy. As a result, fatigue due to lack of sleep is becoming a hot topic to debate. Being overwhelmed by drowsiness can actually trigger the brain to shut down in the midst of any situation. Whether they are driving a car or sitting at their desk at work, when this occurs, people lapse into sleep without even realizing what is happening.

Car accidents are the most common form of destruction caused by uncontrollable sleepiness. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drivers are often oblivious as their condition deteriorates. Even when their bodies are sending signals that it is time for a nap, some drivers choose to ignore them and continue on their way. This is when some of the worst accidents happen.

Who is responsible?

People assume that commercial drivers, such as those who drive big rigs, are responsible for most accidents related to drowsy driving. One study found that half the truckers tested went through a six-minute period of fatigue during a trip and also slept under five hours per night. Contrary to public opinion, tractor trailer drivers are not the problem; just fewer than 96 percent of yearly crashes due to overtiredness are caused by drivers in passenger vehicles. Young and elderly drivers, shift workers, and people with undetected or untreated sleep disorders (e.g., sleep apnea) are more prone to being a part of a crash linked to drowsiness.

What role does alcohol play?

Alcohol only adds to the effects of driving while drowsy. Even though each one can cause a crash individually, NHTSA studies show that they often go hand in hand. The National Safety Council distinguishes drinking as the leading cause of fatigue, and NHTSA reports show that drivers had been drinking before close to 20 percent of all single-vehicle accidents triggered by fatigue. A person can be well within the drunk driving legal limit and still have the potential to be involved in a crash. A New York State study revealed that over a third of the drivers questioned in drowsiness-related crashes had consumed alcohol and were not drunk at the time of the auto accident. New York law enforcement also stated that accidents where the driver had completely fallen asleep were more likely to include alcohol than those where sleep was not a factor.

What are the signs of a drowsy driver?

• Eyes begin to shut or become blurry.
• Your head starts to nod.
• You continuously yawn.
• Your mind wanders.
• You barely recall the last couple miles driven.
• You tailgate vehicles ahead of you or miss traffic signs.
• You begin drifting into other lanes and jerk the car back once you realize it.
• You drive off the shoulder and almost crash.

How do you know if you're susceptible to drowsy driving?

Each of these variables contributes to drowsiness, and any blend of them improves your chances of a crash:

• Lack of sleep
• Driving patterns
  • Driving in the early morning hours (midnight to 6 a.m.)
  • Being on the road for a significant amount of time on an annual basis or for a large portion of each day
  • Driving in mid-afternoon after being awake since morning (specifically affects the elderly)
• Use of sedatives (e.g., anxiolytic hypnotics, tricyclic antidepressants, antihistamines)
• Undiagnosed or untreated sleep disorders (e.g., sleep apnea, narcolepsy)
• Alcohol consumption, which compounds feelings of fatigue