DRIVING DROWSY It is always important to stay alert while driving, especially during this time of year when weather conditions can rapidly become hazardous. Driving while drowsy or tired is especially dangerous. Sleepiness slows your reaction time, decreases awareness, and impairs your judgment just like drugs or alcohol. People who are very sleepy behave in similar ways to people who are drunk. Below are several safety tips to keep in mind before hitting the road. To remain alert and avoid drowsiness: • Getting plenty of sleep the night before a long trip. • If you are tired, find a safe place to stop and take a nap or have an alert passenger drive. • Traveling at times when you are normally awake and staying overnight rather than driving straight through. • Schedule a break every two hours or every 100 miles. • Stop driving if you become sleepy. Someone who is tired could fall asleep at any time. Fatigue impacts reaction time, judgment, and vision, causing people who are very sleepy to behave in similar ways to those who are drunk. • Avoid working all day and then driving all night. • Drink a caffeinated beverage. Since it takes about 30 minutes for caffeine to enter the bloodstream, find a safe place to take a 20-30 minute nap while you’re waiting for the caffeine to take effect. • Avoid sleepy times of day. Take a mid-afternoon nap and find a place to sleep between midnight and 6 a.m. • Traveling with an awake passenger. You are too tired to drive if you’re experiencing any of the following: • Having trouble keeping your eyes open and focused. • The inability to keep your head up. • Daydreaming or having wandering, disconnected thoughts. • Drifting from your lane or off the road or tailgating. • Yawning frequently or rubbing your eyes repeatedly. • Missing signs or driving past your intended exit. • Feeling irritable and restless. • Being unable to remember how far you have traveled or what you have recently passed.