By the time most young adults reach their 20s, driving nearly becomes a sixth sense. But the amount of sleep a person has had is rarely considered when a specific destination needs to be met.
This mentality has led people between the ages of 18 and 29 to be at the highest risk for drowsy driving and falling asleep behind the wheel, said Marcia Stein, spokeswoman for the National Sleep Foundation. Fifty percent of sleep-related accidents involve individuals 25 and younger, with a peak age of 20, she said.
As hectic and demanding as college life can be, students sometimes dismiss sleep as an option in order to complete everyday tasks.
“College students often are sleep-deprived, staying up later than they should to study, to party or a combination of both,” Stein said.
Sleep disorders also can lead to drowsy driving, she said.
Because Ohio has not made a law that punishes people for driving without enough rest, people fail to realize the seriousness of the act, said Sgt. Rick Zwayer of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
“Most people don’t see it as a punishable offense, so they’re more apt to admit it when they’re pulled over,” Zwayer said. “They recognize there isn’t a law.”
Regardless of whether drowsy driving is legally prohibited, many say recognition should be taken to prevent more deaths and injuries. In 2002, sleep-deprived drivers in Ohio played a role in 14 fatalities, 1,053 injuries and 1,343 property damages, Zwayer said.
These numbers pale in comparison to drunken driving, but the same isn’t true on the national level, Zwayer said.
In order to prevent accidents caused by sleep, researchers at Ford Motor Co. are working to develop technology to keep drivers from falling asleep. They have begun to use the Virtual Test Track Experiment to test the driving abilities of sleep-deprived drivers. Test participants must stay awake and have no caffeine or stimulants for 24 hours, said Mike Vaughn, technology spokesman at Ford Motor Co.
“People literally fall asleep at the wheel,” he said.
After the researchers conclude testing, Ford and Volvo will begin working on technology meant to wake up drivers if they fall asleep, Vaughn said. He said researchers are evaluating technology such as vibrating steering wheels with the ability to place the car back in the proper lane if the driver veers off.
Another possibility is a camera which focuses on the drivers eye to make sure they remain awake. These additions could appear in vehicles as early as 2008, Vaughn said.
Until these are implemented in vehicles, drivers will have to use better judgment when driving, Stein said.
“The only way to reduce the possibility of not driving drowsy is to make sure you get sufficient sleep on a regular basis, but especially before making a long drive,” Stein said.
Additional drivers and rest areas also are helpful on long trips, Zwayer said.
“People need to realize that it’s a myth that coffee is effective in keeping someone alert and awake,” he said. “If a person knows they haven’t had enough sleep they should pull off in a safe location before continuing to drive or have someone pick them up.”
