Especially with the number of pedestrian accidents we have seen in our area in just the last couple of months, experts Friday night said to be cautious. “We lose an hour of sleep Sunday night, which means many folks will be driving tired,” said AAA Auto Club.
Sleep deprivation affects judgment, missing one or two hours of sleep can nearly double the risk of a crash. Each year there are approximately 1 million crashes, 500,000 injuries, and 8,000 deaths due to drowsy driving, according to the National Highway Safety Administration.
According to AAA, drowsy driving can increase a driver’s crash risk comparable to driving drunk. Drivers who have slept for less than 5 hours can have a crash risk comparable to someone driving drunk.
In addition to drowsy driving, springing forward, also means more pedestrians will be out walking, taking advantage of the extended daylight, as in Southern California, also seeing an increase in deadly pedestrian accidents. According to the state crash portal, this time last year here in Southern California, crash deaths began to increase in March and peaked in June.
Some suggested tips to avoid drowsy driving include:
- Getting enough sleep before driving.
- Driving with a passenger and switching drivers before you start to feel drowsy.
- Taking regular rest stops even if you are not tired.
- Avoiding alcohol or medications that can cause drowsiness.
- Stay alert and drive without distraction not only to protect yourself, but to protect your passengers and other motorists.
If you feel fatigued while driving on California’s roadways, motorists are encouraged to take advantage of the more than 80 safety roadside rest areas maintained by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) throughout the state. To find a rest area or to check for the latest travel information on state highways, visit Caltrans’ QuickMap at http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/. Or just pull over to a safe spot off the roadway, like a parking lot to get some rest. (Modafinil)
There are more ways to follow the Pain In The Pass. Join the Traffic Group on Facebook with over 123,000 members. Join the NEW group on MeWe. Like us on are new page on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
