Due to a busy schedule, hectic job, or too few hours of sleep, a lot of people experience fatigue, exhaustion, and low energy from time to time.
However, this tiredness may end up costing you your life. According to the latest report published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Authority (NHTSA), 795 people died due to drowsy driving in 2017 alone.
It gets worse. The CDC reports that, often times, crash estimates are underreported and drowsy driving causes up to 60,000 deaths each year!
Let’s take a look at the consequences of driving while fatigued and how to prevent road accidents by learning the warning signs.
Warning Signs of Drowsy Driving
Here are a few telltale signs of drowsiness while you’re driving:
- Continuous yawning every minute or so.
- Difficulty keeping your eyes open as they burn with exhaustion.
- Nodding off while driving on the road, with your head tilting downwards toward the steering wheel.
- Trouble changing lanes and misjudging the proximity to other cars on the road.
- Misreading road signs and missing important road turns and exits.
Dangers of Drowsy Driving
What are the consequences you ask? Here’s just a few:
- Difficulty assessing the situation on the road, resulting in delayed actions.
- Fatigue causing short-term memory issues, as it gets progressively difficult to concentrate on the road.
- Increased agitation with the traffic and aggression towards other drivers on the road.
- Nodding off at the wheel and crashing into the pavement or another car.
How to Prevent Drowsy Driving
Ensure A Full Night’s Sleep
It’s important to get at least 7–8 hours of sleep to ensure a safe and alert drive while on the road. If you’re not getting a full night’s sleep, you’ll wake up exhausted and tired.
The lack of sleep will cause you to be cranky and increase the chances of you falling asleep during your drive or while working.
Ask For A Lift Or Book A Cab After A Long Day Of Work
Ask a friend or colleague to drop you off to your location of hail a cab to avoid getting in a car wreck.
Avoid Driving Alone
Take a friend along with you so that they can keep an eye on you if you start nodding off. Take turns driving after every few miles so that you can both take short naps.
Take Frequent Rest Stops During Long Drives
To avoid vehicle collision or road accidents, make sure you take power naps in between the long drive. Time your journey with frequent breaks and pull over at rest houses and motels, especially late at night.
Practice Safe Driving: Learn To Drive In Arizona
It’s important to go to a professional driving school to learn the basics of driving and educate yourself on the dangers of drowsy and impaired driving.
Our driving school in Phoenix offers high rated, safe and practical driving lessons that’ll help you become trained drivers on the road.
Whether you live in Glendale, Arrowhead, Avondale or Tolleson, our driving school has highly experienced instructors who’ll guide on traffic regulations and driving laws in Arizona.
Get in touch with us at (602) 297-1000 or email at [email protected].
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