You’ve been driving for a while, alone, and start to yawn. Your eyes get heavy. Suddenly, your head snaps up and you realize you dozed off for a millisecond.
Think it can’t happen to you? Think again. Within any 30-day period, about one in 25 drivers over the age of 18 reports having fallen asleep while driving, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
More Fast Facts About Drowsy Driving
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that drowsy driving leads to 100,000 police-reported crashes each year, resulting in 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries and a $12.5 billion cost to the economy.
- Adults between 18 and 29 are the most likely to drive while drowsy (71% vs. 52% for 30- to 64-year-olds, or 19% for those aged 65 and over), according to the National Sleep Foundation.
- People with children are more likely to drive while drowsy than people without children (59% vs. 45%).
6 Ways To Stay Alert On The Road—And Keep Safe:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9vk_rpHMpk&feature=youtu.be
- Sleep sufficiently. The National Sleep Foundation recommends getting between seven and nine hours of sleep per night.
- Stay engaged. Chat with your passengers or sing along to some tunes. Before driving, pick a playlist (or podcast) that will rev you up. If you’re talking on the phone, use hands-free.
- Pair up. When traveling long distances, taking turns behind the wheel allows you to rest without putting your trip on pause.
- Get some air. Roll down your windows for a blast of air and consider looking for a safe place to pull over to take a 20-minute nap. If you’re on the highway, the stimulating sounds of the rushing wind can also help keep you alert.
- Catch up on your reading. Audiobooks can help keep your attention—try an app or a local library for audio titles before you go.
- Take a break. Get out and stretch, use the restroom or get a snack every 100 miles or 2 hours.
Learning defensive driving techniques can help you become a better driver and earn you a discount on car insurance. Visit GEICO’s defensive driver discounts section for more information.
Next: 7 Bad Driving Habits to Avoid
Illustration by Sébastien Thibault
Video Animation by Heather Van Gilder
Voice-Over by Steven Scott
Joseph says,
Great suggestions will continue
to make use of them.
Thanks!
Ajith John says,
Dear GEICO,
Thank you , for the valued tips
Marlegrecy N'Ovec says,
Your tips are timely. I will embrace them; follow them and pass them on to others.
katherine mobley says,
your are right a bye that drive drowy
Booney says,
My way I usually use energy healing to my self .
Jonathan Small says,
Great information thank you
J. Grace says,
Try a cold shower at a truck stop to stay awake.. Find a CD with a good beat and sing along.,buying some grapes or raisins for energy, and planning ahead for stops to stretch and practice breathing, and finally knowing where that next motel will be motivates your mind/body connection to stay awake.
shirl Campbell says,
In my experience, physical ailments and medicines can have alot to do with falling asleep behind the wheel
beatrice Galinat says,
Thank you, that’s very generous and useful, like the geico commercials, that always make
me laugh.
Robert James Hughes says,
I have noticed that when I get tired I chew on something like sunflower seeds , apple, something lite that will not full u up . Key here is just finding ways to keep your mouth moving
jerome williams says,
Love the info given on this subject of driving while drowsy. Very informative and I hope more people read it.
Shlomie says,
Wow! At the age part of the servey, you actually got over 141% replies! This must be ground breaking in the analytical world…… Or better proof readers, maybe?
Deputy Editor says,
The statistics are not additive – each number refers to a different age group:
-71% of the 18-29 group are likely to drive while drowsy (which means 29% are not likely to drive while drowsy).
-52% of the 30-64 group are likely to drive while drowsy.
-19% of the 65 and older group are likely to drive while drowsy.
Marc Dimanche says,
I was so surprised reading this message, It’s very helpful.
Thank you GEICO
Jonathan Meyet says,
I have found one other defensive mechanism to drowsy driving or falling asleep at the wheel to be pumping adrenaline inside your body as you drive. For me, it is has actually been quite effective, although to be sure, not full-proof. What you do is naturally produce adrenaline inside of you by urging your body to literally do so. So, say about 800 yards in front of you there’s a road sign, just push your body very hard, pumping up adrenaline inside of you for the 8 to 10 seconds it takes you to get to that red road sign. Repeat the process multiple times; as much as you need to. That should rouse you enough to continue on a bit. If you’re too tired, though, you will still fall asleep sooner or later.
Earnestine Thompson says,
The report was very helpful when it comes to driving.
When I’m traveling and get sleepy I have to pull over. Driving drowsy is as dangerous as driving in texting, neither should be done.