In America there is a Drowsy Driving Awareness Week. This runs from the 4th -11th of November. Again like everything then else they are so more advanced than the rest of the world in their thinking. With the amount of accidents on Irish roads increasing due to Sleepy drivers which the RSA believing at least 1-5 are due to Drowsy driving, something must be done. The Government needs to follow suit and help raise public awareness.

Lack of sleep has serious consequences in many areas of our lives, from home to work to your overall health and on our roads it doesn’t just affect the driver it also can cause injury or even death to innocent people.
Driving while sleepy is as dangerous as driving with alcohol but gets little no mention in media.

Here are some warning sounds.

1. Opening the window hoping the fresh air will waken you.
2. Turning on the radio and hoping the noise will keep you awake.
3. Trying to keep your eyes open or trying to prevent your head from nodding.
4. If you start having troubling focusing.
5. Driving past your exit or crossing over lanes
6. These may seem obvious but are often over looked.

Here are some tips to reduce risk.

1. Make sure to get plenty of sleep.
2. If heading off on a long journey perhaps have a travel companion to chat with or share the driving.
3. Driving by yourself on a long journey.. Make sure to take proper breaks perhaps every 2 hours or so.
4. As the RSA promotes if feeling drowsy pull over have a cup of coffee and set your watch for 15 minutes and nap.

Studies have shown driving while drowsy leads to slower reaction times, impaired judgement and decline alertness and attention. Be a responsible driver and don’t drive while drowsy