According to data from the National Sleep Foundation’s 2023 Drowsy Driving Survey, sleepiness contributes to as many as 6,400 car accident deaths in the United States each year. Additionally, statistics from the same study revealed that adolescents and emerging adults, individuals aged 16-24, accounted for approximately 20 percent of these drowsy driving crashes.
What Are the Signs of Drowsy Driving?
Why are teens driving drowsy, and what do the signs of nodding off at the wheel look like? First, consider from a teenager’s perspective the minimized perceived risk of driving tired. The Drowsy Driving Survey noted that while 96 percent of teens realize that drunk driving is risky and may lead to a fatal car accident, only 72 percent said the same about drowsy driving.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation:
- Being awake for 18 hours in a row impairs driving about as much as having a blood alcohol level of .05 percent.
- Being awake for 24 hours in a row impairs driving about as much as having a blood alcohol level of .10 percent.
Therefore, the first line of defense is educating teens on the impact of drowsy driving. Most do not realize that their tight schedules that begin with an early-morning school schedule and wrap up with mid-day extracurricular activities or perhaps a part-time job leave little room for downtime. Ironically, that afternoon nap that moms across the country forced on many toddlers in the early years could be just as beneficial to adolescents and their ever-growing, overtaxed bodies.
Instead, some teens rely on energy drinks, iced coffee concoctions, adrenaline, and sheer willpower to make it through the day. By the time they get behind the wheel, they may not realize there are some key indicators that they should pull over and shut down the engine and their body.
Here are some signs it is time to power down:
- Yawning constantly.
- Blinking continuously.
- Drifting from the lane of travel.
- Hitting the rumble strips.
- Struggling to remember the intended route.
- Missing an exit.
How Can I Deter Drowsy Driving?
While the statistics are sobering, and the consequences could be grim, there are ways to prevent fatigue among teenage drivers.
- Get enough sleep. Teens require an average of nine hours of sleep per night. If you are not getting that, squeeze in a nap to make up the deficit.
- Pay attention to your diet. Skipping meals or even eating heavy meals laden with fat or high amounts of sugar will lead your body to crash at some point. Make sure it is not behind the wheel.
- Be mindful of medications that may make you drowsy. Both prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs have the potential to impact your reaction time. Everything from cold medicines to migraine pills should be considered before ingesting them and hitting the road. It may seem like a tiny little pill, but it could have big consequences.
- Do not try to play tricks on your body. Rolling down the window, turning up the radio, and drinking coffee may be a quick fix to wake you up, but it will not take long for your body to take over and admit it is tired. Eventually, you will lose the battle.
- Travel during the day when possible. A study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) determined that more accidents related to drowsiness occurred between midnight and 6 a.m. Relinquish your self-appointed night owl status and hit the open road when the sun is rising instead of setting.
- Use the buddy system. Those who travel alone run a higher risk of veering from the road with no sign of attempting to hit the brakes. Riding with a friend or family member could help to keep a driver alert or recognize when it is time to pull over. Even better — the passenger could take over driving duties for a bit and allow the drowsy driver to rest or take a nap.
The Media Car Accident Lawyers at Eckell Sparks Are Only a Phone Call or Click Away
If your teenager is involved in a drowsy driving accident, the Media car accident lawyers at Eckell, Sparks, Levy, Auerbach, Monte, Sloane, Matthews & Auslander, P.C. can offer guidance on how to proceed. For a consultation with one of our skilled lawyers, simply call 610-565-3701 or fill out our online form. Office locations in Media and West Chester, Pennsylvania proudly serve clients in Delaware County, Chester County, and Montgomery County.