Sleep driving. Ways to combat drowsiness

The behavior of a sleepy person behind the wheel is just as dangerous as the behavior of an intoxicated driver. Studies show that people who have not slept for 20 hours behave comparable to drivers whose blood alcohol concentration was 0,5 ppm*.

Lack of sleep is like too much alcohol

Falling asleep and fatigue significantly reduce concentration, lengthen reaction time and have a very negative impact on the ability to correctly assess the situation on the road. Alcohol and drugs work in a similar way,” said Zbigniew Veseli, director of the Renault Safe Driving School. Tired and sleepy people react 50% slower than sleepy and rested people, and their behavior is similar to the behavior of drivers with an alcohol concentration of 0,5 ppm*.

Who is at risk of sleeping while driving?

Most often fall asleep at the wheel in the first place:

– professional drivers covering hundreds and even thousands of kilometers at a time,

- shift workers who drive after the night shift,

– drivers taking sedatives and other drugs that reduce concentration,

– drivers who don't care about getting enough sleep.

Warning signals

If you find yourself starting to have trouble focusing, blinking your eyes more frequently, and your eyelids getting heavy, don't delay and stop the vehicle in a safe place as soon as possible. Ignoring the symptoms of microsleep can be tragic, according to instructors from the Renault Driving School. Other symptoms of tired driving or microsleep include:

- Difficulty remembering what happened on the road in the last kilometers of the journey;

– ignoring road signs, signals and exits;

- frequent yawning and eye rubbing;

- problems with keeping the head straight;

- feelings of restlessness and irritation, sudden trembling.

What to do?

In order not to get tired and not fall asleep while driving, you should first of all get a good night's sleep before the planned trip. It is estimated that an adult needs from 7 to 8 hours of sleep per day, Renault driving school instructors remind. However, if we get tired behind the wheel, we can use several methods to avoid dangerous situations on the road - add buses.

If you feel tired and sleepy while driving, remember to:

– stops for short walks (15 min.);

- park in a safe place and take a short nap (remember that sleep should be short - a maximum of 20 minutes, otherwise the effect may be reversed);

- Be careful with energy drinks and drinking coffee, as they have a short-term effect and can give you a false sense of being physically fit.

* US News & Word Report, Sleepy driving is just as bad as drunk driving