Stay Awake! Stay Alive! More Information StayDon’t Drive Drowsy Awake! New York State Department of Health Have you ever yawned repeatedly, felt www.health.ny.gov/DontDriveDrowsy Staytired, or caught yourself Alive! nodding off while ? If so, you were driving drowsy. National Sleep Foundation Drowsy driving can be just as deadly as www.sleepfoundation.org drunk, drugged, or distracted driving. www.drowsydriving.org Stay Awake! Stay Alive! Don’t Drive Drowsy New York State Governor’s Safety Committee www.safeny.ny.gov Have you ever yawned National Center on Sleep Disorders repeatedly, felt tired, or Research caught yourself nodding off www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/org/ncsdr while driving? If so, you were driving drowsy. AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety www.aaafoundation.org Drowsy driving can be just as Funded by deadly as drunk, drugged, the National Highway Traffic Safety or distracted driving. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Administration with a grant from www.nhtsa.gov the NYS Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee.

National Road Safety Foundation www.nationalroadsafety.org

6587 8/16 Drowsy driving results from feeling Who’s at risk? tired or lack of sleep when you Anyone who is tired is at risk, but the following groups have a higher risk of driving drowsy: are behind the wheel. When you are drowsy, reaction time slows, judgment is impaired, and the risk of a crash increases. Even if you fall asleep for less than a second, you risk losing control of your vehicle. When you are drowsy, ask someone else to drive, or change your plans. Commercial People who People New parents High school and drivers, including work long hours with sleep or caregivers college students, You should get some sleep before tractor trailer, tour or late night shifts disorders of babies and young or newer getting behind the wheel. bus, and public young children drivers transit drivers

Know the signs of drowsy driving • Don’t count on caffeine. It can provide • Clear your mind. Make a list of your • Yawning repeatedly a short fix or ‘pick me up.’ But be aware, thoughts or concerns before you go to it takes 30 minutes before you feel the sleep so you do not forget them. • Struggling to keep your eyes open effect and it can wear off quickly. or focused • Lower the thermostat to 60-65°F before • Avoid prescription and over-the-counter going to sleep. • Forgetting the last few miles driven medicines that could make you drowsy. • Use the “Do Not Disturb” sign if you are • or missing traffic signals • Never drink alcohol. It slows down your staying in a hotel or motel. • Swerving or drifting between lanes reflexes and causes drowsiness. • Turn off or unplug cellphones and of traffic electronic devices where you sleep. Opening the windows, turning up the radio, • Use a fan or wear earplugs to block If you are driving drowsy, pull over into a or turning on the air conditioner will not help outside sounds. well-lit area and take a 20-minute nap, or you stay awake while driving. • Pay attention to side effects of medicines switch with another driver. and adjust the time you take them, as they might interrupt your sleep. Stay alert behind the wheel Get better sleep • Get enough sleep before you drive, • Make it a priority to get at least 7 hours of Get the extra sleep you need before you especially when going on long trips. sleep daily. Teens require up to 10 hours. get behind the wheel, especially after • Make regular stops or switch drivers • Keep the sleeping area dark. international travel, daylight savings time, every 100 miles or 2 hours. • Avoid caffeine and alcohol before you go and travelling in different time zones. • Drivers are most likely to feel drowsy to sleep. between 1pm-4pm and 2am-6am. • Set a routine for bed time—listen to If possible, avoid driving during these relaxing music, read, or take a warm bath times. or shower before you go to sleep.