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Protecting Utah

Utah’s Drowsy Driving Awareness Week

Monday August 19, 2019

Sleep smart, drive smart

 

The third full week in August has been designated as Drowsy Driving Awareness Week in Utah, so we’ll be sharing information about the dangers of drowsy driving and how everyone can help prevent episodes of it.

Special thanks to Dr. Kristofer Mitchell from St. Mark’s Hospital for helping us make our Drowsy Driving Awareness Week videos.

DETAILED DATA

Get detailed data on drowsy driving in Utah in our crash report here: Drowsy Drivers


WHO

Younger drivers are most commonly involved in drowsy driving crashes in Utah.

Drivers aged 15-24 had the highest percent of drivers in crashes that were drowsy.

Drivers under age 30 years are involved in over half (55%) of drowsy driving crashes.

Bar graph shows the age of drowsy drivers in crashes in Utah in 2016. Drivers 15-24 were most at risk.


WHAT

Driving while you’re sleepy.

You might not realize it, but it has similar effects to driving drunk.

Don’t endanger yourself, your passengers or others on the road. If you feel sleepy, get off the road.

a driver that gets two fewer hours of sleep in a single day may mimic someone who has a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level of 0.05%

WHERE

Higher percent of crashes in rural areas.

Could indicate road trips – longer drives.

People trying to just drive through to their final destination.

Juab and Emery Counties had the highest percent of crashes involving drowsy drivers.

Rural crashes were 2.3 times more likely to involve a drowsy driver than urban crashes.

Map of Utah shows the % total crashes with a drowsy driver by county in Utah in 2016. Juab and Emery Counties had the highest percent of crashes involving drowsy drivers.  Rural crashes were 2.3 times more likely to involve a drowsy driver than urban crashes.

WHEN

Drowsy driving crashes occur year round, but more during summer months.

Again, could indicate long road trips.

While 2% of total crashes involved a drowsy driver, 9% of crashes occurring during the hours of midnight-5:59 a.m. involved a drowsy driver.

Line graph shows percent of total crashes with a drowsy driver by hour in Utah in 2016. While 2% of total crashes involved a drowsy driver, 9% of crashes occurring during the hours of midnight-5:59 a.m. involved a drowsy driver.

Bar graph shows drowsy driver crashes by month in Utah in 2016. June and July had the highest.

WHY

We aren’t getting enough sleep and that’s having negative effects on our lives – including our driving.

WATCH: a story “I fell asleep at the wheel, and it resulted in the death of my sister Maddie”

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more than 1/3 of U.S. adults report sleeping less than 7 hours a day – the optimal time needed for good health and well being (Liu et al., 2016). That means that nearly 83.6 million sleep-deprived people are in the workplace, at school and on the road.

 

HOW CAN YOU PREVENT DROWSY DRIVING

Recognize the signs – in yourself or, if you’re a passenger, in the driver.

Don’t hesitate to get involved – recommend stopping for a break or offering to drive if you’re awake and alert.

Help the driver recognize that he/she is tired and that drowsy driving is dangerous.

➤ Slower reaction times ➤ Impaired judgment ➤ Increased levels of risk taking ➤ More frequent blinking/eye closure ➤ De cits in cognitive performance ➤ Memory impairment Attention failure Loss of visual awareness

Before you hit the road – follow these steps to help avoid drowsy driving:

* Get enough sleep - most adults need 7-9 hours, teens need 8.5-9.5 to maintain proper alertness during the day * Schedule proper breaks, about every 100 miles or 2 hours during long trips * Arrange for a travel companion - someone to talk with and share the driving * Avoid alcohol or sedating medications - check your labels or ask your doctor

On the road – if you get sleepy, follow these tips to help keep you safe:

* Have caffeine & find a safe place to rest while waiting the 30 minutes or so for it to take effect. * Take a break every 2 hours or 100 miles * Take a nap - find a safe place to take a 15-20 minute nap. * Travel at times you are normally awake & stay overnight along the way if needed. * Stop driving - pull off at the next exit or rest area or find a safe place to stop for the night

SLEEP SMART. DRIVE SMART. ARRIVE ALIVE.

Infographic with tips to help improve your sleep

 

For more information about drowsy driving, visit

Drowsy Driving.org

Zero Fatalities Drowsy Driving

 

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