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 Drowsy Driving
Falling asleep at the wheel or drowsy driving can affect anyone who hasn’t had enough sleep, as well as anyone driving at night or for long periods of time. Warning signs of drowsy driving include:
- Inability to stop yawning
- Unable to keep eyes open or focused
- Mind wanders
- Can't remember the last few miles driven
- Driving becomes sloppy
Keep in mind that turning up the volume of the radio, singing along to the music, chewing gum or eating food, getting out of the car, or rolling down the windows will not keep you awake.
Shift workers can take many different steps to improve their sleep and remain more alert while driving. You can improve your sleep by:
- Making your room dark
- Blocking all sounds (both inside and outside)
- Making sure that the room temperature is right
- Avoiding caffeine hours before bedtime
- Avoiding alcohol before going to bed
- Relaxing before going to sleep
- Developing a relaxing sleep ritual such as listening to music or taking a bath
In addition to improving sleeping habits, it is also important to:
- Keep to a regular schedule
- Maintain good general health
- Know the side effects of medications
- Set house rules so that everyone understands your schedule
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