Wake up: Sleeping and driving don’t mix Published June 5, 2009 By Steve Serrette 72nd Air Base Wing Safety Office TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- Everyone has a biological clock. Your biological clock tells you when it's lunch time, gives you an energy boost at certain times of the day, and affects your body temperature. Biological "time" differs from person to person. What does this have to do with driving safely? Drowsiness is a killer. To be a safer driver, become aware of your own biological clock. What times do you feel most drowsy? Once you are aware of your personal cycle, you can take extra care when you're likely to feel sleepy, especially during these Critical Days of Summer when we are apt to be traveling much more. The Myths: "Drinking coffee cures drowsiness while driving." While coffee can be a temporary remedy, stimulants are no substitute for sleep. Drinks containing caffeine, such as coffee or cola, can help you feel more alert, but the effects last only for a short time. If you drink coffee and are seriously sleep-deprived, you are still likely to have "micro-sleeps." These are brief naps that last only four or five seconds. At 55 miles an hour, you travel more than 100 yards -- long enough to kill you. "I can tell when I'm going to fall asleep." If you're like most people, you believe you can control your sleep. The truth is, sleep is not voluntary. If you're drowsy or seriously sleep-deprived, you can fall asleep and never even know it. You also cannot tell how long you've been asleep. Here are a few ways for you to tell if you're about to fall asleep. If you experience any of these danger signs, take them as a warning that you could fall asleep without meaning to: ·Your eyes close or go out of focus by themselves. ·You have trouble keeping your head up. ·You can't stop yawning. ·You have wandering, disconnected thoughts. ·You don't remember driving the last few miles. ·You drift between lanes, tailgate, or miss traffic signs. ·You keep jerking the car back into the lane. If you have even one of these symptoms, you may be in danger of falling asleep. Pull off the road and take a nap. "I'm a safe driver, so it doesn't matter if I'm sleepy." Well, the only safe driver is an alert driver. Even the safest drivers become confused and use poor judgment when they are sleepy. In order to be a safe driver, you must have your eyes open, and that means staying off the road when you're sleepy. "Young people need less sleep." In fact, young adults need more sleep than people in their 30s. Young adults who get up early tend to feel alert in the evening, especially if they're at a party or a place where there's a lot to keep them interested. They think that being able to stay up late means they don't need much sleep. The problem is, the temporary alertness wears off once they're away from the stimulation and they can end up driving home drowsy. "I can't take naps." Many people insist they can't nap. Yet even people who say they are not tired will quickly fall asleep in a darkened room if they have not been getting enough sleep. If you think you can't nap, stop the car and recline for 15 minutes anyway. You may be surprised at how easily you fall asleep once you give yourself the chance. "Nearly everyone gets enough sleep." Well, according to a recent survey, half of all Americans report occasional sleeping difficulties. There is a good chance that you really are not getting all the sleep you need. Ask yourself, "Do I wake up rested?" Many people shortchange themselves on sleep during the week and make it up on weekends. This means that by Friday night party time, they are more likely to be driving drowsy. Being sleepy makes you misperceive things. Have you ever driven at night and seen something you thought was an animal but turned out to be only a paper bag or a dead leaf? A drowsy driver doesn't process information as fast or as accurately as an alert driver, and is unable to react quickly enough to avoid a collision. The bottom line? Drive carefully, know your limitations, don't overextend yourself and make sure you are well rested. You are needed back alive after the Critical Days of Summer.