Though many people think of drinking and driving during the summertime and around July 4th, the government is now warning people about people sleeping and driving being the more dangerous threat.
Forty-one million Americans traveled at least 50 miles 4th of July weekend, 85 percent by car.
Statistics gathered by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration says that fatigued drivers, sleepy drivers, will cause three percent of the deaths on the highway this year, according to Medical Daily.
Drivers dozing off behind the wheel cause 100,000 crashes each year, resulting in 40,000 injuries and 1,550 deaths. 33,561 people were killed in traffic collisions in 2012.
One in 25 adults surveyed by the Centers for Disease Control say that they know that they have fallen asleep behind the wheel. Drivers between the ages of 16-29 are more susceptible to falling asleep while driving, especially if they are male. Shift workers and those with untreated sleeping conditions are also more likely to fall asleep behind the wheel.
“To prevent drowsy driving and its consequences, Americans need information on approaches that may reduce their risks,” NHTSA advises. “The public needs to be informed of the benefits of specific behaviors that help avoid becoming drowsy while driving, [which] ...include planning to get sufficient sleep, not drinking even small amounts of alcohol when sleepy, and limiting driving between midnight and 6 a.m.”
The NHTSA recommends that everyone take a no-tolerance approach to fatigued driving.
The CDC said that there are precautions that you can take, such as not consuming sedatives or alcohol before driving, getting good sleep, take breaks with naps, coffee breaks and switching drivers when possible, according to Headlines & Global News.
Traffic safety officials say that a couple of cups of coffee with a 15 to 20 minute nap is the best short-term remedy for fatigue. Rolling down the window or turning up the music has not been proven to be effective.