Beware of "drowsy driving" on vacation

During this busy vacation season, motorists are advised to stay alert - or stay off the road.

"Driving while drowsy is an impairment and is very dangerous," says Kwei Quaye, SGI’s Manager of Traffic Safety Program Evaluation. "Your reflexes are slower, you can’t concentrate on the road, your judgment is impaired and you’re at risk for falling asleep at the wheel."

Each year on average in Saskatchewan, there are over 280 collisions involving driver fatigue or a driver falling asleep while driving.

Quaye warns that you should stop driving when you feel tired or sleepy, particularly if you are driving along a straight road where the chances of falling asleep are higher.

"An early warning sign of fatigue is if you notice that you are not looking as far ahead as you should, or not moving your eyes around," says Quaye. "Instead, you tend to stare straight ahead."

Other signs of fatigue include:

Not being able to recall the last few kilometres driven
Having difficulty focusing and keeping your eyes open
Yawning or rubbing your eyes frequently
Not being able to keep your head up
Drifting from your lane, and sometimes having to jerk the car back into your lane
Daydreaming or having disconnected thoughts
Feeling irritable or restless
Misjudging traffic situations
Missing traffic signs
Changing your vehicle speed for no apparent reason

Quaye says that drivers who have even one of these symptoms should admit they’re tired and either switch drivers, if possible, or stop and rest.

To avoid a fatigue-filled trip, Quaye offers the following tips:

Get enough sleep the night before a long trip.
Avoid sleepy times of day. Take an afternoon nap break and find somewhere to sleep between midnight and 6 a.m.
Travel with a passenger if possible.
Schedule a break every two hours or every 200 km.

Short-term solutions such as drinking coffee, listening to radio or tapes, counting out loud or getting your blood flowing by chewing gum or stopping to do some quick exercises are only quick fixes and will not cure your fatigue.

"If you can’t stay awake, then for your own safety and the safety of others, get off the road and get some rest," says Quaye.

Contact:

Kwei Quaye
Manager, Traffic Safety Program Evaluation
SGI
Regina
(306) 775-6182

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