This picture from flickr user amandabhslater shows a sign in South Australia along a particularly long and boring stretch of road that says “Drowsy Drivers Die”. The sign also illustrates that there is a rest stop in 1 km. Signs like this should be used more often as the sagging economy and dragging recession are forcing more and more people to work multiple jobs. An entire new category of disorder called Shift Work Disorder has cropped up because people’s sleep schedules have been disrupted by working long or unusual hours.
The sleep shortage and sleep disruptions can seriously effect the way that people drive. Drowsy driving has been shown to effect drivers in many of the same serious and impairing ways as using alcohol or drugs and getting behind the wheel. Some studies have shown that short naps, sometimes as short as 20 minutes, can readily improve a driver’s ability to react appropriately behind the wheel.
If you, your co-workers or your family members are getting behind the wheel while tired, try to find time to take a short nap. Try to stick to a sleep schedule that your body can adjust to over time. It just may save someone’s life…maybe even your own!
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