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Texas Defensive Driving Tips

Drowsy Driving

Between 10-15 % of all traffic crashes in Texas are caused by drowsy driving

The most likely people to drive drowsy are:

1. Young people - especially males under the age of 26. 2.
2. Rotating or night shift workers - Working the night shift increases your risk of drowsy driving by nearly 6 times
3. People with long work hours - People working more than 60 hours a week need to be particularly careful
4. Commercial drivers (Especially long-haul drivers) - At least 15% of all heavy truck crashes involve drowsy driving.
5. People with undiagnosed or untreated sleep disorders - People with untreated sleep apnea have been shown to have up to a 7 times increased risk of drowsy driving.
6. Business travelers – These drivers may spend many hours driving or may be jet lagged from traveling.

Symptoms of drowsiness are:

1. Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, and/or heavy eyelids
2. Daydreaming
3. Trouble remembering the last few miles driven and missing exits or traffic signs
4. Yawning repeatedly or rubbing your eyes
5. Trouble keeping your head up
6. Drifting from your lane, tailgating, or hitting a shoulder rumble strip
7. Feeling restless and irritable

Some safe solutions to prevent drowsy driving are:

1. Change drivers if possible
2. Take a break from driving every few hours
3. Pullover off the roadway (such as a into rest area or parking lot) and get some sleep
4. Get plenty of sleep before starting any road trip
5. Stop and stay at a Hotel/Motel - don't try to drive all through the night.

Keep your local highways safe from dangerous driving and take a defensive driving or driving safety class in Texas.   These defensive driving / driving safety classes can help to save lives and reduce injuries.

Article written by comedy Driving, a Texas Defensive Driving School.