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Drowsy driving

Stay awake, alive and alert on the road.

The National Sleep Foundation offers these suggestions to help drivers stay alert on the road:

1. Get a good night's sleep before long trips.
2. If experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness, see a physician.
3. On long trips, drive with a companion (who should remain awake) and stop for a break every two hours or 100 miles.
4. Avoid alcohol and medications that may affect performance.
5. Stay off the road between midnight and 7 a.m., a period when the body's "biological clock" makes virtually everyone feel sleepy.
6. Be aware of signs of fatigue: lane drifting, repeated yawning, inability to remember driving the last few miles, difficulty keeping eyes open. If these occur, pull over as soon as possible into a safe area, lock vehicle doors, and take a brief nap. Opening the window and turning on the radio are NOT effective ways to stay awake.
7. Drink coffee or another source of caffeine (allow about 30 minutes for the caffeine to take effect).

The National Sleep Foundation offers a number of other tips and a wealth of information about the dangers of drowsy driving.

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Questions about the content of this page:
Tom Knoop, thomas.knoop@dot.state.wi.us
Last modified: October 27, 2008