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DROWSY DRIVING IS ABOUT AS DANGEROUS AS DRUNK DRIVING, SAYS AAA STUDY
American Pride Automotive • Dec 06, 2016
A report released this week says that driving on less than 7 hours of sleep each night significantly increases the risk of a crash. This sounds like common sense, but the data makes the gravity of drowsy driving much more real.
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reviewed thousands of accidents with injuries and found that drivers were 1.3 times more likely to be a part of an accident when sleep deprived, even by as little as an hour. The risk increases to 1.9 times more likely when the drivers missed two of the recommended seven hours. The more sleep deprived you are, the better chance you have of being involved in a crash. The study found the following:
- 1.9 times more likely for five to six hours of sleep per night
- 4.3 times more likely for four to five hours of sleep per night
- 11.5 times more likely for less than four hours of sleep per night
This increased risk makes driving while fatigued almost as dangerous as driving while tipsy. Signs of driver fatigue include drifting into other lanes, trouble keeping one’s eyes open, slower reaction times, stiff muscles, impatience/increased road rage, and forgetting miles driven.
If you’re not getting enough sleep, you may be putting yourself and others on the road in danger. In addition to making lifestyle changes (less caffeine, reducing stress, avoiding TV/computer/phone time before bed and more), talk to a doctor about what you can do to get more sleep.
At American Pride Automotive, we care about your safety! Take care on the road and get some rest this holiday season. We’ll be here for all of your car care and auto repair needs.
We want to say thank you to all of our healthcare and first responders. Please accept this specialized offer.
You’re driving home at night and it is raining cats and dogs. You can’t see but 20 feet in front of your car, but you’ve slowed down and are being extra cautious, so what could go wrong? Then you feel it. A sinking Cl-clunk. Maybe that “puddle” you saw ahead of you was deeper than just a puddle. Before you know it, your car is stalling in the high water in the middle of the road. Now what? First off, don’t panic. Turn on your hazards and crank the ignition once. If the car starts, make it dry land and pull over to assess the damage. If it does not start the first time, do not try to start it again. Doing so can result in a hydro locked engine and will likely necessitate the rebuilding or replacement of the engine. Unfortunately, if you find yourself stalling in water at all, your vehicle will probably need costly repairs. The best way to avoid water damage is to practice safe and smart driving in wet weather, which brings us to Part 2 of the Everything Auto “Blame it on the Rain” series (Find Part 1 here). Take heed of these severe weather driving tips: 1. TAKE NO CHANCES ON PUDDLES Even if the standing water ahead of you looks shallow enough to drive through, think twice. If the water is “rushing” or if other drivers are making a point to avoid it, don’t assume that your vehicle is the exception. Additionally, you never know the hazards that lay at the bottom of a puddle. Hidden potholes or debris can pierce your tires and jostle your alignment and suspension system. 2. IF YOU MUST TAKE A CHANCE, TAKE IT SLOW AND STEADY When you deem it necessary and safe to drive through water of questionable depth, go slowly. Speeding through a puddle, even a shallow one, can splash water into your vehicle’s intake and critically harm the engine. Like we mentioned last week, after driving through standing water, lightly tap your brakes to make sure they aren’t saturated and to dry them off. 3. KEEP A ROADSIDE EMERGENCY KIT HANDY Sometimes, no matter how careful you are on the road, accidents and vehicle malfunctions happen, especially in wet severe weather. That’s why it is extremely important to keep emergency supplies ready in the trunk for the worst case scenario. You can buy a preassembled one, but it is cheaper (and more rewarding) to assemble your own. What should you include? Edmunds.com provides an excellent comprehensive list of items, a few of which include: 12-foot jumper cables Four 15 minute road flares Two quarts of oil A gallon of antifreeze A first-aid kit. Find the rest of the list here We hope that this series has given you helpful safety insights and tips for driving in the rain! Remember that American Pride Automotive is always here to help and ready to answer any and all of your auto repair and maintenance questions! Call or contact us today.
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