It is reported that over 50% of adult drivers that had driven while drowsy^. Driving while drowsy is like driving under the influence of alcohol.
It impairs coordination
It causes longer reaction times
It impairs judgement
It impairs memory and ability to retain information
7 Signs that you need to stop and take a break^
Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking or heavy eyelids
Daydreaming
Trouble remembering last few miles driven or missing exits or street signs
Yawning repeatedly
Trouble keeping head up
Drifting from lane to lane, tailgating, or hitting a shoulder or rumble strips
Feeling restless and irritable
There are few contributing factors to this issue:
Lack of Sleep
Singapore is among the cities in the world with the least hours of sleep. clocking an average of 6 hours and 32 minutes a day*. According to health hub recommendation, working adults should aim for 7-9 hours of sleep daily.
Sleep Apnea
It’s been shown that 39% to 58% of sleep apnea patients also have insomnia`. Read more about sleep apnea here.
Sleep is a biological requirement that can’t be over come with will power, determination or training. So, be responsible. Sleepy? Don’t Drive.
^Sleep-deprived driving - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep-deprived_driving
*The Straits Times - https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/singapore-among-cities-in-the-world-with-least-hours-of-sleep-study
`Comorbid Insomnia and Obstructive Sleep Apnea - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2854710/