Truck Driving Jobs’ Worst Kept Secret: Drowsy Driving Dangers

Drowsy driving is a serious problem for truck drivers. Bay and Bay Transportation is one trucking company that works to help its drivers do everything they can to avoid it. There are companies that have developed special equipment and products to combat drowsy driving, yet it still plagues commercial drivers and non-commercial drivers alike.

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Drowsy Driving Statistics

  • Causes 100,000 traffic accidents each year
  • Causes over 1,500 deaths each year
  • Is responsible for 1 in 6 fatal accidents each year
  • Causes $12.5 BILLION in losses and damages each year
  • 60% of drivers admit to doing it in the past year
  • 94% of drivers admit to doing it in their life time
  • 100% of people are able to prevent or avoid it

Whatever you call it—Sleepy Street, Drowsy Drive, Tired Trail, Weary Way, or Fatigue Freeway —DROWSY DRIVING has become one of the most dangerous and least talked about problems of our time.

“I only nodded off once.  It’s no big deal.”

It is a big deal. When you’re tired your faculties are not at fully functioning levels. Here are some of the things that sleepiness can cause:

  • Slower than usual reaction times
  • Lapses in judgment of depth and time
  • Blurred or obscured vision (you can’t see through your eyelids)
  • Delays in the processing of sensory information
  • AN ACCIDENT!

Studies have found that lack of sleep has the same effect on a driver’s cognitive abilities as consuming alcohol. A normal adult who has been awake for 18 hours has the same amount of impairment as a person with a BAC of .05%. Someone who has been awake for 24 hours has the same level of physical and mental impairment as a person with a BAC level of .10%. The legal limit for Driving While Intoxicated in all 50 states is .08% BAC. The magic number for commercial drivers is .04% BAC.

Warning Signs and Counter Measures

Most truck drivers can use common sense to determine whether they are tired or not. But—just in case—here is a list of warning signs along the Half-Awake Highway:

  • Trouble focusing
  • Restlessness
  • Rubbing eyes
  • Heavy eyelids
  • Frequent blinking
  • Excessive yawning
  • Wandering/disconnected thoughts
  • Trouble remembering the last few miles
  • Drifting between lanes
  • Drifting onto the shoulder/rumble strips

Here are some suggestions from Bay and Bay Transportation for truck drivers to avoid dangerous situations for themselves and for other drivers.

Before you feel sleepy:

  • Get 7-9 hours of sleep the previous night
  • Take breaks every 2-3 hours of driving (or every 100-200 miles)
  • Bring along someone (or something) to talk to
  • Avoid alcohol or sedating medications

If you start to feel drowsy as you drive down Sleepy Street:

  • STOP THE VEHICLE!  Don’t try to fight against the fatigue; acknowledge it.  Pull over at the next available exit or rest area. They call it a “Rest Area” for a reason.
  • Take a nap. A 15-30 minute nap will leave you feeling refreshed and recharge your batteries so you can make it safely to your destination.
  • After you wake up, drink caffeine. A big ol’ cup of coffee or an energy drink/supplement, coupled with a nap, will help boost your energy and keep you alert and awake.

Those of us with truck driving jobs are well aware of the day-to-day dangers involved in our profession. Chances are, due to deadline and schedule pressure, you are one of the drivers who have fallen asleep at the wheel. If you’re reading this, then you made it out alive. But not everyone is so lucky. For the unfortunate drivers, the accident victims, and all of their families, commit to not driving while you are tired or drowsy. It’s not worth your life or someone else’s life.

Bay & Bay Transportation is a company that cares about its drivers. Are you looking for a truck driver job where you know you will be treated like an individual, not a number?  Call to learn more about working for Bay & Bay Transportation.