Driving Tips Archives

Dangers of Driving Drowsy

According to the National Sleep Foundation, more than half of American adult drivers have admitted to driving drowsy, and almost one in five admit to having fallen asleep behind the wheel. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that around 100,000 car crashes reported to the police each year are a result of sleepiness and fatigue. This is a rough estimate as it is difficult to pin down exactly how many crashes are actually due to drowsiness.

Dangers of Driving Drowsy

Drowsy driving accidents are difficult to put an exact figure on for many reasons. One is that there is no test to determine driver fatigue like there is for drunk driving. Also, a large number of crashes associated with drowsy driving are often fatal. However, according to the NHTSA, there are some common factors that accident investigators use to determine that a crash was caused by driving while fatigued:

• Though driving drowsy can affect all types of crashes both day and night, they occur most frequently between midnight and 6 a.m., or in the late afternoon- both of which are times when there are dips in the circadian rhythm.
• Many drowsy-driving crashes involve only a single vehicle, with no passengers besides the driver running off the road at a high rate of speed with no evidence of braking.
• Drowsy-driving crashes frequently occur on rural roads and highways.

According to NHTSA’s National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Study (NMVCCS), drowsy drivers involved in a crash are twice as likely to make performance errors as compared to drivers who are not tired. When a person drives while tired their reaction time, judgment, alertness, attention, and decision-making are all compromised which leads to a greater chance of crashing. In some cases, a drowsy driver will fall asleep at the wheel. Most people associate impaired driving with alcohol or drugs, but studies have shown that driving when fatigued can be as dangerous as driving under the influence. In fact, someone who has been awake for 17 hours has the response time of someone with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05%. After 24 hours of sustained wakefulness, the impairment is equal to 0.10% BAC. (In all of the US, a BAC of 0.08% is considered legally drunk.) Simply put, driving drowsy has a negative impact on a person’s ability to drive safely.

Who’s at risk?

The National Sleep Foundation’s DrivingDrowsy.org webpage states that although anyone who drives is at risk of falling asleep at the wheel, some groups of people are more at risk than others:

• Shift workers and people working long hours– People who work rotating shifts, double shifts, night shifts or work more than one job have a six-fold increase in drowsy driving crashes.
• Commercial drivers– Those who drive a high number of miles and drive at night are at significantly higher risk for fall-asleep crashes. Commercial drivers have also been found to be at a high risk for sleep disorders.
• People with untreated sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)– People with untreated OSA are up to seven times more likely to have a drowsy driving crash. For some people insomnia can increase fatigue.
• Young drivers– Combining inexperience with sleepiness and a tendency to drive at night puts young people at risk, especially males aged 16-25 years.
• Business travelers– Frequent travelers who may be suffering from jet lag and crossing time zones, spending long hours behind the wheel or getting too little sleep.

Though the groups listed above are the most vulnerable to falling asleep and crashing while driving, everyone has the potential to cause a fatigue related accident. Your risks for a drowsy driving accident increases when you are:

• Driving long distances without proper rest breaks
• Working 60 hours or more a week
• Sleep deprived and/or fatigued
• Drinking alcohol
• Driving alone, especially on long, dark, rural, or boring roads
• Taking medications such as antihistamines, cold tablets, or antidepressants
• Experiencing jet lag

Warning Signs of Fatigue or Sleepiness

Most people are not very good at determining when they are too tired to get behind the wheel. Often times they don’t realize they are too tired until they are well into their drive. However, there are key warning signs to tell you when you are too tired to drive that you should take into consideration:

• Turning up the radio or rolling down the window
• Impaired reaction time and judgment
• Decreased performance, vigilance and motivation
• Trouble focusing, keeping your eyes open or your head up
• Daydreaming and wandering thoughts
• Yawning or rubbing your eyes repeatedly
• Drifting from your lane, tailgating and missing signs or exits
• Feeling restless, irritable or aggressive

Prevention

The best thing that you can do to prevent drowsy driving on a daily basis is to always get enough rest. Getting enough sleep is the one true way to prevent against the risks of drowsy driving. Make it a priority to get the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep per night. The National Sleep Foundation and NHTSA also offer these tips to help you avoid a drowsy driving accident:

• Watch for the above warning signs of fatigue.
• If you notice that you are feeling any of the above signs of fatigue, Stop Driving– pull off at the nearest exit or rest area, or find a place to sleep for the night.
• Take a nap- find a safe place to nap for 15-20 minutes (a nap longer than 20 minutes can make you groggy for 15 or minutes after waking).
• Consume caffeine- the equivalent of two cups of coffee can increase alertness for several hours, and usually takes about 30 minutes to enter the bloodstream. Caffeine is available in various forms (coffee, tea, soft drinks, energy drinks, chewing gum, tablets), and in various amounts. For example, the amount of caffeine in one cup of coffee (about 135 mg) is about the same as 2-3 cups of tea or 3-4 cans of regular or diet cola. DO NOT rely on this for long periods of time.
• Consume caffeine just before taking a short nap to get the benefits of both.
• Don’t drive if you are tired or on medication that may cause drowsiness.
• If you are not alone, have a passenger take over driving.
• Avoid driving at times you would normally be sleeping.
• Don’t consume any alcohol before driving. Alcohol interacts with sleepiness to increase drowsiness and impairment.
• Get treatment for sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, narcolepsy and restless legs syndrome.
• Take a break every two hours if you are driving long distances.
• For your safety, always wear your seatbelt.

Drowsy driving can be deadly and it is something we should take seriously. When we drive we take responsibility for our personal safety as well as the safety of others on the road with us. Be sure that you are using safe driving practices, including avoiding driving drowsy, so that you can remain alert and arrive to all of your destinations alive.

Driving in the Valley: El Niño Road Safety Tips

El Niño is in full effect in the Valley. For us that means a lot of rainy weather not unlike that of Seattle.

Being winter, the Valley is full of winter visitors from all over the US and Canada making the roads a bit more crowded than they are during the summer Monsoon months. More drivers on the roads, all with their own driving styles, makes driving in inclement weather even more hazardous.

The chances of being involved in an accident increase during the weather conditions that El Niño brings with it, so now is a good time to review safe driving habits in the rain.

Driving in the Valley: El Niño Road Safety Tips

Prepare Your Vehicle

When it comes to driving in rainy weather, safety starts before you drive. Make sure that your windshield wiper inserts are in good condition. You don’t want inserts that leave streaks or that fail to clear the glass in one swipe. In Arizona, our hot and often dry weather can crack and warp the inserts more quickly, so it is a good idea to check them a couple of times a year.

Visibility is extremely important. Not only do you need to be able to see, but you need to make sure you are seen. So, check that all taillights, headlights, turn signals, and brake lights are working properly so that other drivers can see you in a downpour. On rainy, cloudy days, turn on your headlights whenever you drive, regardless of the time of day.

Another important safety measure is to check your tires. Proper inflation and tire tread depth are crucial to maintaining traction on slick roads. The people at AAA suggest that to check tread depth you should take a quarter and insert it upside down into the tire groove. If you can see the top of Washington’s head it is time to get new tires. You should also check your tires pressure (including the spare). This is actually something you should be doing monthly. Be sure to check the pressure when the tires are cold.

Plan Ahead and Pay Attention to Road Signs

Check your routes ahead of time for any accidents, or closures due to poor weather conditions. You can call the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) at 5-1-1 for updates. It is also a good idea to let someone know where you are going and your estimated time of arrival, so if something were to happen, they can send help. If you see a road closed sign, or any other road hazard sign, follow the directions given to you. They are there for your safety. Often times they warn you about flooded roads and flowing washes that you definitely want to avoid.

Leave Room and Slow Down

Water on the roads cause your tires to loose traction. Slowing down will help to reduce your chances of hydroplaning. Even at speeds as low as 35 mph tires can still lose some contact with the road in water. Slow down, leave plenty of room between you and other drivers, and avoid turning sharply and hard breaking. Leaving more space between yourself and other drivers gives you time to stop properly and avoid a collision, as well as offers you the opportunity to see what other cars are doing and avoid collision if one of them should lose control. Your best bet is to stay at least five to six seconds behind the car in front of you.

Avoid Cruise Control

When you do not drive with cruise control, you lift your foot off of the gas pedal to brake. As your foot comes off of the gas, the nose of the car will dip a little which transfers some weight to the front of the vehicle. This, in turn, provides more traction for the front tires, making easier to avoid a potential hazard. However, if you are using cruise control, your speed stays the same after you lift your foot from the gas so there is no dip. Which means that you lose that helpful weight transfer.

If You Hydroplane

Hydroplaning is what happens when the tires have completely lost contact with the pavement and are riding on top of the water. When it happens, steering will feel very light in your hands. The first thing you want to do is gently ease your foot off of the gas. This may help transfer enough weight forward that your tires regain contact with the road. If this is not enough, gently squeeze the breaks to help slow the car down and help transfer weight to the front tires. Do not slam on your brakes. Avoid turning the wheel when you are hydroplaning. If you have your tires facing a certain direction when the front tires finally regain traction, your car may steer off of the road.

Responding to a Skid

Even the most experienced and careful drivers can experience a skid. If you notice your car begin to skid, remain calm and follow these steps from AAA:
• Continue to look and steer in the direction in which the driver wants the car to go.
• Don’t panic, and avoid slamming on the brakes as this will further upset the vehicle’s balance and make it harder to control.

Traveling safely during the El Niño season begins with you. Following these tips should help you to arrive to all of your destinations safely and confidently.

For Arizona Drivers: How to Be Prepared To Drive in the Snow

Living in the Valley, driving in the snow isn’t something we typically have to worry about. However, not all of Arizona is snow free, and many Phoenicians love to head North and indulge in snow days or travel to snowy areas for the holidays. Snowfall can be very beautiful and alluring, but it can also make your holiday travels much more dangerous. Before you and your family take off to enjoy the cold and snow it is important that you are properly prepared to handle the drifted, snowy, or icy road conditions. Planning ahead, prepping your car and using caution and good judgement while you drive will help ensure that you arrive to all of your winter destinations safely.

Prepping your car for winter travel

The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) recommends that you properly prepare your car before embarking on any winter trips. If you can, have your car looked over by a trusted mechanic to make sure that the battery, ignition and exhaust systems, thermostat, defroster, heater and brakes are all in good working condition. You should also check to be sure that the antifreeze in your cars radiator can withstand freezing temperatures. Your motor oil should also be changed to a winter grade. All of this will help ensure that your engine runs properly and wont freeze up and seize while you are traveling in cooler temperatures.
A dirty windshield makes it very difficult to see the road and anything on it when it is snowing and will also increase the glare from oncoming headlights. For this reason, you should install new wiper blades and make sure your windshield solution is freeze resistant.
In the winter, it gets darker sooner, this coupled with weather that obscures vision can make driving more treacherous. You want to make sure that you are visible to other drivers. So another thing you will want to have checked out are your vehicles lights. Make sure that all of your headlights, taillights, turn signals, and break lights are all working well and can be seen in low visibility.
Finally, if your car is not equipped with all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive tires, you may want to invest in snow tires. Snow tires will give you extra traction on slick, snowy roads. It is also wise to keep a set of chains in your car for when you encounter especially poor road conditions. In Arizona studded tires are permitted on the highways from Oct. 1 to May 1.

Planning ahead in case of emergency

If you are cautious and use good judgement when driving, and have your car looked over like we mentioned above, you should have no issues on the road. However, there is always a chance that something could happen and you find yourself stranded in the cold winter weather. You should plan your route ahead of time and make sure that you notify someone of your route, destination and projected arrival time. Try to keep your fuel tank at least three-quarters full. Running out of gas can be extremely dangerous during winter conditions. Due to the extreme cold and elements of winter weather, ADOT recommends that you keep your cell phone charged and have a kit of cold weather necessities in the vehicle to help you stay safe and warm until help arrives.

Items you may want to include in your kit are:

• Blankets
• Gloves, scarves, caps and extra socks
• Water
• Snacks
• Necessary prescribed medication(s) and pain relievers
• First-aid kit
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Safety flares
• Small bag of sand (or kitty litter) for wheel traction
• Travel tool kit and battery cables
• Small folding shovel for snow removal
• Chains
• Matches
• Road Map

Driving in winter weather safely

Now your car is fully prepared and you are ready to get on the road. It is important that you don’t rely too heavily on your prepped vehicle. The best thing you can do to ensure your safety on icy or snowy roads is to use good judgement, and remain cautious.

Here is a list of things that you can do to make sure you are being a safe winter driver:

Slow your speed and increase your distance between other vehicles
Keep in mind that speed limits are set based on perfect road conditions, and winter weather conditions make the roads more slippery than normal. So reduce your speed so that you have more control over your vehicle and give you more time to react on slippery roads.
Snow and ice on the roads gives you less traction which makes your vehicle take longer to slow down and come to a stop. For this reason, it is important that you give yourself more distance between other cars. ADOT tells drivers to use the “3-6 second” rule to determine if you have enough cushion between you and the vehicle you are following under normal road conditions. (When a car ahead of you passes a certain point on the road, like a mile marker or over-pass, count “one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, one-thousand-three, one-thousand-four.” If you pass the same point before you finish counting you are following too closely.) In winter weather, it is recommended to double the spacing.

Avoid sharp tugs at the steering wheel and sudden breaking and turning
Take it easy when you are braking, accelerating and steering. Sharp and sudden tugs at the wheel or slamming on the brakes could very well result in a slide and/or accident.

Watch the road and other drivers and maintain visibility
Accidents happen much more suddenly in icy, snowy conditions. Pay attention to what is going on around you. If another driver begins to lose control or slide you will be able to slow down and adjust, giving the other driver time to regain control, and avoid an accident.
You will also want to make sure that nothing is impairing your vision. Clear all snow and ice from your headlights, wiper blades, windshield, and windows. Make sure your windshield glass is always clean as dirty windshields will increase glare from on-coming headlights. High-beams reflect snow, rain, and fog as it is falling which makes it harder to see while driving – use your low-beam lights for the best visibility. Lights coming from inside your vehicle also make it harder to see the road so dim your dashboard lights and keep any other interior lights off.

Remain Calm
Keep calm and focused if you feel your car begin to drift or slide. Don’t panic! Remember to turn into the direction of the slide to straighten out your vehicle. Avoid any sudden or jerking motions as these can cause you to overcorrect and lose further control of the vehicle.

Don’t let being under prepared for winter weather cause you any stress this holiday season. Use these tips so that you can arrive confidently and safely to all of your winter destinations. Happy travels!