Each year, thousands of students from all over the country leave their stressful, work-filled days for one week of vacation during the spring. Despite long hours of work and small amounts of sleep, some of these young men and women brave the roads.
Sgt. Rod Russell, Indiana State Police public information officer for the Redkey district, said fatigue driving is a problem all year long, but it becomes more concentrated between mid-March and mid-April, or the time for Spring Breaks, because more cars are on the road.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 100,000 police-reported crashes are the result of driver fatigue each year. These crashes result in more than 1,500 deaths and 71,000 injuries, according the NHTSA.
Sgt. Brad Arey, from the Muncie Police Department Traffic Division, said the police department did not track how many accidents are caused from drowsy driving and falling asleep at the wheel.
"I think a lot of it's out on the highway," Arey said.
In the National Sleep Foundation's 2005 Sleep in America poll, 60 percent of drivers say they drove a vehicle drowsy in the year prior to the survey. Men between the ages of 18 and 29 are the most likely to experience driver fatigue, according to the NSF. According the 2002 Sleep in America poll from NSF, almost 20 percent of drivers had actually fallen asleep at the wheel.
"This really is a drowsy driving problem and it can creep up on you real quick," Russell said.
If a car has multiple drivers, they should make a schedule before leaving that indicates when drivers will switch.
"Don't necessarily wait until you're tired," he said. "It does take just a split second for you to just doze off and get in a crash."
Senior Stacy Sowder and two of her friends will be driving to Florida on Saturday.
"We're all just taking like five-hour shifts," she said. "It's going to be like a 20-hour drive. We're just going to drive all day."
While the three did not officially decide on five-hour shifts, they did agree to split the driving responsibilities.
"We're splitting up the drive just so we all can take breaks, take naps," Sowder said.
Russell said people riding in the car should keep an eye on the driver.
"Talk to the driver without being obnoxious or bothersome," he said.
Sowder said the trio would probably listen to music and talk on their way to Florida.
"I'm not really worried," she said. "All of us are pretty good drivers and have driven long ways before."
Russell said drivers often are too proud to admit they are tired.
"Put your pride aside," he said. "Drowsy driving is like driving drunk or drug driving; the end can be same."
Road Tips1. If you've got time, make the trip in multiple days.2. Crack the window to get fresh air circulating in the car.3. Keep radio on; listen to music.4. Talk to other people in the car.5. Stay away from substances such as NoDoz.6. Stay away from alcohol and illegal drugs.7. Know the signs of fatigue and pull over to a safe location if you start feeling tired.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
