Parents Report Falling Asleep at the Wheel During Road Trips
Thirty percent of Canadian dads surveyed admit to dozing while driving on family vacations. Here's how to avoid that danger.
By Claire_Martin Jul 11, 2012 10:52AM
From last-minute packing to car maintenance to mapping out routes, preparing for a road trip is a lot of work. A new survey in Ontario, Canada, reveals that, by the time they hit the road, many parents are so exhausted they have trouble keeping their eyes open: 30 percent of fathers and 14 percent of mothers admitted to nodding off at the wheel during family road trips. The survey was conducted by Angus Reid on behalf of Insurance Hunter, an online insurance quotes provider.“[T]oday's parents put their kids' needs first," Gail Robertson of Insurance Hunter explained to CBC News. The survey revealed that packing snacks, choosing DVDs and games and plotting breaks for the kids often take precedence over making sure the driver has enough rest.
"The driver's needs must become the priority if families are to arrive safely at their destination," Robertson said. And what the driver needs -- and doesn't -- might surprise you. Here's what works, and doesn't, to stay awake during longer trips.
• Get plenty of rest before hitting the road. Pack the car the night before, and then turn in for seven to nine hours of sleep.
• Start driving in the morning -- not at night. (Road fatalities are 10 times more likely to occur when it's dark out.)
• Schedule a break for every two hours or 100 miles. During these stops, get out of the car and walk around.
• If you're feeling fatigued, blaring the car stereo or cranking open the windows won't sufficiently perk you up, according to the CBC study. Nor will a power nap or a coffee break. What can help, though, is pulling over for a quick bit of calisthenics: Jumping jacks, deep knee bends, toe touches.
• Don't be afraid to ask for help. Switching drivers, when possible, can be the best solution.
[Sources: CBC, Valley Sleep Center]
16Comments
Jul 11, 2012 4:41PM
A few years ago I was driving down the freeway in my state and I passed a car and just happened to look at the driver. She was sound asleep with her head back on the head rest. I blew my horn to wake her up and it did. But about two miles down the road she was nodding off again. I pulled over and called the local highway patrol and gave them her license number and make and color of her car and the route she was traveling. It scared the hell out of me that this sleeping woman was driving on the same road as myself and my children. She could have killed herself and who know how many others. I don't drive sleepy ever and I have worked two jobs at a time and raised a family, but I would not hit the road if I felt sleepy. That's just plain nuts. That's my life as well as others out there that I am risking.
Jul 11, 2012 2:49PM
Jul 11, 2012 8:33PM
First off,planing a road trip isn't that much work. Packing is most likely the hardest part. But lets face it,people are stupid. They wait till the last minute to pack up the vehicle,then run around like a chicken with their head cut off trying to get **** done. Then they leave late in the evening or at night and wonder why they are tired. Here's a hint----- Pack the vehicle the day before and do whatever is needed around the house and fill up the tank with gas. Next morning,everything is done,you've had a good night sleep and all you have to do is get in and drive. Simple.
Jul 11, 2012 6:52PM
I remember back a couple of decades ago, they used to run ads on the tube warning of "Highway Hypnosis". One thing I remember them suggesting was to keep your eyes moving, don't just stare straight ahead. And don't drive tired in the first place. I'm one of those who can't sleep in a moving vehicle no matter how hard I try. Just too much of a chicken. Spent a couple of days once on a bus, going from No. Carolina to Az. And no sleepies. Then walked from the bus station which was downtown, to my dads house, as I was too cheap to take a cab....... Man, do I miss the energy I had back then. Maybe why I'm such an old burnout now.
Jul 12, 2012 1:20AM
Jul 11, 2012 6:27PM
Jul 11, 2012 5:30PM
The above causes of work-related accidents are important but one of the main issues today is driving while tired. According to OSHA, "drowsy driving causes more than 100,000 annual accidents." A recent National Sleep Foundation study shows that 51 percent of adults admit to driving drowsy and a whopping 17 percent report falling asleep at the wheel. Employees at the highest risk of experiencing a driving accident because of drowsiness include
Jul 11, 2012 5:19PM
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