Harry didn't make it

  • Published
  • By Gary Gray
  • 341st Family Support Squadron Safety Representative
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  "Whew... tired ... let's see, what's that milepost say... ah ... 109... no, 10...something..."

"Boy, it's hot out, let me turn the air conditioning up ... there that should do it ... ah ... missed that turn off!"

"Bobby's game should start at eight... no ... seven ... ah, he was so good when he was 13..."

"Okay, not much longer to go... let's see... 40 miles I guess... maybe 50... shouldn't be much longer ... be glad to get home ... boy... tired..."

Harry didn't make it. He dozed off for maybe five seconds. That's all it took. Oh Harry woke up alright. As his car drifted off and went right through that retaining barrier that the transportation division hadn't got around to repairing and as his car tumbled over and over into the hard packed pasture land...he was awake for a terror filled four seconds. That's all it took.

Harry was just another statistic. One of 100,000 crashes each year that are caused by fatigue. Harry was in a minority in one respect. His 36 years of age put him outside the 55 percent of drowsy driving crashes that are caused by drivers less than 25 years old.

I doubt if in those four seconds that his mind had time to think of the three hours of sleep he got the night before. No, Harry wasn't a party animal but he was a workaholic. Those four seconds probably weren't enough time for him to remember that he'd been driving without a break for the past five hours. Nor was it enough time to remember that only two miles back his car had drifted off on to the shoulder rumble strip. Just not enough time to remember.

One of the interesting things about America is our ability to gather statistics. We have the National Sleep Foundation to tell us that in a 2005 poll, 60 percent of adult drivers, about 168 million people, say they have driven a vehicle while feeling drowsy in the past year, and actually one-third (approximately 103 million people), have actually fallen asleep at the wheel. And here's the crazy thing - of those who have nodded off, 13 percent say they have done so at least once a month. Four percent, approximately 11 million drivers, admit they have had an accident or near accident because they dozed off or were too tired to drive. That's scary!

Who are these people? Adults between 18-29 are much more likely to drive while drowsy compared to other age groups. Men are more likely than women to drive while drowsy (56 percent to 45percent). Shift workers are more likely than those who work a regular daytime schedule to drive to or from work drowsy at least a few days a month.

There are warning signs. Signs that we fail to recognize because of the rush in our lives. Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking or heavy eyelids. Daydreaming or wandering/disconnected thoughts. Trouble remembering the last few miles driven; missing exits or traffic signs. Yawning repeatedly or rubbing your eyes. Trouble keeping your head up. Drifting from your lane. Feeling restless and irritable.

The countermeasures are simple! First and foremost, get adequate sleep. Most adults need 7-9 hours to maintain proper alertness during the day. Schedule proper breaks - about every 100 miles or two hours during long trips. Arrange for a travel companion - someone to talk with and share the driving. Avoid alcohol and sedating medications. Check the labels of your medications or ask your doctor. If you feel the warning signs noted above, stop driving! Pull off at the next exit, rest area or find a place to sleep for the night. Caffeine does help but remember this - it promotes short-term alertness and it takes about 30 minutes for caffeine to begin working. Keep in mind that caffeine won't have much effect on people who consume it regularly. Take a nap. Naps are beneficial when experiencing drowsiness. Find a safe place where you can stop, park your car and sleep for 15-20 minutes. A nap longer than 20 minutes can make you groggy for at least 15 minutes after awakening.

The main answer is to look at yourself and the potential danger you are to yourself and others on the road. There's rarely a time in our lives when we have to be some place "immediately." Plan your trips and do the smart thing. Harry didn't make it to his family. Make sure you make it to yours!

(Statistics from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety)