Sleepiness Making Roads Less Safe
The Centers for Disease Control just released a study claiming that Americans are … no, it’s not fat (though we are). Instead, the CDC is calling us an increasingly sleep-deprived population. The definition of sleep-deprived is getting six hours of sleep or less a night, and the study claims that the number of people doing just that has risen steadily since 1985. It feels like every week a new study claims Americans are working harder and harder, so this comes as no surprise. Until they come up with a way to make it possible to work while sleeping — and wouldn’t that be the day — something’s got to give.
The problem with all that sleeplessness, beyond the obvious health issues, is what happens when we tired Americans get in our cars. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, what happens are accidents: approximately 100,000 of them occurred due to drowsiness last year, including more than 1,500 fatalities. Most accidents strike in the wee hours of the morning — between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. — when, as they say, nothing good ever happens. That axiom’s probably true, but when you’re working the nightshift overtime to support a family, you have to get around somehow, right?
Asleep at the Wheel? You're Not Alone (Autopia)
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To make matters worse, if you're working the night shift, it's very unnatural to sleep in daylight. Plus neighbors, garbage trucks, weed whackers, make it very difficult to sleep.
I been lucky when I have worked overnight, I have no problem getting to sleep during the day usually. I find though if I work overnight I have to get a full 8 hours of sleep eventually. I do agree that being tired has been a cause of most of my accidents. Unfortunately sometimes I do have to drive when tired, and I am usually very aware of it. I will say this sometimes even with full nights sleep on occasion I can be off. I think people who work 1st or 2nd shift are very lucky in that they can do there work on less sleep, they can cheat because they are going with the body's natural cycle.
Infosaur, ever tried ear plugs and sleeping aid?
My dad sleeps like a dead animal every day and I can barely wake him up.