Don't Sleep and Drive
Fatigue technology to warn motorists
From: AAP
May 07, 2006
I found this article to be really interesting. An Australian based company has developed a technology called Optalert using sensors implanted inside the frames of glasses to let drivers know if they are falling asleep. Amazingly enough the company received a 1 Million dollar funding from the large insurance carrier in the area.
According to the insurance company:
"One-in-five crashes occur on the roads because motorists are driving when they are drowsy - this costs live and costs the economy $15 billion a year in health and insurance costs," NRMA Motoring and Services CEO Tony Stuart said.
The glasses measures eye and eyelid movements at more than 500 times a second, this data is sent to a processor which then will set off an alarm when the driver becomes drowsy. This technology will be available by September 2006.
Related Topics: The Toll of Sleep Loss in America, 13 Healthy Habits to Improve Your Life
Technorati tags: sleep, sleep disorders, driving drowsy, driving accidents
From: AAP
May 07, 2006
I found this article to be really interesting. An Australian based company has developed a technology called Optalert using sensors implanted inside the frames of glasses to let drivers know if they are falling asleep. Amazingly enough the company received a 1 Million dollar funding from the large insurance carrier in the area.
According to the insurance company:
"One-in-five crashes occur on the roads because motorists are driving when they are drowsy - this costs live and costs the economy $15 billion a year in health and insurance costs," NRMA Motoring and Services CEO Tony Stuart said.
The glasses measures eye and eyelid movements at more than 500 times a second, this data is sent to a processor which then will set off an alarm when the driver becomes drowsy. This technology will be available by September 2006.
Related Topics: The Toll of Sleep Loss in America, 13 Healthy Habits to Improve Your Life
Technorati tags: sleep, sleep disorders, driving drowsy, driving accidents
14 Comments:
My drive to and from work daily is about 35 min. each way, which I have no problem with. However, when I have to make 2.5 hr trips to take my husband to a Dr. appointment, I get so sleepy driving that I sometimes don't remember going through some areas.
Occasionally we all find ourselves making long tedious drives and fatigue weighs heavily upon us. On a recent 18 hour trip, the importance of listening to that fatigue was acutely brought home to me. My husband had been driving for hours and I offered to spell him so he could get a few hours sleep and so I drove and drove. Knowing how exhausted he was, I continuing driving until suddenly I realized I was on the other side of the yellow line and the noise from the oncoming driver's horns had woken me up. It didn't take me long to pull over to the side and say a thankful prayer that my guardian angel had watched over me. Badly shaken I woke my husband and we continued on owr way and arrived home safe and sound. To say I learned a valuable lesson would be an understatement but I assure you it is one I will never forget. It could have been so much worse.
Driving while sleepy is worse than a DUI/DWI. The way I look at it, there are 'rules' in life and then there are the 'laws'. The words don't differ too much, but I put things like obeying the speed limit under rules and not driving while sleepy under laws! Rules maybe relaxed in high spirits, but laws have to be obeyed not matter what.
On average I drive 80-90 thousand miles a year and most of my runs are like 7000 miles in 6 days ... but no matter where, what and when; at the first sign of weariness I pull over and doze for 30-45 minutes. For those of us who lack self-discipline and cannot do this, I advise you to load yourself up with Mountain Dew/Redbull before you envision becoming sleepy.
Then again, these drinks of other forms for stimulants are no guarantee that your reaction time and other reflexes will be in top notch shape. So the best advise is to take a nap. There is no substitute for that. Thus, make it a personal law to pull over when sleepy, and this might just save your life. Actually, it WILL save your life.
I was a passenger and my fiance fell asleep at 2:15 in the afternoon. The car rolled over twice and I suffered a neck fracture. Thanks to my guardian angles (my dad, uncle, god...) I am fine, but have been wearing a halo brace. I will be healed and into a new brace soon. My purpose is to just place urgency on making sure you are not sleepy when driving and if, like my fiance there was no reason for falling asleep then it might be a good idea to get that checked out like I am going to try to convince him to do eventually. Best wishes to all.
I have a habit of falling a sleep many times. I have sleep epena. Then I have been advise I am a diabetic. So eating sugar products doesn't work it only makes it worse.
If you are falling a sleep pull over or have a friend drive you. Best thing is (YES) take a nap.
Has anyone looked at the effect of low blood sugar - hunger on drivers. I loose concentration if I am hungry but when I was recently involved in a fatal accident because I reacted slowly to a developing situation, I was tested for alchohol but not for sugar levels>
I read the previous comments with great interest. I had a severe problem with falling asleep at the wheel,articularly when my drive was 3 hrs or more. However as time went on, the length of drive went down to 15 minutes.It was an 'uncontrollable' desire to sleep occuring when driving and would occur at other times including in the middle of a conversation-when I woke, I picked up in the middle of the sentence where I had fallen asleep.Sleep often lasted only seconds but enough to be dangerous when driving.Got progressively worse. When finally diagnosed-found it was Narcolepsy,as a result of Sleep Apnea.SA causes one to 'unknowingly' stop breathing repeatedly during sleep which does not go into restful REM sleep. Nightly use of a CPAP can control SA.Then my Narcolepsy went away completely-with reduction of stress,not more sleep. Overnight sleep study found SA. See your DR.
After my husband split, I found myself working 3 jobs to make ends meet, and only getting 4-5 hours of sleep per night. Coming home from church one night, I suddenly found myself over the center line on a steep decline on a very busy main road. Seeing oncoming headlights, I barely had enough time to swerve back into my lane. Thank God (and MY guardian angel) my lane was clear at the time! I even used to fall asleep at red lights. I'm sure there are LOTS of people out there spreading themselves too thin. Scary.
I have found myself very sleepy at times, while traveling long distances, especially at night. Even with a constant flow of caffeine, it is sometimes hard to stay awake.
A number of years ago, I almost was involved in an accident, due to the fact that I had stayed out too late, and had a 40 - minute drive to get home. On the way home, I kept nodding off, and once, on a straight stretch of road, I nodded off and awoke to find myself in the other lane, with an oncoming big truck approaching in the distance. This is a good idea!!!
My partner and I worked the same shift - straight midnights. For 5 years we have driven back & forth - a 35 minute drive on a multilane highway. He is off work now - for chemotherapy - for 3 months & until January 2008. Usually he always drove & I would doze on the way home. Now that I do the drive, myself... I find I do get sleepy - normally I NEVER get sleepy when driving! It had become a habit - on that trip. I suggest - as a partner who is a passenger... maybe if you are tired - you should assume the driver may be too. Either make it a habit to pull off & BOTH rest... or ensure you are getting more quality sleep at home. So often we reduce sleep time & quality to make room for busy lives... in particular when under stress - ensure you get sleep at home at night. I find taking melatonin before bedtime & creating 'false night' by lowering the lights helps to sleep during the day for midnight shift workers. Reducing drinking helps, too - a 'nightcap' of any alcohol really does mess with your sleep cycle - which you cannot afford to do during the week as a shift worker. Good luck all & only drive when you are awake!
I was told by a naturopath that snacking on carbs on the late break before the end of work causes crashes right about the time of driving home from work. Chose a protien & fruit or veggies... it takes longer to digest & the steady blood levels keep your mood & alertness UP. Snacking on sugary carbs before leaving for a drive likely is the # 1 cause of road rage & falling asleep at the wheel. If you must go on a long drive - in particular in an emergency where you might be tired - reach for protein & low sugar sources of caffeine instead!
I agree with above. I had low energy in the afternoon - but switched over from treats to tomato juice & a piece of cheddar. Not only am I more alert until dinnertime - I am in a better mood with the chaos of the kids and I think my middle aged spread is shrinking!
Im an OTR Truck driver, when you dont get your sleep, for whatever reason, those white lines tend to blurr together, Sounds like something all us truckers need, all we need now is firmer restrictions for distracted drivers. You people with cell phones in your ear whilst driving could take this father from his children, remember that.
rockstar clears the white line fever. Although nothing works better than sleep.
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