Are Minnesota Drivers Having “Micro-Sleeps” Behind The Wheel?

Let’s face it; we’re all tired. Most of us can’t remember a time when we weren’t in a constant state of tiredness. It comes with getting older I guess, but if you’re like me, the recharging process doesn’t work like it used to. 

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It’s almost like we’re like that cellphone you’ve had for so long that it won’t hold a charge anymore.  

It seems it takes more energy to make a living now than before too, and that’s not to mention the stress that can come along with making ends meet. 

The experts differ on exactly how much sleep we need each night to properly be at full potential to face each day. Some say 5-6 hours per night, while others say 7-8 hours each night are required.  

Being tired can cause a whole plethora of problems for us but one in particular that has been brought up recently is something that we all should pay closer attention to. 

Earlier this week an article said that 1 in 25 people in the last 30 days have fallen asleep while driving. The story quotes data from the Centers for Disease Control. 1 in 25 may not sound like a lot, but if you’re driving on the same road with that one, that’s way too many. 

There’s even more data that presents alarming information about drowsy drivers. The AAA Foundation for Safety says that 21% of fatal crashes are linked to the driver being sleepy.  

When you’re struggling to stay awake, your awareness is dulled. Your reaction time and judgement are slower than they normally would be, all of which puts you into a danger zone on the roads.  

The article quotes Jeff Kahn, who is the CEO and co-founder of Rise Science and a sleep expert, who calls what some people do behind the wheel “microsleeps”. 

Those are when you drift off for a few seconds or a little longer, but you’re driving in traffic.  He goes on to say that the effects of driving when you are so tired it’s hard to keep your eyes open are similar to driving when you’re drunk.  

There are two most common time periods when sleep related crashes occur, between 2am and 6am (this one makes sense- either you’ve worked all night, or been out all night and your body is beginning to shut down from exhaustion). 

The other most common time for sleep related accidents is between 1pm and 4pm. It’s easy to assume that a lot of people driving during this time got up very early to be at work, and the lack of sleep is catching up to them about the time they drive home.  

There are many reasons that could cause you to not get enough sleep, and some of those you can control by adjusting your habits and schedule. But there also could be something going on that can only be addressed with the help of a medical professional.  

If you’re in a constant state of “tired”, maybe take some time to look at your situation and decide if you need to make a few changes or you need to call your doctor.   

Be careful out there, you never know when you’re going to be driving near that 1 person who is, as I like to call it, “under slept”.