Drowsy-Driving Prevention Week aims to highlight importance of adequate sleep

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  • By Staff Reports
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Deployments, working long hours and living stressful lives take their toll on almost everyone, and these and other factors can lead to lack of sleep, which can impair driving abilities.

According to the National Sleep Foundation website, most people are aware of the dangers of driving while intoxicated, but many do not know that drowsiness can be equally deadly, as it impairs judgement, performance and reaction times, just like alcohol and drugs.

Drowsy-Driving Prevention Week is Nov. 6 to 12, and the 100th Air Refueling Wing Safety Office is focusing on raising awareness on signs of sleepiness and provides suggestions on how to avoid driving while drowsy.

The sleep foundation's website states that drivers considered most at risk are:

· Young people - particularly males 26 and under
· Shift workers and those working long hours - working night shifts increases the risk of drowsy driving by almost six times
· People with undiagnosed or untreated disorders - those with obstructive sleep apnea can be up to seven times more at risk of falling asleep at the wheel
· Those travelling, either driving for many hours or jet lagged after a long flight

Drowsy-Driving Prevention Week is an official week that is supported by many traffic safety organizations in the U.S., said Staff Sgt. Cody M. Hobart, 100th ARW ground safety craftsman.

"Its efforts, of course, focus on preventing mishaps as a result of drowsy driving. The U.S. Air Force refers to drowsiness as 'fatigue,'" he said. "Fatigue factors into many mishaps experienced in the Air Force, due to our demanding work schedules and the ambition shared by many Service members to blow off steam at the end of the work week, regardless of the activities they take part in.

"Identifying the onset of fatigue is the key to preventing fatigue-related mishaps; heavy eyes, micro-sleeping (zoning out for a few moments), and head bobbing are all signs that should be recognized by Airmen," said Hobart. "Knowing these signs gives Airmen the ability to make an educated decision to call 'knock it off.' For any long road trips during leave, temporary duty or just a long day trip, Airmen should devise a plan to ensure they do not fall victim to a fatigue-related mishap.

The Wingman concept, along with a proper work and rest cycle is probably the best plan for preventing mishaps as a result of drowsy driving," he said.

The safety office also suggests using a trip planning tool - Travel Risk Planning System - which incorporates the principles of composite risk management and facilitates a dialogue between supervisor and subordinate prior to travelling in their personal vehicle. For more information, call the safety office at DSN 238-2255.

(The 100th ARW Safety office contributed to this article)