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Teens and Driving Drowsy: A Deadly Mix

When it comes to teenagers, the old adage about "early to bed, early to rise..." has very little to do with reality. Teens are more sleep deprived now than ever and it is becoming a dangerous situation.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conservatively estimates that 100,000 police-reported crashes are the direct result of driver fatigue each year.  And young drivers were four times more likely to have a sleep-related crash than were drivers over the age of 30. 

Join host Dr. Winnie King as we hear the sad stories of some young people whose lives were forever changed by drowsy driving.  You'll also hear from a national sleep specialist and a NY State Trooper as well as hear how some schools and families are trying to correct the problem of sleep-deprived teens.

Guests:

Jodi Mindell PhD - Associate Director,  Sleep Disorders Center, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA; Adjunct Assoc Professor of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Philadelphia, PA; Assistant Professor of Psychology, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA

Trooper Leon Williams  - New York State Trooper; National Child Safety Technician; Driving Instructor and Speed Enforcement Instructor; Senior Field Instructor.
    
Brad and Linda Deckhard  - their teenage daughter died when she fell asleep while driving

Rusty Barris –paralyzed after falling asleep at the wheel when he was a teenager

John and Wanda Bates – Rusty’s parents

Alex Stevenson - formerly sleep deprived teenager
Diane Stevenson - Alex's mother

Justin Daily - was paralyzed when he fell asleep at the wheel


Tips and Hints:

Sleep Tips for Teens:

  • maintain a regular sleep schedule
  • prevent all-nighters
  • don't oversleep on weekends
  • take SHORT early afternoon naps
  • turn off TV, computer, and radio
  • avoid caffeine, smoking, alcohol, and drugs
  • let the sun shine in
  • exercise regularly

Tips to Prevent Drowsy Driving in Teens:

  • TALK TO THEM ABOUT IT – 60% of parents don’t discuss drowsy driving
  • nap before afternoon driving
  • get a good night’s sleep before a long drive
  • drive long trips with a companion (ideally two)
  • stop every 100 miles or two hours
  • avoid alcohol or medications
  • pull off the road
  • take a catnap

Signs You are Too Drowsy to Drive and Should Pull Over
and have a catnap prefereably in a rest stop, or at a mall, or 7-11 parking lot.  But if worse comes to worse, better rest by the side of the road than trying to keep driving and falling asleep at the wheel.

  • Frequent blinking, heavy eyelids
  • Trouble keeping your head up
  • Yawning repeatedly
  • Trouble remembering the last few miles, missing exits
  • Drifting from your lane

National Sleep Foundation
http://www.sleepfoundation.org/

Drowsy Driving Organization
http://www.drowsydriving.org/