Coffee is no cure: Survey data highlight risks of drowsy driving (AASM)

For many Americans, driving is an everyday necessity, but getting behind the wheel without enough sleep can have serious consequences. According to survey results from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 41% of adults say they have felt so sleepy while driving that it affected their ability to drive safely.

“Drowsy driving puts everyone on the road at risk,” said AASM President Dr. Fariha Abbasi-Feinberg. “It’s important to recognize the warning signs that you are too tired to drive. If you are yawning, drifting into other lanes, or nodding off, it’s time to pull over to get some sleep.”

Many of the adults who admitted to driving while sleepy have tried different strategies to keep themselves awake and alert behind the wheel:

• 65% drink coffee or a caffeinated beverage
• 59% open a window
• 52% turn up the volume on the radio
• 50% pull over to take a break (nap, walk or go to the bathroom)
• 44% drink water
• 37% eat a snack
• 28% make a phone call
• 23% listen to an audiobook or podcast

“There is no strategy that can substitute for sufficient sleep,” added Abbasi-Feinberg. “A quick fix, like drinking coffee or a caffeinated beverage, may provide a temporary boost in alertness, but it cannot replace the restorative benefits of sleep. If you’re too sleepy, the safest choice is to stay off the road.”

Read the full article on the AASM’s website.