European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 13, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A a a a a a a hit the Road a a safely by Jane e. Brody new York times sweltering summer Days and school vacations prompt millions to head the car for the country or the Shore move to a Cabin in the Woods or take in the sights. Some will not make it to their destinations and return safely. While there Are Many causes of accidents on the Road and alcohol figures prominently in half of them Public health experts in the United states Are calling attention to a seriously a underappreciated Factor sleepy Drivers. According to current . Estimates More than one Driver in five has fallen asleep at the wheel at least once and sleeping at the wheel is a Central Factor in 200,000 to400,000 traffic accidents each year. The circumstances vary widely As these incidents show a after lunch on a hot sunny. Afternoon a 40-year-old woman found herself driving on the median of an interstate Highway having somehow missed hitting a Road repair truck she had not seen before failing asleep. A at 11 ., a 60-year-old woman driving Home after a Long Day at work and a late dinner struck the rear end of a car stopped at a red Light which she had not seen because she had dozed off a Block away. A a Young Man who had taken medication to relive some allergies was on his Way to an afternoon picnic when he awoke suddenly to find his car rolling Over in a ditch. No one was injured in these incidents and Only one car was damaged. Sleeping Drivers Are not always so Lucky. A new York state trooper just finishing his night shift at 3 ., died when his car flipped Over after he fell asleep at the wheel. Countless other sleepy Drivers injure or kill not Only themselves but also the occupants of other vehicles truck Drivers a re a particular risk. Sleep experts say that one third of the one million truck Drivers on . Highways May be too tired to stay awake while driving or to respond quickly enough to Avert an Accident. People suffering from sleep Apnoea Are also at High risk. The disorder involves periodic interruptions in breathing during sleep with each interruption followed by a snorting snore As breathing resumes. Sleep Apnoea results in inordinate daytime fatigue and people with this disorder Are More Likely than others to fall asleep at the wheel. They have five times More motor vehicle accidents than other people do and Are More Likely to be a fault. All other things being equal elderly people Are also More Likely than others to doze off while driving perhaps because their sleep habits tend to be More erratic. And night sleep is often marred by Quot insomnia. Scientists have identified a number of major reasons that Drivers fall asleep. Insufficient sleep. The Many demands and diversions of everyday life prompt millions of people to deliberately Cut their nights Short said or. William c. Dement the director of the sleep disorders clinic at Stanford University school of Medicine. They stay up late to socialize or watch television and they Rouse themselves with alarm clocks often hours before they would normally awaken. Then they use artificial stimulants like caffeine to mask a fars vacation traffic in Europe can be every bit a nerve wracking As it is Back Home there Are ways to ease the stress and ensure that you get Back in one piece. According to current . Estimates More than one Driver in five has fallen asleep at the wheel at least once and sleeping at the wheel is a Central Factor in 200,000 to 400,000 traffic accidents each year. Sleepiness during the Day. This chronic sleep debt acts As an internal sleeping Pill causing them to lose alertness or become sleepy soon after they Are on the Road. Motion is a notorious soporific and modern highways can be hypnotic. Shift work. The body a naturally sleepy times Are from Midnight to 7  And from 1  To 4  The afternoon period coincides with siesta time in Many countries. Thus late shift workers usually suffer from sleep loss or fragmented sleep. For truck Drivers federally mandated sleep shifts in the United states Force them to sleep and Wake up at times that Are not synchronized with their bodies natural cycles. Thus they can be sleepy when driving even if they have gotten enough sleep in each 24-hour period. Policemen firefighters emergency medical workers and others who work variable shifts Are also highly vulnerable. In a Survey of police officers 80 percent said they had fallen asleep once a week while on the night shift. And shift workers have been found to have twice As Many motor vehicle accidents As those who work a More natural 9-to-5 shift. Food and drink. The soporific effects of a big meal and alcoholic beverages Are Well known. Yet millions go on the Road after eating or drinking too much. And for those who Start out sleep deprived even a Small meal or one drink can induce sleep. Carbohydrates a starches As Well As Sweet foods and drinks a Are More Likely than protein Rich foods to provoke sleepiness. Many people report that hot drinks Are More sleep inducing than the same beverages consumed cold. And milk and milk based foods and drinks which Are Rich in the amino acid tryptophan Are known for their relaxing effect. Medication. Many common medications can induce drowsiness or reduce alertness coordination motor skills and judgments. Among them Are antihistamines found in remedies for motion sickness and colds As Well As in allergy suppressant sedatives Tranquili Zers and anti depressants anti anxiety drugs like valium Are often taken without a realization of their sleep inducing potential. Even some antibiotics occasionally induce drowsiness or fatigue. The sedating effects of drugs Are highly unpredictable. They can vary from person to person and even in the same person at different times. The amount of the dose of course plays a big role the More of the drug that is taken the greater the risk of drowsiness. Also certain drugs can adversely affect the alertness needed for Safe driving without the users realizing it because they do not feel sleepy. Even stimulant drugs can be a problem while they do not make the Driver sleepy their euphoric effect can impair judgment. Environment. Nearly every Driver is a aware of the hypnotic effects of highways especially at night. But daytime driving on such roads can also be hypnotic especially if it is hot or Stuffy in the car. Even the clothes a Driver is wearing can have an Adverse effect. A tight Waistband or Belt for example can result in shallow breathing and sleepiness. Before starting out on any drive be sure you get enough sleep a not just the night before but for several nights before departing. Avoid eating big meals before or on a trip. While driving snack on High protein foods lust enough to stave off hunger. From time to time drink a beverage that contains caffeine but preferably not one that is Sweet. The stimulant effects of one cup of Coffee lasts for three hours or More. Do not drink alcohol within three hours of driving. Some experts urge abstaining from alcohol the Day before As Well since it can have Long lasting effects on alertness and judgment. Create an environment that Fosters alertness. Try not to drive before 7  Or whenever you Are normally asleep. Wear Loose fitting comfortable clothing. Avoid tight fitting underwear or Hose that impair circulation. Use sunglasses when driving in Bright Daylight. Keep the car As Cool As possible air conditioning though expensive can be life saving for summertime Drivers. Play interesting tapes or tune into a radio program that captures your attention. If someone is in the car with you engage in conversation. Stop often a experts say once an hour a to stretch and walk around for a few minutes. If you feel the least bit sleepy pull Over and take a Nap. Even 20 minutes of sleep can be refreshing. While driving move your eyes around and wriggle your body from time to time. Recognize and respond appropriately to the signs of impending sleep. Have your eyes assumed a fixed stare or begun to close can you remember the last few Miles of driving do you seem to be reacting slowly to changes in Road conditions does your car Drift toward the Side of the Road this is the time to turn the wheel Over to another Driver or Stop the car and Nap. Consider using a Quot sleep Alert Quot device. It fits behind one ear and buzzes when your head tilts As it probably would if you began to doze off. Finally set reasonable driving goals. As one Highway sign says. Quot on the Road As in baseball what counts is How Many times you make it Home  Page 16 a a a the stars and stripes Friday july 13, 1990