Safety Consequences of Driving While Drowsy
The thought of teenagers behind the wheel of a car in the early morning hours should be of great concern to all parents.
We now know that teenagers have different Circadian Rhythms than all other age groups, which makes their sleep/wake cycle a potentially devastating challenge.
Medical research indicates that the sleep/wake cycle of teenagers runs at least two hours behind all other age groups.
Because teenagers are biologically predisposed to get sleepy later at night, they have legitimate difficulty waking up and getting out of bed in morning.
These are the facts that parents of teenagers need to be fully aware of and prepared to deal with.
Parents of teenagers can help their sons or daughters develop a bedtime routine that enables them to get the sleep they desperately need.
Driving While Drowsy Sleep deprived drivers are just as impaired behind the wheel as someone with a blood alcohol level of .
08%, which is illegal in most states.
It is estimated that drowsy driving accounts for 100,000 crashes a year.
Poor sleep quality and being sleepy while driving significantly increases a teenager's risk of a motor vehicle accident.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) conducted a research study on motor vehicle safety In 2011.
CDC offered the following cautionary but hopeful statement that all parents of teens should embrace.
"Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.
S.
teens.
Fortunately, teen motor vehicle crashes are preventable, and proven strategies can improve the safety of young drivers on the road.
" The Sleep Teens Need vs.
the Sleep They Get Teenagers need to bring their "A Game" to every occasion when they get behind the wheel of a car.
National sleep surveys administered to teenagers reveal that they are aware they need more sleep.
Failure or difficulty getting up every morning is a clear indication to the teens themselves.
When asked about their sleep needs in a random survey, most teens indicated they get about 7.
0 hours of sleep each night, with many getting much less.
This contrasts with the 8.
5 to 9.
5 hours of sleep they actually need.
Only 6% of students in the survey slept 9 hours or more on week nights.
A full 58 percent tried to "catch up" on lost ZZZ's by sleeping 9 or more hours each day over the weekend.
What Teens Need Behind the Wheel There is no magic formula that will transform teenagers into good drivers who are alert and focused when they get behind the wheel.
All drivers must do the following three BASIC things to have a safe and successful driving experience.
• Pay Attention! Do not divert your attention with cell phones and text messaging.
• Use good judgment! Do not take risks! A bad choice could end in death.
• Maintain quick reflexes! The ability to respond to unexpected situations and unforeseen crises means a driver must be able to "Act" and "React" with optimum clarity, undivided attention, and calm confidence.
Drivers develop the skills above over time.
But none of this is possible without good quality sleep before turning on the car's ignition.
This is where parents MUST take the lead.
Watch for signs that your teenager is sleep deprived.
Take away the car keys when you suspect he or she does not have adequate sleep.
This action falls within the definition of "Parental Responsibility.
" It is also indicative of the leadership role parents should play in the lives of their teen-children.
Conclusion Ours is a nation of sleep deprived teenagers.
Sadly, many of these teens drive to school before there is bright sunlight and often return home in rush-hour traffic.
These young people are often driving while drowsy.
Parents and friends of teenagers must treat sleep deprived drivers the same way they treat those who drink and drive.
Take the car keys away from sleepy teenagers and make them sit on the passenger side.
We now know that teenagers have different Circadian Rhythms than all other age groups, which makes their sleep/wake cycle a potentially devastating challenge.
Medical research indicates that the sleep/wake cycle of teenagers runs at least two hours behind all other age groups.
Because teenagers are biologically predisposed to get sleepy later at night, they have legitimate difficulty waking up and getting out of bed in morning.
These are the facts that parents of teenagers need to be fully aware of and prepared to deal with.
Parents of teenagers can help their sons or daughters develop a bedtime routine that enables them to get the sleep they desperately need.
Driving While Drowsy Sleep deprived drivers are just as impaired behind the wheel as someone with a blood alcohol level of .
08%, which is illegal in most states.
It is estimated that drowsy driving accounts for 100,000 crashes a year.
Poor sleep quality and being sleepy while driving significantly increases a teenager's risk of a motor vehicle accident.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) conducted a research study on motor vehicle safety In 2011.
CDC offered the following cautionary but hopeful statement that all parents of teens should embrace.
"Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.
S.
teens.
Fortunately, teen motor vehicle crashes are preventable, and proven strategies can improve the safety of young drivers on the road.
" The Sleep Teens Need vs.
the Sleep They Get Teenagers need to bring their "A Game" to every occasion when they get behind the wheel of a car.
National sleep surveys administered to teenagers reveal that they are aware they need more sleep.
Failure or difficulty getting up every morning is a clear indication to the teens themselves.
When asked about their sleep needs in a random survey, most teens indicated they get about 7.
0 hours of sleep each night, with many getting much less.
This contrasts with the 8.
5 to 9.
5 hours of sleep they actually need.
Only 6% of students in the survey slept 9 hours or more on week nights.
A full 58 percent tried to "catch up" on lost ZZZ's by sleeping 9 or more hours each day over the weekend.
What Teens Need Behind the Wheel There is no magic formula that will transform teenagers into good drivers who are alert and focused when they get behind the wheel.
All drivers must do the following three BASIC things to have a safe and successful driving experience.
• Pay Attention! Do not divert your attention with cell phones and text messaging.
• Use good judgment! Do not take risks! A bad choice could end in death.
• Maintain quick reflexes! The ability to respond to unexpected situations and unforeseen crises means a driver must be able to "Act" and "React" with optimum clarity, undivided attention, and calm confidence.
Drivers develop the skills above over time.
But none of this is possible without good quality sleep before turning on the car's ignition.
This is where parents MUST take the lead.
Watch for signs that your teenager is sleep deprived.
Take away the car keys when you suspect he or she does not have adequate sleep.
This action falls within the definition of "Parental Responsibility.
" It is also indicative of the leadership role parents should play in the lives of their teen-children.
Conclusion Ours is a nation of sleep deprived teenagers.
Sadly, many of these teens drive to school before there is bright sunlight and often return home in rush-hour traffic.
These young people are often driving while drowsy.
Parents and friends of teenagers must treat sleep deprived drivers the same way they treat those who drink and drive.
Take the car keys away from sleepy teenagers and make them sit on the passenger side.
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