DROWSY DRIVING INTIATIVES TO BE LAUNCHED BY THE NATIONAL ROAD SAFETY FOUNDATION IN DELAWARE
National Road Safety Foundation to Speak to the Delaware Safety Council

New York, NY; December 2005 – With the holiday season upon us, and more drivers taking to the roads, The National Road Safety Foundation is partnering with the Delaware Safety Council to educate the public to the dangers of driving when sleep deprived..

“Many of the accidents that happen on the roads during this time of year are 100% preventable,” said Adele Kristiansson, Director, Marketing & Legislative Affairs for The National Road Safety Foundation. “It is a simple fact that the majority of drivers are over-scheduling themselves and trying to do more things in the course of the day with less sleep.”

The NRSF will address the high risk groups, how to identify common characteristics of drowsy drivers, proper in-car and lifestyle interventions, discuss how the brain shuts down for sleep and how drowsy driving could be the next major issue – as prevalent as DWI -- in traffic safety.

Mr. Pete Booker of Delmarra Broadcasting will review how the drowsy driving program interfaces with the Smart Drive Program, which has been introduced into DE high schools this year.

The Delaware Safety Council hopes to have representatives from the Delaware Motor Transport industry, driver educators, health, community and broadcast advocates.

WHAT: ALMOST HOME: PROFILE AND WORKSHOP ON DROWSY DRIVING
WHEN: Tuesday, December 17th 8:30 – 11:00AM
WHERE: Terrace Restaurant – Porky Oliver Golf Course, Wilmington, DE

The National Road Safety Foundation produces and distributes free of charge a traffic safety manual, “Flesh, Metal & Glass,” educational films and public service campaigns for use by the media and in driver education, traffic safety, public health and enforcement programs. The National Road Safety Foundation, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit charitable organization dedicated to reducing accidents, death and disability on our nation’s highways by promoting safe driving habits through greater public awareness.

About one million copies of the Foundation’s films and public service campaigns have been distributed to date. For more information, log on to www.nationalroadsafety.org or call 866-SAFEPATH.

Drowsing Driving Tips…

DROWSY DRIVING TIP SHEET

The characteristics of sleep-induced crashes are: The crash is very serious, it is a high speed road, the vehicle goes off the road and the driver does not take evasive action.

REDUCE YOUR RISK OF DROWSINESS
Lifestyle Habits. Eat light. Exercise regularly. Get 7-8 hours of sleep a night. Every time you miss sleep, catch up immediately.

Plan Journeys. Before a trip, get a good night’s sleep. Leave early in the morning and stop driving around sunset, or as early as possible, to reduce night-time driving. Drive with a passenger who can alert you to fatigue, talk to you, and share the driving. Schedule stops every 100 miles or two hours. Hunger can make you angry and turn you into an aggressive driver. Don’t eat junk or high-fat foods. Keep caffeinated and sugar-laden snacks in the car for short-term energy. Chocolate covered espresso beans can help you make it to the next rest area.

Direct Intervention. Recognize and don’t ignore symptoms of drowsiness. Pull over to a safe rest area; stop for a break, a 20-minute nap, or for the night. Two cups of coffee take 30 minutes to enter your bloodstream, then provide short term alertness.

Don’t drink alcohol or take medications.

Drowsiness is a condition most drivers fail to recognize, or believe they can overcome. Without enough sleep the body suffers from “sleep deficit,” which can only be overcome by SLEEP!

Sleepiness results from physical labor or working long hours; a progressive withdrawal of attention; interruptions of sleep; and untreated or unrecognized sleep disorders. Sleepiness is induced by repetitive actions of long distance drivers, driving without a break and by the stress of tough road conditions and bad weather. Heavy food, alcohol, sedatives, antidepressants and antihistamines induce sleep. Open windows and loud music do not reduce fatigue.