Although most people know how dangerous drinking and driving is, they may not fully realize that driving sleepy can be just as fatal as driving drunk. Just as drugs and alcohol do, drowsiness slows reaction time, decreases awareness, impairs judgment, and increases your risk of a crash.

Warning Signs of Drowsiness and Fatigue

If you:

• Can't remember the last few miles driven
• Have wandering or disconnected thoughts
• Experience difficulty focusing or keeping your eyes open
• Have trouble keeping your head up
• Drift from lanes or hit a rumble strip
• Yawn repeatedly
• Tailgate or miss traffic signs
• Find yourself jerking your vehicle back into lane

then you may be suffering from drowsiness or fatigue. You are at serious risk of being involved in a fatigue-related crash and should pull over in a safe place and get some rest before resuming your trip.

Tips to Avoid Driving while Tired

• Stop driving
• Sleep... take a nap for at least 15 to 20 minutes in a safe place
• Take frequent breaks at rest areas or travel plazas
• Get adequate sleep the night before a long trip
• Avoid alcohol
• Travel with someone and share the driving

Be aware of the signs that you are tired—you know yourself and can judge how sleepy you are.