{"id":329,"date":"2024-05-01T20:56:05","date_gmt":"2024-05-01T20:56:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bettersleepbaytown.com\/blog\/?p=329"},"modified":"2024-06-24T20:56:29","modified_gmt":"2024-06-24T20:56:29","slug":"the-dangers-of-drowsy-driving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bettersleepbaytown.com\/blog\/the-dangers-of-drowsy-driving\/","title":{"rendered":"The Dangers of Drowsy Driving"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"A<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Have you ever been so tired that you don\u2019t remember if you took your vitamins, behaved clumsier than usual, or struggled to solve a basic math problem that you\u2019d normally ace? Sleep deprivation can cause us to forget things, to have slower reaction times, and to have difficulty completing tasks. But if being tired can affect normal aspects of your daily routine, imagine what it can do when you\u2019re driving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

How Dangerous is Drowsy Driving?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Drowsy driving can occur when the driver falls asleep behind the wheel, however you do not have to be asleep to cause a serious accident. Driving while overtired can cause you to be less alert, slowing your reaction time and leading to poor decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, experts believe that drowsy driving causes around 6,000 deaths annually, and that a staggering 21 percent of all deadly crashes involve someone who was driving while drowsy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research shows that driving with 24 hours of sleep deprivation is the equivalent of driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.10%!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Could Be Causing My Drowsy Driving?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are many things that could cause you to become sleep deprived and ultimately drive drowsy. One dangerous cause is sleep apnea<\/a>. Sleep apnea occurs when the airway becomes obstructed during sleep, causing you to gasp for air when you are in the reclining position. It also causes you to wake repeatedly throughout the night, though you may not even be aware of it. As a result, you are unable to get a good night\u2019s rest, leaving you feeling tired all day, and putting you at risk for drowsy driving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Warning Signs of Sleep Apnea<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While it can be hard to self-diagnose sleep apnea, it is often first noticed by a sleep partner. Frequently the patient\u2019s sleep partner will comment that they snore, or that they seem to be gasping for air in their sleep, however if you sleep alone, you may not realize this is happening. Other signs to look for include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n