Driver's Ed Unit12

have fallen asleep at the wheel

103 million people admit to...

1/2

How many accidents nationwide involve some type of aggressive driving?

100,000

How many crashes each year are caused by driver fatigue?

9

How many hours of sleep should teens and young adults get each night?

violation of laws: up to 30 days in jail

What is a consequence of aggressive driving?

drowsy driving

What is one of the leading causes of traffic crashes?

fatigue warning signs

heavy eyelids, trouble keeping head up, yawning repeatedly, rubbing eyes, day dreaming, trouble remembering miles driven, drifting lane, closely/hitting a shoulder rumble strip, restless and irritable

effects of fatigue

impairs reaction time, judgement, and vision; impairs senses and abilities; may not see objects clearly or in a timely manner; may miss critical info- signs, lights and sounds; takes longer to process info or make decisions

effects of emotions

interfere with your ability to think, create mental distractions, increase risk taking, heartbeat increases, breathing quickens, feeling of exhaustion

how to reduce stress

leave plenty of time, drive posted speed limit, minimize distractions, drive after schedule to avoid peak drive times, know where you're going relax and concentrate on driving, don't drive when angry, upset, or overly tired, be polite

aggressive drivers

occurs when a driver operates vehicle in a push/bold manner, without regard for other's safety

road rage

occurs when a driver uses the vehicle or some other weapon to threaten or cause harm to another roadway user in response to a traffic incident

who's most at risk for drowsy driving

people who are driving long distances, young people, driving through the night, driving alone, driving on long rural roads, shift worker, commercial drivers

causes of fatigue

physical or mental weariness; physical strain; mental strain; monotonous tasks; illness; lack of sleep; sun glare; overeating; warm passenger compartment

things you can do to prevent aggressive driving

stay calm, take deep breaths, be careful, stay on road safely, give yourself extra time

how to maintain alertness while driving

wear sunglasses, avoid heavy foods, drive with a passenger and take turns, take periodic breaks, take a nap if needed, consume caffeine

caffeine

what can increase alertness for a few hours, but you shouldn't rely on it for a long time?

have someone else drive, pull off road, caffeine

what should a driver do if they notice a sign of fatigue when driving?