DEARREADERS

High-risk groups who need to be especially cautious include night shift workers who drive, drivers with sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, people taking medications that can cause drowsiness, and anyone who is sleep-deprived (which studies suggest is a majority of us).

What are the early warning signs? Constant yawning is an obvious signal. Drifting out of your lane is another big red flag. Suddenly realizing you have no recollection of the past few miles you’ve driven could also be a warning sign. In that stretch of time you could have missed your turn or exit. If so, you are clearly not thinking clearly.

What can be done to prevent waking up in a ditch, the ER, or the morgue?

It isn’t a “game-time” decision. It starts way ahead of time with getting sufficient sleep, every night if possible. At least 7 hours nightly is the recommendation for adults.

We have all recognized the signs of drowsiness and kept on driving. Not a good idea. The wise course is to recognize drowsiness and do something about it: on the interstate, for example, get off at the next exit and find a park, a Walmart, or a truckstop. Get out and walk around. Go into a restroom and splash cold water in your face. In a safe place you might even set an alarm on your phone and take a 20-minute nap in the car. Whatever works for you, the extra few minutes you spend could pay huge dividends if they prevent a serious accident.

Let’s agree that sleeping cars should be on passenger trains, not on the road.