Awake At The Wheel

      In the case where public debate revolves around driver safety, the discussion mostly revolves around the visible dangers such as drunk driving, dangerous speed, aggressive behavior on the road, and even texting while driving. While all of these bad practices should be removed, there is another equally dangerous practice which does not receive the same sense of urgency: diver fatigue. The “In The Drivers Seat” scholarship competition seeks to ensure that the participants appreciate the important aspects of being a safe and educated driver. In today’s world, for an educational drive to be realized, it must include the understanding of the human body besides just traffic rules and signs.  

      Microsleep is the main physiological issue of drowsy driving. Microsleep is a sudden period of sleepiness that lasts between one and fifteen seconds. During a microsleep, consciousness leaves the person suddenly and involuntarily. For an extremely tired driver, such a period could be perceived as nothing but an abnormally heavy blink of an eye. At the same time, when traveling on a highway at a speed of sixty-five miles per hour, the car will go almost one hundred feet during one second. In four seconds a microsleep, the car can cover more than 380 feet without any control, perception or breaking of the driver. It means that in just a few seconds of microsleep, a comfortable passenger car becomes an object that weighs tons and is not controlled by anybody.  

      What makes fatigue especially dangerous is that our society does not take it as seriously from a moral point of view as other types of driver impairment. There is much medical evidence showing how the lack of sleep for extended periods of time affected cognitive and physical performance in much the same way the drinking alcohol does. If one is awake for 18 hours straight, his reaction time and spatial awareness, as well as his ability to make decisions, become impaired to such an extent that it is comparable to a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) level of 0.05%. Not getting any sleep for 24 hours equals BAC 0.10%, which exceeds the legal limit in all 50 states in the US. While the fact that someone drives under the influence of alcohol is considered immoral, the lack of sleep is glorified by the modern culture as a manifestation of efficiency and strong work ethics.  

     One major misconception held by many drivers is that serious fatigue is something that can be overcome through sheer force of will or some temporary fix. Many drivers have resorted to trying to resist intense sleepiness by cranking up the volume on their music systems, lowering the windows to allow cold air to enter, chewing gum, or consuming caffeinated energy drinks. While caffeine might work in providing a temporary boost in alertness, it cannot eliminate the accumulation of metabolic wastes produced by the brain in a state of extended wakefulness or resetting the circadian rhythms of the human body. Once the body hits its limits, the body’s biological need for sleep will ultimately win over the will of the conscious mind.  

      The new definition of safety and education in driving involves understanding the biological knowledge and incorporating them into the teachings of driving. The drivers should be able to understand the symptoms of severe fatiguebefore the microsleep happens. Yawning frequently, eyelids that feel heavy or burning, inability to remember the previous few miles, missed exits, and slight swerving in the lanes are not just inconveniences, but emergencies as far as the brain is concerned. A responsible driver is one who has self-awareness and the courage to heed the biological signals. It is to know that taking a safe twenty-minute nap in a brightly lit place or postponing the journey at night is a mature behavior in the true sense.  

      Ultimately, driving from the passenger to the driver’s seat requires a total sense of responsibility for the safety of all others who will be on the roadways along with us. Being a safe and educated driver goes well beyond the technical skills of turning a steering wheel but involves being aware of our physical limitations and respecting human biology. With the knowledge that we can protect ourselves and others by practicing good sleep hygiene and physical rest as part of safe driving, we remove the hidden killer that claims the lives of many annually. By opting for rest over risk, planning over impulsivity, and being in tune with our body over ego, we establish an example of leadership that keeps our family, friends, and even strangers safe. Each time we start our car engine, we silently vow to ourselves and the entire community surrounding us, and by fulfilling this vow with safe and rested driving, we keep our roads a safe pathway of trust and humanity for years to come.