You would be surprised to find out that teenagers in Florida are more susceptible to drowsy driving than adults. This is because they are ridden with homework, extracurricular activities, and work, and most of them spend their time browsing or watching that they get very limited time to rest. So, let’s take a look at drowsy driving and how you could help your children overcome it.
Drowsy driving and teenagers
Did you know that approximately 100,000 motor vehicle accidents are caused by drowsy driving? Indeed, this is according to the National Highways Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and a majority of the cases are attributed to young people, especially teenagers.
Drowsy driving is driving while tired or when you are feeling sleepy. Usually, these incidences occur late in the afternoon or from midnight to about 6:00 am when there is a dip in your internal clock that regulates sleep. But it can also happen at any time of the day based on the underlying factors.
Causes of drowsy driving
The following are the common causes of drowsy driving in teenagers:
• Having a schedule that interrupts their normal sleeping patterns, for example, when they have too much to do one particular night that they sleep too late, and at other times they sleep early.
• If they have a sleep disorder like insomnia, they are likely to experience drowsiness while driving.
• They are getting inadequate or fragmented sleep at night because of studies or late shift jobs they take.
• Some may use sedatives, hypnotics, or other drugs that encourage sleepiness or lack of focus before they get on the wheel.
Preventing drowsy driving in teenagers
• Do not let your teen drive at times when they would normally be asleep.
• If your child has any sleep disorders, find a way to help cure or manage them.
• Encourage them to drink coffee, turn the radio on, and roll the windows down while driving to keep them alert.
• If your teen is on any kind of medication, check if that drug has side effects that might encourage drowsy driving.
• More importantly, please encourage them to get adequate amounts of uninterrupted sleep (seven to eight hours).
