Normally, I could easily make this trip after a good night's rest; however, leaving immediately after work was a different story. While the excitement was enough to keep me awake for the first three hours, around the fourth hour I would begin to experience the warning signs of drowsiness and fatigue. I would find myself having difficulty focusing, forgetting the last few miles of driving, yawning repeatedly and jerking my vehicle back into my lane.
And weather could also make these trips take longer. On one particular trip, I was driving through Oklahoma when I encountered a blinding snowstorm that forced me to slow to less than 30 mph. I was frustrated because I realized it was going to take much longer than normal to reach Joplin.
However, when I tried speeding up, I'd begin sliding on the road. I saw the consequences of that firsthand when a vehicle in front of me ran off the road into a ditch. I stopped to make sure the individual was OK. He was fine and I called a wrecker to come and pull him out. However, I knew at that point it was no use trying to drive any farther. It just wasn't worth getting into an accident.
I knew the next town was only a few minutes away. I called my family and told them that I was staying there overnight because the weather was too bad to drive. Had I tried, it would've taken me even more time to get to Joplin or I could've ended up in a bad accident. As it turned out, the next morning was beautiful and the roads were clear. I left early enough to arrive at the hotel in Joplin just after my family had gotten out of bed. We were still able to have breakfast that morning and spend an enjoyable holiday together before I had to be back at Fort Hood.
I learned my lesson on that trip and never again tried to drive it immediately after getting off from work. I now make sure I have a full night's rest before hitting the road and always check the weather forecast to make sure driving conditions will be favorable.
When I look back on it, it seems silly that I took such risks. I would never let any of my Soldiers make the same trip without first getting adequate rest. My leadership classes have taught me to apply risk management in everything I do, on or off duty. After all, accidents don't discriminate when it comes to duty status.
Snoozin' and Losin'
Courtesy National Safety Council
www.nsc.org
Just like drugs or alcohol, sleepiness slows reaction time, decreases awareness and impairs judgment. Like drugs or alcohol, fatigue can be fatal when driving. Just check out the following statistics.
Aca,!Ac Death rates based on mileage were 3.2 times higher at night than during the day in 2007.
Aca,!Ac 37 percent of drivers surveyed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration admitted to falling asleep at the wheel at some point in their driving career; 8 percent admitted doing so in the past six months.
Aca,!Ac 60 percent admitted falling asleep while driving on an interstate-type highway with posted speeds of 55 mph or higher.
The drivers at highest risk are third-shift workers, people who drive a substantial number of miles each day, those with unrecognized sleep disorders and those prescribed medication with sedatives.
Recognize the Symptoms of Fatigue
Aca,!Ac Eyes closing or going out of focus
Aca,!Ac Persistent yawning
Aca,!Ac Irritability, restlessness and impatience
Aca,!Ac Wandering or disconnected thoughts
Aca,!Ac Inability to remember driving the last few miles
Aca,!Ac Drifting between lanes or onto the shoulder
Aca,!Ac Abnormal speed, tailgating or failure to obey traffic signs
Aca,!Ac Back tension, burning eyes, shallow breathing or inattentiveness
Safety Tips
Aca,!Ac Maintain a regular sleep schedule that allows adequate rest.
Aca,!Ac When the signs of fatigue begin to show, get off the road. Take a short nap in a well-lit area. Do not simply stop on the side of the road.
Aca,!Ac Avoid driving between midnight and 6 a.m.
When planning long trips
Aca,!Ac Share driving responsibilities with a companion.
Aca,!Ac Begin the trip early in the day.
Aca,!Ac Keep the temperature cool in the car.
Aca,!Ac Stop every 100 miles or two hours to get out of the car and walk around; exercise helps to combat fatigue.
Aca,!Ac Stop for light meals and snacks.
Aca,!Ac Drive with your head up, shoulders back and legs flexed at about a 45-degree angle.
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