Drowsy driving is dangerous

The school year is winding down and there’s an excited buzz among high school students. Summer vacation is coming, but with all the excitement comes added stress and too little sleep as students finish up school projects and study for final exams. Too many responsibilities and activities can put teens in a dangerous position: driving while sleepy.

More than 80 percent of all teens get less than the recommended nine hours of sleep each night. What’s even scarier is that less than half of these teens realize that being tired makes a difference in driving safely.

Check out these eye-opening statistics about sleepy driving:

• One night of no sleep has the same impact as driving drunk.
• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found teen drivers are four times more likely to be in a fatal car accident.

Parents can help their teen drivers stay safe. Talk with your teens about these safe-driving tips:

1. Limit the number of passengers in the car. More passengers mean more distractions.
2. Teens should not talk on cell phones or text when driving.
3. Teach teens to recognize signs of drowsy driving, like difficulty focusing or keeping his or her eyes open, drifting into other traffic lanes, missing road signs or forgetting the last few miles driven.
4. Discuss a back-up plan if teens find themselves driving drowsy. One option is to find a safe place to stop and take a quick 30-minute nap.

If you’re concerned about your teen’s sleep habits, talk to your pediatrician or one of our specialists. Children’s Hospital has Wisconsin’s only pediatric sleep center accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

To make an appointment at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Clinics-New Berlin, call Central Scheduling at (414) 607-5280 or request an appointment online.

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