Drowsy driving can be a common problem for long haul drivers. Staying alert can become a challenge during those late hours on a long drive. As you plan for an overnight drive, understand the dangers of drowsy driving and how you can avoid accidents on the road with some smart truck safety information below.

What to Know about Drowsy Driving & Truck Safety

The Dangers of Drowsy Driving

Drowsy driving leads to slower reaction times, a shorter attention span, impaired judgment, and poor decision making. Being tired can have a similar effect to driving drunk. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that drowsy driving caused 72,000 crashes in 2013. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in 25 adult drivers 18 or older report falling asleep while behind the wheel.

How to Stay Alert

Before you leave for your drive, get a full night’s sleep of seven to eight hours. This leaves you sufficiently rested to drive for the full day ahead. If possible, bring a passenger with you so you can take turns driving when one of you gets drowsy. Keeping up a conversation can also help keep you awake. Avoid taking any medications that make you drowsy; if you do need to take medication, then don’t drive after taking it.

Know the signs of drowsiness, such as yawning, having trouble keeping your eyes open, or being unable to remember the last few miles you drove. If you feel any of these signs, pull over at a rest stop. Take a short nap—about an hour—and consume caffeine afterward to help keep you up until you reach your destination. 

If you’re planning on a career as a driver, attending a trucking school will teach you everything you need to know about truck safety. Professional Driver Institute in Rochester, NY, offers small truck driver training classes and one-on-one interaction for their students to get a quality education. Their program will teach you all you need to know, from rig operation to how to plan your preventative maintenance to truck safety tips. After you finish your truck driving school, they will help you with job placement. Learn more about their programs on their website and call (888) 734-4235 to sign up.