Driving Drowsy

Driving drunk is dangerous and against the law.
We know that.
We're told it all the time.
But how often do people mention the dangers of driving when you're tired?
According to a study done by the National Safety Administration, an estimated 100,000 police-reported car crashes are caused by drowsy driving each year. That same study showed that young drivers (ages 16 to 24) are twice as likely to be involved in a crash due to drowsy driving than older drivers (ages 40 to 59.)
It all comes down to sleep. Most teenagers these days don't get the proper amount of sleep. Sleepfoundation.com says that teens need about 9 1/4 hours of sleep per night, but only 15% of teens reported getting even 8 1/2 hours of sleep each night. With school, homework, extracurriculars, part-time jobs, and social lives, it's no suprise that teens just don't have the time to sleep.
Plus, as teenagers, our natural sleep-wake cycles-called circadian rhythms- shift and our bodies want us to go to sleep later and wake up later. But with school starting early in the morning, teens can't sleep in.
So how can we possibly get enough sleep? Sleepfoundation.com offers these suggestions for getting enough sleep:
1. Make sleep a priority. That might mean turning off your phone or TV close to bedtime.
2. Take naps. Naps are great to boost energy, but make sure you don't take a nap too close to bedtime or for too long, or it could mess up your regular sleep.
3. Don't eat, drink or exercise within a few hours of going to sleep.
4.  Make to-do lists so you don't lie awake worrying about things!
Above all, never drive when you're tired. Studies show that driving while tired is equal to a .05% blood alcohol content, which is near the legal limit.
To get more info, go to drowsydriving.org
November 6-12 is Drowsy Driving Prevention Week