We have printed this article during previous holiday seasons but felt that maybe the message will never get old if we can help to make just one person or family have a better holiday season by heeding our tips.

Falling asleep at the wheel can result in a tragic end to your holiday travel plans. Last year, more than 1,900 Californians were injured or killed in car accidents because they could not stay awake while driving.

Every year more accidents are attributed to falling asleep behind the wheel. It’s not safe to mix sleeping with driving. Drivers need a full nights rest or at least six hours of sleep before getting behind the wheel. Being even slightly tired may cause you to not react quickly to road danger.

Extra caution needs to be used when driving during the early morning hours because this can be a dangerous time for drowsy drivers.

Danger signs to watch for include:

• Eyes closing by themselves
• Difficulty paying attention to the road
• Frequent yawning
• Swerving in your lane

A study released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows that drowsy driving crashes are strongly related to getting less than six hours per night of sleep, being awake for twenty hours or longer, working more than one job and/or working night shifts and frequent driving between midnight and 6 A.M.

If drivers experience any danger signs, they could fall asleep at any time. Here are some tips that may help to keep you driving safely over the holidays. Sleep, exercise and caffeine are some basic solutions. Take a nap—even twenty minutes will help; exercise after waking up helps increase alertness. Try running or walking while waving your arms; consume caffeine—it can provide an extra boost.

The following tips may help you avoid beginning your trip in a drowsy state:

• Complete your packing early enough to allow for a normal night’s sleep.
• Set a limit of 300-400 miles of driving per day to limit fatigue.
• Avoid drugs that may cause drowsiness
• While driving, keep your eyes moving from the left side of the road to the right. Focus on an object that is near, then on an object that is far away.
• Stay alert. Decide ahead of time how to react to possible dangers or driving situations.
• Stop at regular intervals. Get out of the car every two hours. Run in place, do jumping jacks, and breathe deeply.

Following the above tips can help to insure that you and your family arrive at your holiday destination safely.

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