By Sgt. Troy Christianson
Minnesota State Patrol
Question: I called in a driving complaint of a possible drunk driver and received a call back and was told the driver was tired. Can the driver be cited for this?
Answer: Yes, the drowsy driver could be cited for inattentive driving and additional serious charges could be incurred if the drowsy driver causes a crash. A Drowsy Driver is an unsafe driver. Lack of sleep negatively impacts performance. It slows reaction time, impairs judgment, situational awareness and increases lapses in attention and risk taking. According to a study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, people who sleep six to seven hours a night are twice as likely to be involved in a crash as those sleeping eight hours or more. People sleeping less than five hours increase their risk four to five times.
Before hitting the road be sure to:
• Get a good night’s sleep. While this varies, the average person requires about eight hours of sleep a night.
• Schedule regular stops.
• Avoid alcohol and medications (over-the-counter and prescribed) that may impair your driving. Alcohol interacts with fatigue increasing its effects – just like drinking on an empty stomach.
While on the road be alert for warning signs of fatigue, for example, drivers who:
• Can’t remember the last few miles driven.
• Drift from their lanes or hit a rumble strip.
• Experience wandering or disconnected thoughts.
• Yawn repeatedly.
• Have difficulty focusing or keeping their eyes open.
• Tailgate or miss traffic signs.
• Have trouble keeping their head up.
If you recognize warning signs:
• Never count on the radio, open windows or use other “tricks” to keep them awake.
• Respond to symptoms of fatigue by finding a safe place to stop for a break.
Surviving the holiday season this year can be as simple as driving smart by staying alert, slowing down, paying attention, planning a sober ride and always buckling up.
If you have any questions concerning traffic related laws or issues in Minnesota send your questions to Sgt. Troy Christianson – Minnesota State Patrol at 2900 48th Street NW, Rochester, Minn. 55901-5848. Or reach him at Troy.Christianson@state.mn.us