Stretching, yawning and blinking frequently.Difficulty remembering the last few miles driven.Finding it difficult to concentrate, missing your exit.Sleep allows both body and brain to recuperate, to be restored and refreshed. Rest can restore energy, but it cannot substitute for sleep, nor can lack of sleep be corrected simply by resting. Rest is a break or even a simple change of activity from a fatiguing task, but you remain awake. What is the difference between rest and sleep? Since we cannot force our bodies to stay awake, this period in which we have no control over intermittent lack of awareness or microsleeps (often only for a few seconds) is characterized as excessive drowsiness, and unlike fatigue cannot be resolved with rest. It is a cognitive impairment that typically refers to the time right before sleep occurs. Sleep may not be needed if adequate sleep has already been taken.ĭrowsiness on the other hand is the likelihood of falling asleep, due to inadequate sleep, prolonged wakefulness, or working through the night. All that may be needed to recover from fatigue is a rest from this work, or a change in activity (a change is as good as a rest). What is the difference between fatigue and drowsiness?įatigue is the deterioration in mental or physical performance due to prolonged physical or mental work - it occurs even in people who have had adequate sleep. These crashes result in 1550 deaths annually (4% of traffic fatalities) and $12.5 billion in monetary losses. ![]() The US Department of Transportation estimates that 100,000 accidents reported are due to drowsiness and/or fatigue. Drowsy driving is a serious problem and causes a threat not only to the driver but to others on the road as well. If you are able, make sure to sleep in a cool, dark room.įor more information about drowsy driving, visit the Drowsy Driving Prevention Week ® section of our website to learn more.Drowsy driving occurs when a person operates a motor vehicle when too fatigued or sleepy to stay alert, making the driver less aware of their surroundings.Avoid caffeine in the late afternoon and evening.Set a relaxing bedtime routine, such as listening to calming music, reading a book or taking a warm bath.Make sure to turn off electronics one hour prior to bed-no texting!.You can also use the following techniques to better help you fall asleep at night. The National Sleep Foundation recommends 7-9 hours a night for adults, more for teenagers. The best way to prevent microsleep is prioritizing sleep and making sure you get the right amount of sleep you need to feel refreshed and alert. ![]() If you find yourself with wandering thoughts, drifting into other lanes, or cannot remember the last few miles you drove, pull over to the side of the road to rest or ask someone else to drive. It is important that you make sure that you are alert before you get behind the wheel. If you are driving at a high speed, the likelihood of a severe crash increases. Microsleep can lead to dangerous crashes, or running your car off of the road. Episodes can happen while you are driving a vehicle or operating other heavy machinery and this is when microsleep becomes precarious. If you are sleep deprived, or if you have a sleep disorder, you are at higher risk for microsleep. During an episode, you may appear to be awake, and even have your eyes open, but your brain does not process information. Microsleep can occur at any time of day, not just at night. As the name implies, microsleep occurs so quickly that people who have an episode might not even realize they have fallen asleep. ![]() Simply put, microsleep is when you fall asleep for a period of several seconds. You may be unfamiliar with the term, but microsleep is quite common and can be dangerous if it occurs while you are driving a vehicle. SleepFirst™: National Sleep Foundation’s Drowsy Driving Safety Campaign
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