SPANO DECLARES DROWSY DRIVING AWARENESS WEEK FOR MARCH 27 - APRIL 2

County Executive Andy Spano today announced that the week of March 27 - April 2 would be observed as "Drowsy Driving Awareness Week" in Westchester County.

"Drowsiness is a major factor in approximately 4 percent of motor vehicle crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration," Spano noted. "In a recent statewide survey of randomly selected licensed drivers in New York, conducted by the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research, about one-quarter of the drivers reported being drowsy at the wheel during the previous month, with drowsy defined as fighting to keep your eyes open. Drowsy Driving Awareness Week is a good opportunity to increase public awareness of the risks of drowsy driving and emphasize preventative measures," Spano added.

Work and sleep schedules are closely associated with the risk of having a drowsy driving crash. Drivers most at risk include those that work more than one job, work irregular hours (more than 60 hours per week), or work on rotating shifts when sleep is disrupted by night work or long hours. Studies also indicate that young people and truck drivers are also major risk groups. Young people tend to stay up late, sleep too little and are inexperienced with driving at night. Many truckers drive a high number of miles each year and drive too many hours at night when the body requires sleep.

The Traffic Safety Board of the Westchester County Department of Public Works offers the following countermeasures to fight driver fatigue:

• Get a good night's sleep. Avoid staying up late the night before a long drive.
  
  
• Share the driving. Switch drivers every 2 hours if you're traveling with companions.
  
  
• Take regular breaks. Stop every couple of hours to take a break.
  
  
• Avoid alcohol and other drugs, as they will impair driving performance. Always wear your seat belt.
  
  
• Turn down the heater. A cooler temperature in your car or truck will help to keep you refreshed.
  
  
• Tune in to your "body clock." It's time to stop and rest if your body shows signs of fatigue. Watch for danger signs such as, yawning repeatedly, not focusing, difficulty keeping eyes open thoughts becoming disconnected, or driving that becomes sloppy. Sloppy driving is defined as drifting between lanes, tailgating, and mussing traffic signals. Drivers should respond to these symptoms of fatigue by finding a safe place to stop and rest. Try to take a brief nap for 20 to 40 minutes.
  
  
• Drink coffee to promote short-term alertness if needed.
  
  
• Motorists should be warned that if they are awakened by rumble strips - deep grooves placed on the shoulder of roads to alert drivers that they have veered off the road - they are still drowsy. Drivers should pull off the road at a safe place to rest.

The Traffic Safety Board presents programs on drowsy driving awareness to schools, parent groups, corporations, rotaries, and other civic groups at no cost. For further information on drowsy driving programs, call the Traffic Safety Board at (914) 285-2270.