Name: Jordan Pechous
From: Hartford , South Dakota
Votes: 0
Texting
Isn’t The Only Killer
According
to the National Sleep Foundation, 60% percent of drivers in the US
have admitted to feeling extremely tired while driver, and 37% admit
to falling asleep at the wheel. A First thought usually is, “Thats
not true, it’s impossible for me to get tired at the wheel!” Or
even, “I can push through these last few miles.”
If
you took a driver’s course during high school, then you know how
boring it can be. Talking and talking non stop, and all you can think
is, “I don’t need this! I can drive!” But its not just driving
you’re learning about. You’re also being taught how to be aware.
The littlest things on the road can cause your eyes to drift from the
road. Ranging from a crash, a large and flashing billboard, eating a
snack, drinking an iced coffee, or even falling asleep.
My
father used to be a Livestock Relocator. So a majority of his time,
over the course of 13 years, was spent driving. He would pack up his
semi and drive from state to state, usually in a span of a few days.
I never worried about him in a crash, he knew how to drive. But I
never thought of him falling asleep at the wheel. He never did, but
I’ve heard multiple stories of truck drivers nodding off. A quick
search of, “truck driver falls asleep at wheel”, showcases a
numerous amount of articles written on semi crashes.
Having
a good nights rest of sleep can keep you, and others, safe on the
road. To help avoid falling asleep, especially on long car rides,
take a break every 2 hours, do not try to “tuff it out”. If you
start to notice you’re constantly hitting the rumble strip on the
road, or even if you forget how many miles you’ve gone. Please
consider pulling the car over. You reaching your destination before
curfew is not as important as arriving home safe. Not just yourself,
but the other car on the road.
Texting
isn’t the only killer 1
