Lack of Sleep Can Lead To Dangerous Driving

The Dangers of Drowsy Driving

We all know sleep is important for your health and well-being, but did you know it can impact your driving safety as well? Ensuring you get a good night’s sleep on a mattress that suits your needs is a goal of Fred’s Beds, your source for the best mattress deals in Atlanta, GA!

The importance of a good night’s sleep cannot be underestimated. Besides leaving you feeling groggy, lack of sleep can have severe consequences. Driving while drowsy is incredibly dangerous and has serious crash risks involved. Not getting enough, and especially enough good quality, sleep has an effect on your brain throughout the day. People who have not had enough sleep are less attentive, have slower reaction times, and experience decreased decision-making abilities, compromising their ability to drive safely.

Drowsy Driving by the Numbers

At least half of drivers across the United States have admitted to driving while drowsy, and a shocking 20% of people have admitted to falling asleep at the wheel within the past year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, from 2005-2009 drowsy driving was responsible for these annual averages:

• 83,000 crashes
• 37,000 crashes resulting in injury
• 886 crashes with a fatality

These numbers mean that drowsy driving is responsible for 21% of all fatal crashes in the United States. These numbers are comparable to drunk driving statistics, but drowsy driving rarely gets the same attention and prevention awareness. 

Here are some signs that you might be driving while sleep-deprived:

• Increased yawning and/or blinking
• Difficulty remembering the last few miles driven
• Missing turns and exits
• Drifting out of your lane
• Hitting the rumble strip

If you find yourself feeling drowsy while behind the wheel, immediately pull over to a safe space and take a 15-20 nap, and if possible switch out drivers. This will help to keep you and others safe on the road.

How Sleep Plays a Role

A study by the AAA Foundation broke down the numbers on how a lack of sleep contributes to dangerous driving. People who only got 6-7 hours of sleep a night doubled their risk of being involved in a crash. People who got less than 5 hours of sleep doubled their crash risk even further.

In order to keep yourself and others safe on the road, make sure you are getting good quality sleep. Practice good sleep hygiene to boost your sleep quality. A few ways you can improve your sleep are:

• By setting a nightly bedtime routine
• Keep a consistent sleep schedule
• Stay off of screens before bed
• Prioritize sleep so you get at least eight hours a night. 

You can make a few adjustments to your bedroom environment to help you increase the quality and duration of your sleep. Blocking out light with curtains or blinds and drowning out any outside noise with a fan or white noise machine will help you ensure that you can sleep uninterrupted. Lowering your bedroom temperature a few degrees can help you fall asleep faster. Keeping your room clean and calm will help you relax at the end of the day. 

Most importantly, you want to make sure your sleep surface is comfortable. A good quality mattress and pillows can make a world of difference to your sleep quality. Enlisting the help of professionals to help you pick out a suitable mattress and pillows is always a good idea.

A good quality mattress that suits your sleeping style can help you get better and more rest every night. Fred’s Beds offers competitive mattress deals in Atlanta, GA. Let us help get you into a bed that will increase your comfort and rest, all while making our roads safer.

The Best Mattress Deals in Atlanta, GA for a Good Night’s Sleep

A comfortable, high-quality mattress can help you improve the quality and duration of your sleep. At Fred’s Beds, you can find what you need at a price you can afford. Visit our mattress clearance center in Cumming, GA, call us at 770-628-5875, or contact us today and we’ll help you get the best mattress deals in Atlanta, GA.

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