SAN ANGELO, Texas — With only a few days left until Christmas, many drivers are about to hit the road. It’s important to plan ahead, be cautious and stay safe while driving.
In the last year, the Texas Department of Transportation reported 3,893 crashes caused by people falling asleep behind the wheel - 112 of those were fatal.
“We expect a lot of people to be traveling this time of year and so when it comes to that preparation whether you're going to make a short trip down the street or a long trip across the country there is a lot you can do to make sure it’s going to be the safest trip possible. We want to look at what we're going through with the body, are we properly rested? Have we consumed anything that’s going to inhibit driving abilities?” Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Justin Baker said.
Baker said driving fatigued is almost the same as driving under the influence.
“If you go 24 hours without sleep and then decide to go out there and drive, it will be comparable to a .01 BAC for alcohol consumption so it’s like driving intoxicated and you're 21 more times likely to be involved in a crash with that fatigue,” Baker said.
He said it's necessary to get proper rest before getting behind the wheel. However, there are some ways to prevent feeling sleepy while driving for long periods of time.
“Rolling down the windows, singing to yourself, chewing some gum, sunflower seeds and things that can keep you awake,” Baker said.
Driving fatigued or sleepy can be dangerous for not only the driver, but also to others on the road.