Sleepiness cause vehicular accidents

Senator TG's son, Peter Norman, figured in an early morning vehicular accident. HIs vehicle rammed the center island unto the Katipunan flyover. He was not drunk. He was just sleepy.


Good thing that Peter Norman is now out of danger and no one was killed. 


I understand what Peter went thru. I, myself, nearly got myself killed in several instances, driving while so sleepy. Sleepiness behind the wheel is a cause of several accidents here in the Philippines and even in the United States. According to a study, its prevalent among college students and one-fifth of all vehicular accidents are caused by sleepiness behind the wheel.


Brake and Direct Line found 74 per cent of British drivers have felt tired while behind the wheel in the past 12 months. While the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) did a study on the effects of sleepiness on drivers. 


Sometime last year, I nearly figured in an accident along South Superhighway. I just came from Laguna and was travelling along the highway when I noticed that I was veering towards the center island. And my SUV is going to the left and to the right. Then I suddenly woke up finding myself still driving. Since I was so sleepy, I decided to go to the nearby gas station and give myself several minutes of rest. 


It also happened to me driving along the NOrth Express way. When I was young, I can drive up to Baguio in 3 or 4 hours flat, without stopping. I also remembered the time when I can just go up to Ilocos and drive straight and just stop in Vigan. Now, I can't do it any longer.


I admit--I suffer from a sleep disorder called sleep apnea. Sleep apnea deprives you of precious oxygen when you sleep. That's why I'm always lacking of sleep. 


Three tips for drivers who feel sleepy when behind the wheel.


1. Don't drive. Stop, and go to a nearby gas station. Sleep. Don't fight it, you'll lose.
2. Drink coffee. It will give you a 15 minute boost. Afterwards, find or look for a nice place to rest.
3. Stretch. The trick is you have to get more oxygen into your system especially your brain. Lack of air or oxygen causes sleepiness. When you suffer from erratic breathing patterns, that's a great sign that you need to consult a sleep therapist.