Crime & Safety
CHP: Drowsy Driving Can Kill You
Roughly 1,500 people die in crashes that involve fatigued vehicle drivers each year, according to traffic records.
—By Bay City News Service
The California Highway Patrol is reminding drivers when behind the wheel of their cars to remain alert in a campaign to help reduce fatigue-related collisions.
CHP, in a joint annual campaign with the State Transportation Agency and Office of Traffic Safety, alerts drivers of the affect drowsiness can have on the road.
The campaign - "Drowsy Driving Prevention Week" - provides public education about the risks of driving while drowsy and ways to improve safety on the road, according to the CHP.
More than 10,000 crashes a year, resulting in roughly 1,500 deaths, are caused by drowsiness, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
Drivers are advised to find a safe place to pull over and rest if drowsiness becomes a factor, the CHP said.
Some warning signs of fatigue include difficulty focusing; lane drifting or swerving; inability to remember the last few miles driven; missing exits; hitting highway rumble strips; and yawning repeatedly.
To reduce the risk of drowsy driving, the CHP advises drivers to plan ahead to have adequate sleep.
The campaign runs through Nov. 10.
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