7 Signs You’re Too Tired to Drive

By Kelsie Blue | December 26, 2017

Preparing for the big road trip to see relatives this holiday season? Whether you’re driving five minutes or five hours, you should always be alert when behind the wheel to make sure you are protecting not only yourself but everyone on the road with you. Falling asleep behind the wheel is just as dangerous as driving drunk and rolling your windows down won’t combat the tug of sleepiness. It’s important to know the signs of a drowsy driver so you can protect the safety of everyone on the road. While it may not be easy to tell when you’re too tired, here are some signs that it’s time to pull over and take a break.
 

1. Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, or heavy eyelids.

2. Daydreaming, wandering or disconnected thoughts.

3. Trouble remembering the last few miles driven, missing exits/traffic signs.

4. Yawning/rubbing your eyes.

5. Nodding head.

6. Drifting from your lane, tailgating, or hitting shoulder strip.

7. Feeling restless/irritable.

Operating a vehicle involves making a bunch of small but important decisions and when you’re tired, your reaction times are slowed. While it may seem relatively harmless, drowsy driving was responsible for 72,000 crashes, 44,000 injuries and 800 deaths in 2013. So make sure you get plenty of sleep before journeying out on the road!