asleep at school,” says Maria Wojtczak,
co-owner of Driving MBA in Scottsdale,
Arizona. “Parents need to be vigilant and
in-tune with what their kids are doing and
how much sleep they’re getting.”
Losing two to three hours of sleep a
day puts a driver at a four times higher risk
FALL 2017
maskmatters.org
31
CONVO
CAR
Do you know what Frememies are?*
Remind your child to surround
themselves with friends that
add value to their lives.
*Conversation starters to incorporate
during your drive time.
of crashing than drivers who sleep for
seven hours and can be just as impairing
as driving legally drunk, according to the
AAA Foundation’s research.
When you’re sleep-deprived and
you get behind the wheel, it affects your
reaction time, judgment and ability to
drive defensively.
“You need to pay attention to who’s
driving around you. If there are trucks
driving with loads not secured, that’s
a hazard. If I’m drowsy and I don’t see
something quick enough, I’m not going
to be able to react in time,” explains
Wojtczak.
Falling asleep behind the wheel can
happen anytime, but is more likely to
happen in the following situations for
drivers of all ages:
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Driving between midnight and 6
a.m. or in the mid-afternoon.
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Taking long road trips without
stopping for regular breaks.
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Taking sedating medications such
as tricyclic antidepressants and
some antihistamines.
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Drinking alcohol. Even in small
amounts, it can magnify feelings
of fatigue and drowsiness.
“The reality is, there will be times
when your teen is sleep-deprived and
shouldn’t be driving. I tell parents to
be strong enough and aware enough to
know when to take the keys away and
say to your teen, ‘You’re really tired, and
I’m going to drive you where you need
to go today,’” says Wojtczak. “A lot of
parents don’t want their kids to be
mad at them, but I’d rather them be
angry at me than lose them. We’re not
their friends; we’re their parents and it’s
our job to know what’s going on in
their lives before they get behind the
wheel.”
