Choose Sleep First. Drive Alert. Drowsy Driving Prevention Week® 2020
For Immediate Release
Contact: NSF Communications
703-243-1753
scorkett@thensf.org
Choose Sleep First. Drive Alert. Drowsy Driving Prevention Week® 2020
WASHINGTON, DC, November 1, 2020 — The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) announces November 1-8 as Drowsy Driving Prevention Week® for 2020.
Drowsy driving is responsible for more than 6,400 U.S. deaths annually and is a public health concern. NSF’s annual campaign goal is to reduce the number of drivers who drive while sleep deprived.
“Fall-asleep crashes are often caused by choosing to drive without getting enough sleep. NSF encourages everyone to prioritize sleep and drive when alert and refreshed,” said NSF Chair, Dr. Richard Bogan.
Three key steps before driving can help prevent falling asleep behind the wheel:
- getting the recommended amount of sleep the night before your trip (7-9 hours on average),
- planning long trips with a companion, and
- scheduling regular stops every 100 miles or 2 hours.
The NSF Drowsy Driving Consensus Working Group’s 2016 report published in Sleep Health Journal concluded that sleep deprivation renders motorists unfit to drive a motor vehicle. Specifically, healthy drivers who have slept for two hours or less in the preceding 24 hours are not fit to operate a motor vehicle. NSF experts further agreed that most healthy drivers would likely be impaired with only 3 to 5 hours of sleep during the prior 24 hours.
Join NSF to help prevent drowsy driving. Access educational resources today on www.thensf.org and share the campaign’s message on social media using the hashtag #Sleepfirst.
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About the National Sleep Foundation
The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation dedicated to improving health and well-being through sleep education and advocacy. Founded in 1990, the NSF is committed to advancing excellence in sleep health theory, research and practice.
thensf.org │SleepHealthJournal.org