Lincoln instructor talks dangers of drowsy driving — and how to avoid it

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – After a crash 0n Thursday morning caused by a “tired and fatigued” Lincoln Police officer, a driving examiner shared some tips to avoid drowsy driving.

According to the Nebraska Department of Transportation, 1,577 crashes were caused by fatigued or asleep drivers from 2015 to 2019.

Eleven of those were fatal, and 669 involved injuries.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated that in 2017, over 91,000 police-reported crashes involved drowsy drivers.

Bobby Torres, an administrator and examiner with Midwest Driver Training, said our society struggles with getting enough sleep every night, but it’s the easiest way to prevent drowsy driving and the resulting crashes.

He said that if you are feeling tired while driving, you should pull over right away and rest for a moment, or even take a nap if necessary.

“Don’t take chances; call for a ride,” he said. “There are a number of resources to get home to people who love and want to see you again. If you’re feeling tired, please try to reevaluate your situation and get some rest if necessary.”

Torres says most adults get away with drowsy driving because they drive the same routes between work and home every day, but that doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous.

He said drowsy driving can be just as dangerous as drunken driving.

“You may not see things as well as you would if you were alert,” he said. “You may respond with more latency than you would if you were alert. You can get careless, and kind of get tunnel vision if you will.”

Torres says you may even need to change your lifestyle in order to get more sleep if you find yourself getting tired behind the wheel often.