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Recently, a study from the National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration stated, “Between the years of 1999 and 2008, drowsy

driving was involved in about one in six, or 16.5 percent of fatal

crashes; and that 13 percent of accidents required hospitalization

whether on the highways or the roads.”  

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The NHTSA 2008 statistics also showed that 2.4 percent of wreck

fatalities involved a somnolent driver.  

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Drowsiness at the wheel is very dangerous and is a serious issue

when on the road.  

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Many commuting college students struggle with staying awake when

they are driving, especially when they have an early class or night

class. 

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UNA student Courtney Childers, a junior from Russellville, commutes

just about every day. 

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“At times I feel myself struggling to stay awake while driving to

school,” she said. “So I usually end up stopping at someone’s house

that morning or either I am blasting the radio to keep from falling

asleep.”  

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Josh Grimsley, a UNA sophomore from Montgomery said, “I literally

have to slap myself from falling asleep at the wheel.  Sometimes I

roll my window down and stick my head out to stay awake.” 

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Several other students suffer from potentially falling asleep at

the wheel too.

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“If I feel myself dozing off I usually find a safe area and pull

over for a minute.  I also roll down my windows, turn up some

music, or even call someone,” said Kayla Odell, a junior from

Tuscumbia.  

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“I have to make sure that I am wide awake and fully alert before I

get in my car and start driving,” said Ashley Holland, a senior

from Decatur.“If I don’t, I may have to pull over to the side or

else find a gas station where I can get something to drink.”  

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Some students are so concerned with finding a parking place on

campus and not being late for class that they do not let the fact

that they are drowsy worry them.

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Evin James, a junior from Iuka, Miss. who commutes every morning

said, “Even when I am tired I have to keep driving, because if I

don’t I will probably be late for class.”

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Lindsay Steien, a junior from Muscle Shoals, said “I usually stop

somewhere and get coffee when I am driving early in the morning

that usually keeps me awake.  I cannot afford to be late for class

and finding a parking place is usually a hassle.”

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  Some students have caught themselves dozing off at the wheel in

which they have swerved a few times or perhaps even closed their

eyes.  

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“There have been times when I have swerved side to side from lane

to lane because I was too tired to drive, but yet I had to hurry up

and get where I needed to be,” said Grimsley. 

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“I can recall a couple times I have closed my eyes for a couple

seconds while driving.  It was on accident, and it scared me enough

to be awake when driving a vehicle,” said Odell.

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Not only has accidentally falling asleep at the wheel caused

students to swerve and potentially close their eyes for a few

moments, but some have even had their own personal experiences as

well.  

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Grimsley recalled, “One time I was driving from Montgomery to

Auburn, which is like a 45-minute drive.  I was driving along the

highway and was really tired.  It was between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m.,

and there was at least a 15-mile stretch of highway in which I

really can’t recall driving.  I just remember getting off on that

Auburn exit and being really tired.  All I know is that I just got

there safely.”  

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It is best for students and everyone else to get a good night’s

rest before driving and make sure that they are fully awake and

alert before they get into their vehicles.