EXCLUSIVE: The dangers of falling asleep at the wheel

Work unusual hours of the day? Or perhaps you didn’t get enough sleep the night before? If you’re getting behind the wheel and are feeling tired, it’s probably best you avoid driving.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said falling asleep at the wheel was responsible for over 72,000 crashes in 2013.

Getting behind the wheel after a long day is like driving after a night of drinking.

The National Sleep Foundation said if a person is awake for 24 hours and then attempts to drive, it’s like having a blood-alcohol level of .10 percent.

“Drowsy driving is like driving under the influence,” said Ofc. Hector Garcia, with the Arizona Department of Transportation Enforcement & Compliance Division.

Garcia said he sees many accidents due to drivers being fatigued.

Data backs that up. Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) data shows 1,782 people involved in crashes in 2017 were fatigued. In California, California Highway Patrol data shows 6,930 crashes in 2016 involved sleepy or fatigued drivers.

In December 2017, an 18-year-old man in Yuma was involved in a single-vehicle collision at Avenue B and County 20 1/2 Street. He told police he fell asleep at the wheel.

The problem doesn’t just affect regular drivers. Sleepy driving is typical with commercial truck drivers too.

“A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study shows that the number one cause of accidents and fatal accidents on commercial vehicles is drivers being tired, being fatigued or drowsy,” Ofc. Garcia added.

That’s where ADOT’s Enforcement and Compliance Division comes to make sure truck drivers aren’t overworking themselves.

“Drivers are required to work a certain amount of hours, so we check a logbook. We require them to carry to logbook with them. We see a lot of drivers going over hours,” said Ofc. Garcia.

In February 2015, 57-year-old Jose Alejandro Sanchez Ramirez was driving to Ventura County from Somerton, Ariz., when he made a wrong turn at early hours of the morning onto a railroad track.

Just minutes later, a Metrolink train crashed into his big rig, killing engineer Glenn Steele and injuring a dozen others. According to a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report, Ramirez left the scene.

Below is a timeline of events conducted by NTSB.

A 2016 NTSB report details that Ramirez was acutely fatigued for being awake for more than 24 hours.

The report said he was also unfamiliar with the area.

Just a year later, Ramirez was charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. He pleaded not guilty and attempts to reach him and his attorney, Ron Bamieh, were unsuccessful.

Here at home, the Yuma Truck Driving School‘s curriculum is trying to prevent further accidents from happening. Each year, the school teaches 150 to 200 students.

On-site Director, Chad LaChance, said students can spend anywhere from 80 to 160 hours to be ready for the road.

“The Yuma Truck Driving School’s mission is to provide the skills necessary for new drivers to safely operate commercial vehicles,” LaChance added.

How can you avoid feeling tired at the wheel?

“Make sure that when you’re off getting rest, proper nutrition, exercise if you can get it. Those factors will play into an individual and whether or not they can fight fatigue or not,” LaChance said.

However, standards are a bit higher for commercial drivers. So are the consequences.

“For drivers, for commercial drivers, it is illegal to drive sleepy, if we pull over a driver and see he is fatigued, ADOT puts them out of service,” Ofc. Garcia said.

If you are feeling tired, LaChance recommends finding a safe location to rest before hitting the road again.

“Common sense can apply… if a driver feels fatigued at any time, if you feel unsafe or you’re tired, the driver should pull off the road into a safe location to rest up before they get back on the road again,” LaChance suggested.

The National Conference of State Legislatures said both Arizona and California don’t have any laws against driving tired. Being self-aware can contribute to keeping our roads safe.

ADOT offers suggestions to keep an eye out for a sleepy driver. Common factors include yawning, blinking frequently, missing your exit, and drifting out of your lane.