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Iowa DOT Roadside Chat – Tires and tired don’t go together. Drive alert.

News

November 3rd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

11-3 tires and tiredIt’s time to “fall back” this weekend with Daylight Saving Time ending at 2 a.m. on Nov. 5. Even though the fall time change can mean an extra hour of sleep, the change often means interrupted sleep patterns for many, which can equal danger while driving.

Take an honest look at your sleep habits, not just during time changes, but every day. Do you get enough rest to be safe behind the wheel?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, sleepiness can result in crashes any time of the day or night, but three factors are most commonly associated with drowsy-driving crashes.Drowsy-driving crashes:

  1. Occur most frequently between midnight and 6 a.m., or in the late afternoon. At both times of the day, people experience dips in their circadian rhythm—the human body’s internal clock that regulates sleep.
  2. Often involve only a single driver (and no passengers) running off the road at a high rate of speed with no evidence of braking.
  3. Frequently occur on rural roads and highways.

How sleep-deprived are you? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvfMOPTsU_0

So far this year in Iowa, 311 people have been killed in traffic crashes. That’s an increase of seven since last Friday. In Iowa in 2022, there were 338 traffic-related deaths. To see statistics published daily by the Office of Driver Services, go to the daily fatality report at https://www.iowadot.gov/mvd/stats/daily.pdf