Teen Health
Prom Time Can Be Dangerous on the Road
By
Jun 1, 2009 - 12:25:40 PM

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - NEW YORK, -- It's an annual rite of spring – prom night. Traffic safety experts warn teens and parents that this time of celebration can quickly turn into tragedy. An estimated 15,000 young people are killed every year in traffic crashes, with a noticeable spike during prom season.

"Prom night is often accompanied by alcohol and late nights, which can be a recipe for disaster," said David Reich of The National Road Safety Foundation, Inc. "With proper knowledge and careful planning, prom night can be a safe and happy time."

Alcohol and cars are a deadly combination. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says alcohol is a factor in more than half of all fatal crashes. Many schools have a strict no-alcohol policy, but alcohol may be present at after-parties despite the fact that the partygoers are not of legal drinking age. Safety experts say it's best to designate a driver or make arrangements for safe transportation.

Since proms and after-parties often run into the morning, sleep deprivation can also be a risk factor. "Drowsy driving is as dangerous as drunk driving and, in fact, is considered impaired driving," said Reich. With lack of proper sleep, the body begins to shut down, causing "micro-sleeps" which cause the eyes to shut for a few seconds or longer. During a three-second micro-sleep, a car at highway speed will have traveled more than half the length of a football field – enough to send it off the road or across the divider into oncoming traffic. Sleep-induced crashes are often very serious, since the driver does not take evasive or corrective action as the car loses control.

Drowsiness is a condition most drivers fail to recognize. "Studies show 60 percent of people have driven while feeling sleepy, and more than a third admit to having fallen asleep at the wheel in the past year," Reich said.

There are several signs that should warn a driver to stop and rest:

Difficulty focusing, with frequent blinking
Daydreaming or not remembering the last few miles driven
Head snaps or nodding
Repeated yawning or rubbing eyes
Drifting out of the lane, tailgating or hitting rumble strips

The National Road Safety Foundation has free films and materials on drinking and driving and drowsy driving. For free downloads of the films "The Aftermath," "Almost Home" and "Recognizing the Drowsy Driver," go to www.nationalroadsafety.org.

For more than 40 years, the National Road Safety Foundation has produced films and teaching materials that have been used by driver ed teachers, police officers, and health and safety officials to teach of young drivers about the dangers of drinking and driving, speeding and aggressive driving.

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