Driving Drowsy, near disaster.

[camperforlife]

Well folks I had an experience last weekend that I hope no one else ever repeats. I fell asleep behind the wheel while towing my TT. It is one of the stupidest things I’ve ever done in my 58 years on this earth.

I went camping with my brother and his wife. It was probably the only chance we would have to camp together this summer and since my wife had to work, I took the dog and went alone. I didn’t sleep well either night but didn’t feel overly tired. I was about 20 minutes from returning home and became very drowsy. Normally I would stop, walk around and get a cold bottle of water or soda from the fridge, do something to refresh myself. Well I didn’t. I was after all just minutes from home and surely I could stay awake. I didn’t.

I woke up to over 50 feet of truck and trailer barreling 50+? mph through the side ditch with grass as tall as the hood of the truck slapping on all four sides of me. I could feel the trailer start to come around me. All I could think was I’m going to roll this thing and kill myself and my pup.

Only through the Grace of God I was able to get the trailer in line and return to the highway. Nothing hit, no damage, just tall grass hanging from many points on the truck and trailer where it snagged. The dog never even woke up. This happened on probably the only half mile stretch of the entire trip that would not have ended much differently.

I find this very difficult to write, I am still shaken to the core 2 days later. I could have crossed the centerline into oncoming traffic and killed someone. There are many scenarios that could have ended tragically.

Most of us would never, never consider driving while intoxicated yet we probably all have driven drowsy. Please DON’T DO IT! It is just not worth it.

[Ski_Pro_3]

My new Subaru Forester has a stereo camera system that will set off an alarm if I drift out of my lane. Works great!! I've tested that several times. It sets off an audio alarm as well as a visual alarm on the dash.

It also will auto brake if you are approaching an object too quickly and are at risk of a rear ender.

While one should not count on this stuff, it's nice to know that it is there.

Subaru models with EyeSight® get the highest possible score in IIHS front crash prevention tests.

http://www.subaru.com/engineering/eyesight.html?GOOGLE700000001067987Subaru+Eyesight7170000001040271...

[Ski_Pro_3]

Maybe try a Nap Zapper.
It's a little hearing-aide sized alarm that hangs on your ear. When you bob your head, it emits an alarm to wake you up.

I've got one and it beeps at me when I test it as a passenger, wife driving and I am dozing off in the passenger seat. I'm pretty sure it'll work when I'm behind the wheel just as well, but so far, I've been lucky to not test that yet.

Amazon has 'em for under $5 shipped. For that price, how can it hurt??

[Mr_Mark1]

I'll chime in with my experience. It was 1986 (age 28) a friend and I drove up to to Chicago from TN to visit a mutual friend. On the drive back home, it was mid-day and sunny and as a car nut, I remember that I was driving my '84 Peugeot 505 STI..... driving right along on the interstate, not much traffic.

I felt a little sleepy but it was mid-day and sunny. Well, before I knew it, I was veering off to the left on the interstate. The difference in pavement surface (left emergency lane) made me snap back to life. I can't remember if they had rumble strips back then or not. Anyway, I woke up as it scared me to death. My heart was pumping after that! This all happened so fast I don't think my passenger even noticed.

Ever since that experience, I've been very conscience of my alertness. At 57 yrs. old, I will stop at a rest stop for a 'walk-around'. It makes such a difference. I'm not the type to nap during the day. Those few times that I have napped during the year, I always want to sleep too long. Some people can nap for 10-20 minutes and are good as new, I've never been able to do that. So, a walk-around works for me to get refreshed and re-awakened.

Safe travels,
MM.

PS. Thanks to the OP for sharing his story.

[rjsurfer]

I ALWAYS carry an energy drink in the driver side pocket of all our cars.

You never know when you will need it. Sure they taste like******and aren't the healthiest thing to ingest but it sure beats banging off a guard rail:-\

As others have said if you do experience falling asleep at the wheel event you should be checked out by a doctor.

Ron W.

[Playtime_II]

Falling asleep is not the only threat. Early in my military career (1987) I had a short time off to get from MI to OK and spend a couple of days with my parents and get back. On the way back, I pushed it. It was around 10PM and we were on the back highways of the Upper Peninsula of MI (about 2hrs from base). I wasn't sleepy but I keep seeing this light out my left window. I could not figure it out. It was too bright to be in the distance but it appeared to be keeping pace (55-60mph) with me. A little while later, I saw two red lights ahead but they were alternating. My wife, asked if I was going to stop for the train crossing. I had to brake hard. Yes, the light was a train's locomotive paralleling me and about to cross infront of me at the rural grade crossing (no stop arms).

[LarryJM]

camperforlife wrote:
Well folks I had an experience last weekend that I hope no one else ever repeats. I fell asleep behind the wheel while towing my TT. It is one of the stupidest things I’ve ever done in my 58 years on this earth.

I went camping with my brother and his wife. It was probably the only chance we would have to camp together this summer and since my wife had to work, I took the dog and went alone. I didn’t sleep well either night but didn’t feel overly tired. I was about 20 minutes from returning home and became very drowsy. Normally I would stop, walk around and get a cold bottle of water or soda from the fridge, do something to refresh myself. Well I didn’t. I was after all just minutes from home and surely I could stay awake. I didn’t.

I woke up to over 50 feet of truck and trailer barreling 50+? mph through the side ditch with grass as tall as the hood of the truck slapping on all four sides of me. I could feel the trailer start to come around me. All I could think was I’m going to roll this thing and kill myself and my pup.

Only through the Grace of God I was able to get the trailer in line and return to the highway. Nothing hit, no damage, just tall grass hanging from many points on the truck and trailer where it snagged. The dog never even woke up. This happened on probably the only half mile stretch of the entire trip that would not have ended much differently.

I find this very difficult to write, I am still shaken to the core 2 days later. I could have crossed the centerline into oncoming traffic and killed someone. There are many scenarios that could have ended tragically.

Most of us would never, never consider driving while intoxicated yet we probably all have driven drowsy. Please DON’T DO IT! It is just not worth it.

Glad no body was hurt and when I read something like this it just makes me shake my head more when I reflect back on the number of folks who only want a "place" to get a "couple hours of sleep", etc. I learned a long time ago "proper rest" when towing with loved ones aboard needs to be priority one over saving $$$ or going that extra mile to keep a schedule. Having a sufficient "break" when traveling very long distances is something recognized in the commercial world and hence the "mandatory" rest periods which is something a lot here in my understanding of a lot of threads don't think applies to them. Many times driving on the interstates especially can be a very boring and repetitive chore and on top of that one needs to be at there maximum alterest since when the "stuff" hits the fan it does so VERY QUICKLY.

Larry

[2012Coleman]

With the wolf pack that hangs out on here, it took guts to post this. Lesson learned, now get back to camping!

Glad your OK.

[Cloud_Dancer]

It's a vicious cycle. I certainly can see good enough to drive at night. But, I have to use the night for sleeping,.....so that I can be in good shape to drive the next day. Whereas some people prefer to drive at night. Does this mean they sleep during the day?
There's an explanation for every accident that happens out there. In flying, it's almost always pilot error. In driving, same thing.

[summerhouse]

Very courageous post, and judging by the many, many responses, we have nearly all been guilty of similar behavior. We realize we are getting tired, and boy, can't wait til I get there, and......just like that the potential for a horrible mishap is a mere few seconds away. Astonishing isn't it? In just a few seconds, lives can be changed forever.
I always try to stay awake when DH is driving, keeping him engaged in conversation, etc.
on those occasions that we are finishing up a long leg of a trip though, I will often take over for his shift, most often after dark. He is beat, so he usually dozes off quickly. I find myself tired also, nothing to look at since it's dark, radio is playing quietly.... After about an hour--"Hey Pops....let's pull off for the night. I'm done." " Already?", he asks. "Yep, better safe the sorry".
--Thank you for sharing your experience. Thank you for this timely reminder. ---
I am confident this post will do someone some good this camping season.
Glad the ' Hand of God' as Old-Biscuit mentioned, was there when you needed it.

[echo4sierra]

In my travels, I've had the bobbing head. I try to remind myself not to get a false sense of 'an easy drive' because anything can happen.

I've seen way too many people towing and TEXTING! Whenever I'm near a drifting driver, I use the horn without apology.

Glad you're safe and reminded us about how easily this can happen. You'll be on my shoulder while I'm hauling.

[Houston_Remodel]

A little about micro sleeping

About 30 years ago I was driving my PU cross country. Didn't think I was that tired until I woke up in the next lane. Nearly had to change my undies.

[Dennis_M_M]

Thanks for sharing a good lesson, I'm sure it was hard.

A good friend is a retired commercial pilot and a private pilot. He often says that "get-home-itis" kills more pilots than anything else.

[camperforlife]

lizzie wrote:
Please run don't walk to see your physician and tell him/her this story. Perhaps you were just overtired but you may have a medical condition that cuts off oxygen to your brain. A co-worker of mine had an accident when she fell asleep on the way to work one morning. She had a blockage in an artery in her neck. Thank you for sharing. That took guts. lizzie

Thanks for caring Lizzie. My insurance requires a very complete wellness check every year and includes a complete heart and vascular screening. My last stress test they told me I had to complain about something so they could stop since I maxed out their speed and incline. I grinned and said I thought I was getting shin splints.

[camperforlife]

OP here, Folks I could have made this story more about faith but I did not and would appreciate it if you did not either. This thread is worth preserving in my opinion and it won't last long going in the direction it is headed.

I have traveled for work all my adult life and have never so much as slid off the road during our nasty Indiana winters. My point in posting this is that we all feel like we know what we are doing, we all feel like we are smart enough to never put ourselves or our families in jeopardy yet if we are honest most of us have driven very drowsy and never given it a second thought.

I didn't give it a second thought, I didn't think I was that tired, I didn't think it could happen to me. I was wrong. It was stupid. I hope I have learned something about myself.

For all those with words of support and encouragement, thank you. For those with other agendas, please not here.