Heavy Eyes Behind The Wheel

[Whitmore]

Let us all learn from someone elses mistake!3 # times yesterday we the volunteer fireman of Shoshoni Wyoming were called out to a 10-50 (vehicle accident) all 3 were single car rollovers and all 3 were from falling asleep at the wheel and coinsidentally all 3 were driver error for #1 falling asleep and #2 overcorrecting which caused the vehicles to roll. All 3 vehicles gradually went to the right as the operator fell asleep and when the operator realized it they pulled the wheel to the left hard which caused the car to start a side spin and come across the highway both lanes and when the car enters the oppisite shoulder sideways and starts into the barditch, the tires start to dig deeper and then the beads on the two outside tires break from the rim and dig into the dirt and there is the beggining of the roll , bad part is that not always do the air bags deploy until the car hits the ground for its final and only impact!!!

Here is the lesson for all of us to learn





#1 Dont fall asleep- easier said than done but a conscienious driver will be cognasent of this and when the least bit of drousiousness is evident they will have respect for themselves and others and pull over , walk around or take a nap, but do not return to the road untill you are 100 % alert!!! we all know what this feals like and if you have never been there than you are prolly lying .



# 2 If by chance you do drop a wheel off to the side do not jerk the wheel or you will end up just like these folks.

The best thing to do is to ride it out, first stabilize the vehicle and then pull back on gradually, remember that most highways have a sharp shoulder or may even be soft pending on time of year, do not worry if you tak a delinator post out but do not swerve for it.

Another thing to do if the terrain permits you is to go ahead and take the vehicle clear off into the ditch and up the embankment a bit and then negociate a safe entry back onto the road or just plain stop .

I have gone out to a county road and practiced this many times and have also made my wife practice it as well, it has given us a understanding of what the implications will be if we do take a wheel off and it will give us knowledge of vehicle reaction as well as operator action that is needed in order to pull out of your mistake.



Be safe my friends and buckle up Kevin

 

[otis]

It's real problem with are Transport trucks here in Canada! They are pushed so hard to make a decent living they are driving( I heard) up to 17 hours a day. Same thing with the chartered buses.

 

[rrausch]

I drive I-40 to I-44 2-3 times a year between Ca. & Mo. , and when I start to feel sleepy I start lifting my legs alternately off the floorboard and setting them down, which stimulates walking. Since (most people) can't walk and sleep at the same time, it sends a message to the brain to WAKE UP!



This is only a temporary fix, most times, but it does work for short periods of time. Then I DO pull over, and catch 20 minutes of shut-eye. Works for me!

 

[TPCDrafting]

Kevin, you know the major problem you face with sleep drivers in your area is that 90 miles of absolutely NOTHING between you and Casper. When I used to work for WYDOT, that stretch was known as the trail of tears. I did see my share of accidents on that road and you're right, it usually was people falling asleep at the wheel. We had to drive that stretch a lot to get to the NW part of the state to inspect your bridges and overhead sign structures. People imagine the most boring stretch of road in your area and 20/26 is 10 fold of that. If you happen to see a cow along the road, it's an exciting event. Everything is brown and flat, even the sage brush has a hard time growing out there. Good thing a guy can stop in Shoshoni for the best milk shake in Wyo. to take a brake.

 

[Rob Thomas]

Another thing to help you not get tired as fast, is dim yer dash panel lights down, just so you can read the #'s, not so you can read a book! i drove a semi fer about 8yrs, and doin' that and keep the window cracked down a little, didn't allow me to get tired as quickly. However, if yer tired, yer tired, pull over and get some sleep. Nothin' is that important the die fer. One trip, I was real tired and kepd driving, at night in the slow lane minding my own, blinked my eyes fer a second(so I thought) then ended up in the hammer lane, which was three lanes over.



After that I pulled right over, and jumped in back, and got some sleep. Since then, if I ever get tired, thats it, I'm done, it's not worth it. I've seen waaaaaaay to many deadly accidents in my days on the road, caused from lack of sleep. Speakin' of which, now I'm gettin' tired just thinkin' 'bout it.



Later, Rob

 

[DHatfield]

I know how real this is as I have been guilty of falling asleep at the wheel, but lucky for me it was 2:00 am and my passager woke me up before we got into an accident after I was already driving down the median with the cruise set at 65 MPH. I have wised up now and stop as soon as I can if I feel sleepy so I do not endanger anyone or my own life. I just usually feel like I have so far to go in such a little peroid of time. I still do drive 14-16 hours and sleep for 4 and continue for another 8 or so hour until I get to my destination, but drink lots of caffine.

 

[DRR-24V]

Sameo-Sameo !!

I will bet you this location is the first curve after a long, straight stretch. We worked so many T/Cs we could have almost Mimeographed the reports except for Driver and Vehicle info. They would drift off the right side of the Roadway, overcorrect and roll, or overcorrect, cross both lanes into the C/D and then overcorrect and roll there. I have never fallen asleep while driving a Patrol Car. We could sleep when we were a passenger. I woke up one night when the whip antenna was banging against tree limbs as my Partner had fallen asleep at about 70 and run off the road. ! Needless to say I drove ALL THE TIME when working with him.

 

[DHatfield]

I always drift to the left when I get sleepy, which I guess is worse since you head into oncoming traffic.

 

[JWhitcomb]

DRR-24V, that must have been before budget cuts, I haven't seen two CHP in one black and white for a long time. In the winter I drive I80 most every weekend and two times I have come upon tour bus accidents. My Red Cross training helped out both times. It always turns out to be driving too fast or falling asleep.

 

[DRR-24V]

JWhitcomb-We Had To Work Doubles

We had so many CHP Officers shot in the 60s we went to 2 Man cars from 10pm till 6am. That policy still is in effect. We have lost 191 Officers since we started. Screw Budget Cuts.

 

[DarrellB]

Thank goodness for Yellow Jackets.



Darrell

 

[Hammer]

Kevin,,There is only one true way to correct the being way to tired to travel and that is SLEEP,,No matter if its in a motel or across the seat not driving fatigued is the ONLY answer,,It seems like whenever it gets time for travel season its amazing to me how many are so inexperienced at long drive and do not take proper rest breaks,,I've seen way to many bad crashes to know how little the average traveler really plans his trip,both the fun stuff and rest to accomadate it,,The worst I encounter during my weekly trips driving out west are the senior citizens that break out the motorhome for its annual trip and either do not check it over for possible problems or just drive way too long for their own good,,Shame of all this is the federal government puts regulations on how much we,as professional drivers,can drive,BUT,the average traveler can drive as long as he/she wants,,Heck of it is how many actually realize they are a problem and will pull over before its way too late... . Andy

 

[JWhitcomb]

DRR-24V, Just goes to show how observant I am, but then again I really can't see that much at night. Even my wife says I drive like an old fart, but in the mountains I keep the truck moving smartly. I have had you guys on I5 pull along side and motion me to speed up while I am going 65. Who would have thunk it!