Driving drowsy can be very dangerous

Driving drowsy can be very dangerous, and a lot of people are falling asleep behind the wheel. According to a recent poll, 60% of adults admit to operating a vehicle while feeling drowsy, and have done so in the past year. And The New York Times reports that driver drowsiness is involved in 20 percent of all car accidents. Furthermore, one out of five drivers reports having actually fallen asleep while drivingĶthat’s a staggering 32 million people! University of Iowa researchers recently discovered that certain ingredients commonly found in sedating over-the-counter cold and allergy remedies may cause more driving impairment than being intoxicated. The researchers studied the driving performance of people who had hay fever and were given sedating antihistamines, alcohol and a placebo. The subjects’ performance, tested in the Iowa Driving Simulator, was poorest after taking the sedating antihistamine, even worse than when they were intoxicated. To help raise awareness of the problem and educate drivers that there are allergy medicines that are safe to take when driving, the makers of CLARITIN, a non-drowsy, 24-hour allergy medication, are sponsoring the first-ever Drowsy Driving Prevention Week (November 5-11, 2007), a national campaign dedicated to providing resources and solutions. Many people will spend time behind the wheel as they head out of town for the holidays. For allergy sufferers, pets and unfamiliar environments can trigger allergy symptoms. If they are going to be taking antihistamines and driving, they need to know which medicines are safe. Medical expert Dr. Marjorie Slankard discusses tips for staying alert and focused when traveling this holiday season. ABOUT MAJORIE L. SLANKARD, MD Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York , NY Marjorie L. Slankard, MD, is currently Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at Columbia University and President of the New York Allergy and Asthma Society. Dr. Slankard is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Allergy and Immunology. She is the recipient of numerous awards and honors and has been listed in New York Magazine’s “The Best Doctors in New York ” each of the last eight years. https://videos.whiteblox.com/gnb/secure/player.aspx?sid=35156