Truckin Like a Man, Sleepin Like a Baby

Each year, drowsy driving claims over 1,500 lives and cause at least 100,000 crashes in the United States alone.  Sleep disorders can lead to dangerous and even fatal situations. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that vehicle crashes due to driver fatigue cost Americans $12.5 billion each year in fatalities, injuries, reduced productivity, and property loss.

If you are a driver or a fleet manager, you certainly do not want to contribute to these statistics. Drivers not only deserve, but need, a good night’s rest. It is worth the investment to get a semi truck mattress, truck mattress cover and truck sleeper accessories tucked in your semi truck. You never know when you will need to pull out your semi truck bedding when weariness strikes while you are on the road.

The National Sleep Foundation issued the following recommendations to make traveling safer for drivers:

1. For maximum alertness, get enough sleep before your trip. Take a mid-afternoon break, and avoid driving between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.
2. Have a passenger with you in the vehicle to keep you talking, watch for signs of sleepiness, and share the driving.
3. Schedule a break every two hours or 100 miles to take a quick nap or get some stretching and exercise.
4. Consume a caffeinated drink or food to boost your short-term alertness.

Another method of drowsy driving prevention is the use of roadway shoulder “rumble strips.” These rumble strips cause loud vibrations when cars come in contact with them. But this alerting effect tends to be brief. Moreover not all countries have rumble strips built on the road shoulders.

Some automakers have developed high-tech systems to help prevent accidents caused by drowsy driving.  The system focuses on your steering behavior.  It detects minor steering errors that often occur in the early stages of drowsiness. The system then warns you when you are at risk of falling asleep behind the wheel. Again, not every vehicle has this technology built in. This is why the best prevention of dozing off behind the wheel is to pull over your vehicle at a safe site, pull out your semi truck mattress and take a short power nap.

If you’re a semi truck driver or fleet manager, learn more ways to stay safe on the road. Equip your semi truck with a semi truck bedding and bedding accessories from Iowa 80 semi truck accessories. Nothing matters more to you than your safety and your loved ones.