Drowsy driving can be defined as when the driver falls asleep while driving the car. The effects of drowsiness make it impossible for the driver to judge things on the road, or what he is doing or what’s in front of him or behind. It slows down the brain activity and as a result it affects the driver’s vision, reaction time and judgment in case of emergencies. Drowsy driving is one of the major causes of car accidents. It is as dangerous as drunken driving. Restlessness, tiredness, sleepiness and even ill health can attribute a lot to the factors of car accidents caused due to drowsy driving.

Whenever you see or get any indication of drowsiness of the driver, it is your responsibility to take proper measures and let some other, who is perfectly alright, to drive the car. It’s better safe than sorry! But, how will you know when the driver is in a state of drowsiness? Let us discuss about a few caution signs of drowsiness:

• Drooping eyes: If you notice any sign of drooping eyelids or repeated yawning or if you see that the driver’s eyes are becoming red, without wasting a minute, allow him to take some rest and ask him to move away from the driver’s seat.
• Missing out traffic signals: Whenever you feel that the driver is not responding to traffic signals or missing out them, you can be sure that he is not in a state to drive. Such a situation can prove dangerous for both driver and the passengers. The best thing you can do is to take the driver’s seat or ask someone else to drive the car.
• Absent-mindedness: Whenever you notice absent mindedness in the driver’s behavior, you can get it right that there is some sort of disturbances doing the round in his mind. This particular state of mind can cause restlessness in him, which ultimately leads to drowsiness. Thus, if you get any such sign, don’t let him drive at all!
• Erratic behavior: It may be a sign of drowsiness, when you find the drive getting himself in any kind of irrelevant discussion or conversation. Even when you find the driver has all of a sudden become very quiet, you should get cautious!

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