Roadwise States West Virginia Driving lessons Drowsy driving West Virginia driving lesson · Alcohol, Drugs, and Fatigue
Drowsy driving A 3-minute lesson from the West Virginia course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 3 minutes
Course unit Alcohol, Drugs, and Fatigue
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 33 Drowsy driving is impaired driving. A tired driver reacts slowly, struggles with complex information, makes careless decisions, and may fall asleep at the wheel. You often can't brake or steer in time to avoid a crash.
18 hours After being awake about this long (time varies), driving skills compare to being under the influence
Handbook p. 33 ↗ Signs that YOU are drowsy: Falling asleep at stop lights Yawning, rubbing eyes, watery eyes, heavy eyelids Difficulty remembering the last few miles driven Missing road signs or exits Unplanned lane changes Head nodding or dropping Driving off the road or hitting the rumble strips Handbook p. 33 ↗ Signs that ANOTHER driver may be drowsy: Head nodding or dropping, if the driver is visible Drifting out of the lane, crossing edge or center lines, hitting rumble strips Near-miss crashes, especially rear end Erratic speed changes, weaving or drifting in the lane Rear-ending another vehicle, hitting one head-on, or hitting a stationary object Handbook p. 33 ↗ Know the rule
The best way to reduce drowsiness is to get more sleep. If you are drowsy, don't drive.
Handbook p. 33 ↗ Know the rule
If you become drowsy, pull over to a safe area as soon as you can and take a short nap.
Handbook p. 33 ↗ Know the rule
Avoid driving when you usually feel sleepy; for many people that's early morning, late afternoon, or night.
Handbook p. 33 ↗ Other ways to prevent drowsy driving: Let a well-rested person drive Carpool or use public transportation Call a taxi or ask a family member or friend to drive you Handbook p. 33 ↗ Put it into practice
Two hours into a night drive home you catch yourself missing your exit and can't remember the last few miles. Those are drowsy-driving signs. Pull into the next safe area and take a 10–20 minute nap, or let a rested passenger drive.
A useful reminder Coffee isn't on the handbook's list. Sleep, a short nap, or a different driver are the answers.
Check your understanding Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
After being awake for about how many hours can driving skills become comparable to driving under the influence? 8 hours 24 hours 18 hours 12 hours Answer: 18 hours
After roughly 18 hours awake, driving skills can be comparable to someone impaired by drugs or alcohol.
Handbook p. 33 ↗ What is the best way to reduce drowsy driving, according to the handbook? Turn up loud music Get more sleep before driving Drink coffee right before driving Roll down all the windows Answer: Get more sleep before driving
The best way to reduce drowsiness is to get adequate sleep; music and coffee are not reliable fixes.
Handbook p. 33 ↗ If you feel drowsy while driving, what should you do? Open a window and keep driving at the same speed Pull over to a safe area and take a short nap Speed up to reach your destination sooner Call someone to talk to you on speakerphone Answer: Pull over to a safe area and take a short nap
Pulling over for even 10-20 minutes of sleep can make a big difference when you're drowsy.
Handbook p. 33 ↗ Which of these is listed as a sign that you yourself are becoming drowsy while driving? Feeling slightly hungry Checking your mirrors more often Difficulty remembering the last few miles driven Driving a little below the speed limit Answer: Difficulty remembering the last few miles driven
Trouble remembering recent miles driven is a listed sign that you are becoming drowsy.
Handbook p. 33 ↗ Drowsy driving is considered a form of impaired driving. True False Answer: True
The handbook explicitly states drowsy driving is impaired driving.
Handbook p. 33 ↗ Which of these is listed as a sign that another driver may be drowsy? Drifting out of the travel lane or hitting rumble strips Driving exactly at the speed limit Using a turn signal well before a turn Braking smoothly at a stop sign Answer: Drifting out of the travel lane or hitting rumble strips
Drifting out of the lane or hitting rumble strips is listed as a sign another driver may be drowsy.
Handbook p. 33 ↗ Previous lesson DUI penalties and the Interlock Program Next lesson The knowledge exam and vision screening More in Alcohol, Drugs, and Fatigue About the source Roadwise’s West Virginia course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 33. The linked PDF is a third-party mirror of the handbook, rather than a government-hosted page.
Open the handbook source PDF · View the source edition
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