MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.– Drowsy driving is one of the leading causes of crashes and fatalities for truckers, according to statistics compiled by Dr. Mark Rosenkind, former director of the Fatigue Countermeasures Program at the NASA Ames Research Centre in Mountainview, Calif.

According to Dr. Rosenkind’s research, 30-40 per cent of all heavy truck crashes are due to drowsy driving.

The stats are behind a new guide and audio CD that explains how to prevent drowsy driving and other sleep-related challenges for workers and travellers alike.
The guide includes pointers such as:

* How to use coffee to create a more stable sleep-wake cycle. While most experts suggest cutting caffeine from your diet to combat sleep problems, Rosenkind says using coffee strategically can help you get a better sleep.
* About 33 million U.S. drivers have reported falling asleep at the wheel within the past year
* Microsleeps, where the body attempts to compensate for lack of sleep by falling asleep for a few seconds, are particularily dangerous for drivers. At 65 miles per hour, a three-second microsleep would cause you to travel the length of a football field while completely asleep. What’s worse is that few people are aware they have had any periods of microsleep.

To purchase a copy of the guide and/or CD call Alertness Solutions at 408-253-1019 or visit www.alertsol.com