Drowsy Driving vs. Drunk Driving: How Similar Are They? If you’ve ever gotten behind the wheel while feeling drowsy, you’re not alone. Sixty percent of adults in the U.S. have done it and around one-third of people have actually fallen asleep at the wheel. Though driving while exhausted may seem relatively harmless, it has serious consequences. You could get into a car accident and possibly harm yourself or someone else. Drowsy driving is dangerous because sleep deprivation can have similar effects on your body as drinking alcohol. Being awake for 18 hours straight makes you drive like you have a blood alcohol level of .05 (for reference, .08 is considered drunk). If you’ve been awake for a full 24 hours and drive—say, after a night where you just couldn’t fall asleep—it’s like you have a blood alcohol level of .10. Suicide Prevention More than 1,000 Washington residents commit suicide every year. 20% of tenth grade students in Washington have seriously considered suicide. For every person who dies by suicide in the U.S., 60 will survive a suicide attempt. Suicide can be prevented. #EndSuicideWA |