Can We Declare Drowsy Driving "Independence" This 4th of July?

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - Jun 15, 2011) - The 4^th of July weekend is often considered the deadliest time on the road, and drowsy driving is a factor in one in six fatal car accidents. As the holiday weekend approaches, a national survey reveals that over 60 percent of drivers have gotten behind the wheel while drowsy. The survey of 1,000 Americans was sponsored by Sleepy's, the leading mattress retailer.

Over one-half of all survey respondents say they drink caffeine or energy drinks to combat drowsiness behind the wheel, with 48 percent saying they use "loud radio" to stay alert. But according to renowned sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus, there is really only one effective way to revive a drowsy driver, and that is a nap; yet only 27 percent of Americans actually take the time to pull over and sleep.

Recent studies show that 200 milligrams of caffeine combined with a short nap works very well to combat sleepiness. Dr. Breus has a novel way to get more of us to use this tip -- have a "nap-a-latte™."

• Choose a safe, well-lit place for your nap
• Drink a cold 6 oz. cup of drip coffee
• Close your eyes for 25 minutes and nap -- set an alarm on your phone
• When you wake, you will have reduced your sleep drive and the caffeine will kick in
• You will be good for at least two hours

To avoid drowsiness as completely as possible, Dr. Breus recommends incorporating a pre-trip strategy. "Start by getting at least seven hours of sleep for two consecutive nights before a long drive, and once on the road, avoid driving between 1-3pm when the body's temperature is lower and people are naturally drowsy, energy drinks really help as well."

The number one reason people drive drowsy? There's "no one else available to drive," say 62 percent of respondents. When possible, Dr. Breus recommends having a driving partner for long trips to help you stay vigilant.

More than one in three claim they had to drive for work or had "no opportunity to stop" and one-quarter drove drowsy to reach a loved one. Most, however, say they plan to reduce the chances of road fatigue with a healthy 62 percent planning to get between six and eight hours of sleep the night before.

While one-third of Americans reported that they've "never knowingly driven drowsy," evidence in the survey shows otherwise. Nearly three-quarters of those polled have gotten behind the wheel after one or more of the following -- working a night shift, taking medicine with a "may cause drowsiness" label and having less than six hours sleep -- all known to contribute to fatigue and diminished driving proficiency.

The latest sleep research encourages people to get seven to eight hours a night of quality sleep. Chronic sleep deprivation has been linked to health conditions including hypertension, heart disease, obesity and certain cancers. For more information on getting a good night's rest visit www.sleep.com.

*The phone survey, conducted by Toluna PLC, assessed the opinions and attitudes of 1,034 adults over 18.

About Sleepy's
Sleepy's, The Mattress Professionals® is a privately-owned 4 generation company with over 700 retail locations in thirteen states, spanning from Vermont to Virginia and available nationally through www.sleepys.com. Throughout Sleepy's 53-year history, they have supported the idea that one mattress does not fit all, carrying a wide selection of mattresses so their customers are certain to find the one that suits them best. Keeping up-to-date on all the latest innovations in sleep technology, Sleepy's, The Mattress Professionals® carries the latest in Sealy, Serta, Simmons, Beautyrest, Posturepedic, Tempur-Pedic, Sleep To Live mattresses, the Dr. Breus Bed™ and 12 other brands to fit any price range or comfort level. For more information, call 1-800-SLEEPYS (1-800-753-3797), or visit us at www.sleepys.com.

About Dr. Breus
Michael J. Breus, Ph.D., is a Clinical Psychologist and both a Diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine and a Fellow of The American Academy of Sleep Medicine. He was one of the youngest people to have passed the Board at age 31 and, with a specialty in Sleep Disorders, is one of only 163 psychologists in the world with his credentials and distinction. In addition to his private practice where he treats athletes, celebrities and the like, he also trains other sleep doctors and consults with major airlines, hotel chains, mattress manufacturers and retailers to provide the optimum sleep experience for their customers. Dr. Breus is also the author of the new book, The Sleep Doctor's Diet Plan: Lose Weight Through Better Sleep.