I Fell Asleep at The Wheel :(

juicy j on 22/12/2017 - 10:39
Last edited 22/12/2017 - 15:10 by 1 other user

Just came back from a holiday in Vietnam. Pople over there wake up so early and I was awake at 5.30am VN time. Caught a flight at 8pm VN time on the same day, couldn't sleep at all on the 9 hour flight over here.

Left the airport around 10am Syd time, and picked up my car and drove home with my four kids. Unbelievably exhausted at that point. Awake for more than 24 hours.

Never have I ever fell asleep on the wheel before so I thought I'd be fine.

Just a km from home, I stop at the traffic lights, waiting for the green light. And bam, unknowingly I closed my eyes. My body completely shut down while my foot was stuck on the brake pedal.

I hear a faint beeping of a car horn behind me and I try to wake up but its taking so long. I'm struggling to open my eyes, I'm fighting it and by the second sound of a horn, I open my eyes. :(

It felt like ages OMG. So scary! And to think i had my 4 kids with me ;(

What do u call it, micro sleep? Never again!! :(

Just want to say sorry, I can never forgive myself. Sorry to the people behind me on the Horsley Drive, Fairfield traffic lights. Sorry to my kids (they didnt know btw) sorry to people who are reading this and think im a bad mother.

Lastly, wishing everyone a safe Xmas.. Please rest and drive if your going on a long drive. Scariest moment of my life, never experienced this micro sleep thing, never knew ur body can just shut down like that :(

Automotive

Comments

  • smuggler on 22/12/2017 - 15:32
    +2

    Just chill at a service station next time.

  • [Deactivated] on 22/12/2017 - 15:35
    +2

    You've justified every BMW driver's incessant honking as soon as the lights turn green. You will receive no penance for that.

  • Prickles on 22/12/2017 - 15:41

    I find eating the most effective way to stay awake if tired

    • AdosHouse on 22/12/2017 - 17:50

      Eating or drinking. If I am very tired when going home from work after a close shift at 4:30am I will go to the 7-11 across the road from work and grab a large frozen fanta, and just sip it all the way home, quite effective.

      And not trying to be disgusting, but I find that really really needing to take a piss is also very effective at staying awake. But its a bit hard to rely on that, unless I got to pee before driving, so I just won't go before driving if I'm very tired.

  • subywagon on 22/12/2017 - 15:57
    -1

    Nothing wrong with a bit of a nap behind the wheel. That's what cruise control is for.

  • jubified on 22/12/2017 - 16:08

    I'm glad you are okay. Fatigue is one of the biggest killers on the road. Rather fork out 50 for a taxi than your life.

  • pokipop on 22/12/2017 - 16:20

    Glad you are ok OP!

    This is definitely a reminder for everyone during the Christmas and New Year holidays; after all the drinks, fun times and staying up to party - to get a cab, Uber or Taxify to get home. Even if it's $50, $100, whatever, do it. Carpool, catch it with mates to split the cost if you have to. No matter the price of the ride, it'll definitely be cheaper than the price of a life.

    Merry Christmas everyone!

  • TheBilly on 22/12/2017 - 16:43
    +1

    On a side note those on the side of the motorway, air conditioning on low, window slightly open, seat put all the way back NAPS are the absolute best. The sound of the cars whirring passed is like counting sheep. Always pull over, even a 10 minute nap on a timer completely reinvigorates you.

  • DiscoJango on 22/12/2017 - 17:09

    when i do travel for work, especially involving a car, as many have said, a 10-15 min nap does wonders. i always did them if i had a day where i spent a majority of it driving. i do understand however how it may be difficult for a someone to pull over randomly at nighttime somewhere and have a nap for safety reasons.

  • murkywater on 22/12/2017 - 21:11

    Next time get some coffee

  • GourmetFoodie on 22/12/2017 - 22:27
    +2

    Timely reminder. A group of us were actually discussing this risk at dinner tonight - how so much focus is on not to drink and drive that people sometimess forget about what exhaustion can do to driving capabilities.

    Thanks for being brave enough to share your mistake. It's a worthwhile conversation to have with everyone you know to keep us all safer on the roads.

  • belongsinforums on 23/12/2017 - 01:14

    A mate rolled his brand new Subaru after falling asleep at the wheel…on the highway. Damn lucky he didn't hit anyone and didn't injure himself.

  • Kremleen on 23/12/2017 - 02:24

    Imagine the same situation but in a different environment, say, CBD. You could have been the next thing after the recent Melbourne incident.

    Your lucky star is still shining bright.

  • AlanHB on 23/12/2017 - 09:37

    Yeah very lucky and very silly.

    There is no need to repeat the mistakes of others and place your kids at risk. Next time catch an uber to/from the airport.

  • StingyBritches on 23/12/2017 - 10:37
    +2

    I had a micro sleep on…
    a motorcycle!

    Didn't believe it was possible until it happened. Problem was that I was doing 100kph at the time. What 'woke' me was the rough terrain as I left the bitumen and started riding on the dirt verge. My mates behind me wondered why I suddenly swerved off the road and nearly took out some guideposts!

    This was 30+ years ago and the result of being young, fearless, and not requiring any sleep on a long ride. Yeah. Right. I learnt a very valuable lesson that day!

    So, OP, you've got a second chance as well. Best wishes to all on OZB for Xmas.

    • juicy j on 25/12/2017 - 00:00

      Glad you were ok :). Merry Xmas to u too
      Time to open xmas prezzies ;)

  • Euphemistic on 23/12/2017 - 11:10
    +1

    I did a bunch of night work ears ago. Many of the jobs were 1hr drive away up the F3 to get home. I became very familiar with where all the emergency phones were so I could have a quick nap when necessary. Used most of them many times, but there were occasions where I should have stopped but didn’t. Worst was when I was ‘almost there’ and pushing on too much including nearly dropping off in morning peak traffic at a red light

    Tried everything to keep awake, but the only way to do it was to stop and nap.

  • Deuce on 23/12/2017 - 12:35
    +2

    I would probably get ridiculed for this.

    I made the same mistake as you. I was still an apprentice when this happened. I would travel from Cabramatta to Mascot 5 days a week. During quiet periods at work I would be fine. But during the busy periods mainly during the Xmas break I would work and do about 7 days a week working close to 12 hours a day. Add 1.5 hours each way. 15 hours of travel a day and I would be tired.

    On Xmas eve I was travelling to work and fell asleep at the wheel. I was travelling 70 in a 70 zone, woke up in time to reduce my speed by braking but sill caused a minor accident. I’m thankful that it was minor and nothing else.

    Being an apprentice for a small company I feared the owners and being young and dumb I made the mistake of valuing my job over my life and others. After that accident I finished my apprenticeship and found a new job.

    I learnt my lesson and I won’t be doing long distance driving while fatigued. I’m glad you learnt the same lesson.

    • juicy j on 23/12/2017 - 22:18
      +1

      Dw, I'm the one getting ridiculed and rightfully so. Thanks for sharing your experience with me. Merry Xmas and be safe

  • sleet on 23/12/2017 - 13:32

    My ex travels 1.5 hour to work each way for his business. His sister usually chats to him to keep him awake.

    Then when I helped out, I would just nag him constantly during the drive to keep him awake. I'd say are you listening? what did I say? what did I say then?? And make him repeat it.

    Definitely made sure he stayed awake especially leaving so early and after a long day at work.

  • CheapCoffee on 23/12/2017 - 14:05
    +1

    Hey, just wanted to say take care and hope you have a wonderful holiday season :)

    • juicy j on 23/12/2017 - 21:53

      Thank you! Wishing u a merry and safe xmas too :)

  • THICKnSLOW on 23/12/2017 - 14:57
    +2

    Ain't no shame taking a powernap in the car with 4 children. Pick somewhere safe to park, like at a rest-stop or MickeyD's carpark and take a nap if you can.

  • KLoNe on 23/12/2017 - 17:07
    +2

    I've done it before and there's literally NOTHING you can do to stop yourself from nodding off.

    • Cold A/C doesn't work
    • Hot A/C doesn't work
    • A redbull doesn't work
    • Nodoze doesn't work
    • Loud music doesn't work
    • Repeadedly slapping yourself doesn't work
    • All of the above at the same time doesn't work

    Your body is telling your it HAS to sleep and you're putting it a 'relaxed' state (sitting in a cushioned seat) and it takes the first opportunity to recover fror exhaustion.

    It's petrifying how you can't stop it.

    ALWAYS pull over.

  • HeWhoKnows on 23/12/2017 - 17:22
    +1

    Thank God you are still alive. Nothing else matters

    • juicy j on 23/12/2017 - 22:19

      Thanks so much! Have a safe and wonderful Xmas

  • Finde on 23/12/2017 - 18:10

    Remember, falling asleep behind the wheel and killing someone else is culpable driving which is minimum 3-5 years in prison.
    Is it worth the risk?

  • GregMonarch on 23/12/2017 - 19:38

    Don't be hard on yourself… After all, you were only following the example of Australian politicians who are asleep at the wheel.

  • cashie on 23/12/2017 - 19:58
    +3

    Wow, I love your attitude OP. Taking responsibility and you got on here and shared the valuable lesson you learnt, well done, a nice change.
    Thanks for sharing this, be thankful it all worked out ok in the end and move on with your life, don't be too hard on yourself, you're not the first this has happened to.

    • juicy j on 23/12/2017 - 22:16
      +2

      Thank you so much for ur comment, it made my night.. :)

      Wishing you and ur family a wonderful safe Xmas, not just for the holiday season but for every day after that.

    • Eggsperential on 23/12/2017 - 22:59

      Have to agree. The OP should be commended for getting her story out there as a timely reminder for others, despite knowing that she'd cop some negativity.

      Sounds like you've learnt your lesson OP. Put it down to a close call and give your kids something a little special this christmas in return.

  • rave75 on 23/12/2017 - 22:03
    +1

    Well I was like you, less than a km from home, fell asleep. The difference was I hit a parked car.

    • juicy j on 23/12/2017 - 22:20

      Glad you were ok!! Be safe and have a merry Xmas

      • rave75 on 23/12/2017 - 22:25

        You too! and a happy new year

  • CalmLemons on 23/12/2017 - 22:11
    +3

    It's called a microsleep. That shit kills.

    Was driving company ute one day along busy stretch of road, start, stop, bright sun, late afternoon, very warm. Rear ended the front car at 10km/h, lucky. Guy got out said all good he did the same thing 2 weeks ago.
    1 week later same road, start stop, another tradie in a ute rear ends me. Microsleep at the wheel. I'm thinking miller st epping is the worst between 3-5PM when all the trades go home?

    This is getting worse though. We're all way too stimulated and often exhausted.

    • juicy j on 23/12/2017 - 22:26

      Glad to hear you were unharmed. Have a safe and merry Xmas

  • myfuturej on 23/12/2017 - 22:55
    +1

    Thanks for sharing your story. If this could discourage one person from driving without sleep, I think it’s awesome. With at least a thousand views, hopefully a few people might actually think twice before going behind the wheel lacking sleep. Of course there are heaps of billboards on the roads, but no harm in using a different method or media to raise awareness.

    • PJC on 23/12/2017 - 23:09

      Absolutely right.

  • fozzie on 23/12/2017 - 23:07

    Thanks God you are all ok! Merry Xmas

  • SlickMick on 24/12/2017 - 01:57

    You haven't experienced a micro-sleep, that was a total shutdown.
    I had that on a bus after pulling an all-nighter. I felt it coming on so I set an alarm for about when I should be at my stop. It worked :)

    I read that others had same experience as you. It seems that we're designed to keep foot on brake so what's the problem!!?? Lots of people snooze at lights and need a wake up toot, just not literally.
    (I'm not serious.)

  • redslert on 24/12/2017 - 02:10

    First 15 minutes and last 15 minutes of every journey is the more dangerous.

  • db87 on 24/12/2017 - 08:16

    Fun fact I've come to remember from the "Safe/Pre -Starts" at my work.

    17 to 19 hours without sleep is equivalent or worse than that of a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of 0.05. After longer periods without sleep, performance reached levels equivalent to a BAC of 0.1 percent.

    Technically, you wee under the influence! Stay safe OP, and make sure you drum it into others that not thinking it will happen to them is NOT OK. I'm in the camp that says 0.00 BAC should be the limit, no excuses!

    Merry Christmas.

    • Scab on 24/12/2017 - 08:57
      +1

      Technically, you wee under the influence!

      RUT, Roadside Urine Test?

      • juicy j on 24/12/2017 - 10:00

        haha

      • db87 on 25/12/2017 - 01:31

        Lol…. Not even intentional. thumbs up

  • spiderdash on 24/12/2017 - 09:50

    Time to get this

    http://www.optalert.com/drowsiness-detection-glasses

  • staccato on 24/12/2017 - 11:34
    +1

    You were very lucky! Thank God nothing bad happened, and by making this post you may have encouraged others to get some rest before driving, so that should alleviate your guilt a little bit.

  • grababargain on 24/12/2017 - 13:58

    Lesson learned for me too. Arrived home early morning on an 8hr overnight flight from overseas holiday. Thought it was a good idea to save one annual leave day by going to work. So showered and drove an hour to the work place. Left work just after 6pm and fell asleep at the wheel about 15min from home. Woke up when the tire hit the lane dividing deflectors. Luckily there was no car on the other lane.

    • Scab on 24/12/2017 - 15:07

      Were the deflectors OK?

  • Cleremy on 24/12/2017 - 22:00

    Wow well at least it happened while you were stopped. I've had a microsleep while I was driving on an empty highway. It's a risk you take if you're knowingly driving while tired, just as long as you know what you're getting yourself into up-front and are prepared to pull over if you have to.

    Best to not be in that position in the first place but yes, when it's past your bed time the convenience factor is very high of getting yourself home rather than being stuck somewhere you don't want to be. Ideally you'd be willing to sacrifice at least 10 minutes to have a nap in the car before you set off.

  • Franky23 on 24/12/2017 - 22:27

    Cool story and all man, but could you tell me the must see places in Vietnam? I'm heading there in a few days. Cheers and drive safe.

    • juicy j on 25/12/2017 - 00:06

      omg where do I begin? ;)

      Please go to Nha Trang, Da Nang, Ha Long Bay, if you are keen just travel all the way up north.. like Sapa, Hoi An

      Lucky you! Hope you have a wonderful time!
      Be safe and merry Xmas

  • luffyex2010 on 24/12/2017 - 22:31

    Julie ….you may forgive yourself, everybody makes mistakes just that this one wasnt foreseeable.

    Most importantly you have learned the lesson and never to repeat it.

    Its ok, your consciousness was sort of still there when your leg is on the brake. Just over exhaustion when the brain shutdown for a few second.

    My method….always have an energy drink stash somewhere in your car, I only use it for long distance driving for emergencies.

    Always plan your driving/travelling short or long distance (with partner)

    Have a Merry christmas!

    • juicy j on 25/12/2017 - 07:54

      Thank you! Wishing you a merry xmas!

  • yyhazy on 25/12/2017 - 05:47

    Glad that you are okay and thanks for sharing this with us. It would certainly serve as a reminder to all of us here.

  • frewer on 25/12/2017 - 11:54

    Next time take extra Vitamin C while travel long distant, but as others already point out. Nothing beat a sleep or even a 15-20mins power nap. You already done the beat-your-self-up, let's other do it more ( in other word forgive your self and move on )

    Merry Christmas and count your blessing indeed. :)

  • anastasiastarz on 25/12/2017 - 15:09

    Mother sleep drives all the time. She'd rather die than let us take uber/taxi/spend money. XD
    She also covers up the thing that tells you what speed you're going at with post it notes, and talks on the phone while driving.

    You're fine. You know that it was a mistake and won't do it again. ;)

  • ranap on 25/12/2017 - 16:41

    Yes, OP. This is often reckless behaviour on our part. We underestimate the power of sleep and overestimate our capability as adults to stay awake. You have to experience it once to understand the helplessness and realise that even as adults you are not in full control of your body.

    I had a road accident around 10 years ago due to micro sleep and learnt my lesson. I still feel thankful to have escaped alive from this accident. I was in India when this happened, having returned from a US trip of 30 days. Jet lag and time zone difference meant every day around 5:00 PM India Time (approx. 3-4:00 AM EST) I would feel very sleepy. The incident was on my 3rd day in India returning back from work around this time. It was a short 15 minute motorbike ride and I was confident, after a coffee, that I could keep myself awake for this short ride. After all, I was a strong young man in full control of my body. Just less than 10 minutes in my journey I was waiting at the traffic lights for it to go Green, I could not believe what happened next, I still think I started moving after the light turned green and just blinked my eyes for a second. But people around me saw me lose my balance at the junction and fall to the road from a moving bike. The following vehicles swerved to avoid me and traffic came to a standstill. I had minor damage to my bike and escaped with bruises to elbow and knees. Good samaritans helped me up and took me & my bike away from the centre of the road. I parked there for about 5 minutes untill I was feeling OK, checked my bruises. I was shaken and could not accept my powerless self losing to micro sleep.

    The only silver lining to this incident was that it had a strong sobering effect on my driving skills. I have become much more defensive in my driving and lot more aware of my limitations. It was an eye opener for my rash, overconfident and reckless self.

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