BOISE – As the nation winds the clock forward one hour with the arrival of Daylight Saving Time, AAA is reminding drivers that a good night’s sleep is critical to staying alert behind the wheel.
“We’ve all been there, myself included – we stay up a little late because that’s our time to unwind after a long day, and we make our lack of sleep a ‘Future Me’ problem,” says AAA Idaho public affairs director Matthew Conde. “But the statistics consistently say that when most of us get less than five hours of sleep, our attentiveness and reaction time start to mirror that of an impaired driver. Now is the perfect time to check in with yourself and see how your sleep routine is going.”
AAA offers five tips to help Idahoans get the recommended seven hours of sleep each night:
- Walk or do other light exercise throughout the day to help the body feel tired when it’s supposed to.
- Limit screen time right before bed, especially content that may produce a strong emotional response.
- Read a book or listen to an audiobook to wind down your day.
- Use blackout curtains in your bedroom and consider turning down your thermostat.
- Be consistent. A regular sleep routine can train your body and brain to get better rest.
“Drivers, please remember to watch for children – it’s going to be dark again for a while as kids head to school or the bus stop in the morning,” Conde said. “Please ditch the distractions and make sure you get enough rest – an engaged driver is a safer driver.”