Think you know how to deal with drowsy driving? Think again

We've all seen them – big trucks drifting over the fog line, or worse, the centerline. Far too often the problem is a sleep deprived driver. It's a scary thing to have a semi with a set of doubles come drifting at you. But what about the rest of us out there on the roads – are we guilty of a similar issue?

In a National Sleep Foundation poll, 60 percent of adults 'fessed up to having driven, "at least once," while drowsy. Over a third of respondents said they'd actually fallen asleep behind the steering wheel in the last year. That's a frightening statistic, and one that shouldn't be. Part of the problem seems be to the sense that some have that they're still OK, even if a bit drowsy.

A sleep researcher at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Xue Ming, explains you need more than just nerves and feelings if you think you can drive while drowsy. "Sensory input such as light, noise and touch keeps people alert," sys Ming, "but when there’s little stimulation, the brain will drift into a full sleep state or a micro sleep, which can last from a fraction of a second up to 30 seconds. In this state, the person feels like he is awake – he might even still have his eyes open – but he is actually asleep."

You may be surprised at when we humans are most susceptible to drowsiness. While 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. isn't a shocker, there is another time of danger: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. It's all related to the human biological process called the circadian rhythm. That rhythm naturally dips during those hours; it also tends to cause us to get drowsy when light decreases, at end of day. Add on a big meal, or a rough night of sleep before and the likelihood of drowsy driving increases dangerously.

What's to be done? Ideally you should get plenty of sleep before piloting your rig. Most people need seven to nine hours of uninterrupted sleep to be fully alert, although most Americans typically "get by" on six or even less. If you are in a fix and feel a bit drowsy, here are Ming's suggestions on how to enhance your alertness FOR LIMITED PERIODS: A 20-minute nap, two cups of coffee or similar caffeinated beverage, brightening the dashboard, or purchasing a visor light box that simulates morning light for the passenger side, since light boosts alertness. If you're really tired, pull the rig off the road and crash out – you've got a fine place to sleep.