Drowsy Driving

Drowsy driving is not a condition of the brain, as there has not been much scientific research behind that. However, it is in fact a condition in which someone feels tired, closes their eyes momentarily, or even falls asleep, all while behind the wheel. There is serious speculation that there is a something about driving that causes drowsiness; even people who show no signs of fatigue or sleepiness may begin feeling drowsy as soon as they begin driving. Some have coined the term “carcolepsy” for this phenomenom. Although there is still limited research, this is said to be the result of our bodies response to low frequency vibrations we experience during the drive/ the vehicle. There is increasing awareness of drowsy driving, right next to drink driving and texting and driving. The CDC has one of the three featured articles on Drowsy Driving under Sleep conditions. The following project is designed to show my interpretation of what it looks like being behind the wheel in such a state, and the dangers behind it. I have personally been a victim/ witness to drowsy driving, which is why I wanted to look deeper into it.

The video shows how a driver that is drowsy drifts slowly, corrects themselves as they “wake up”, lose periods of time in their driving, and possibly black out or shut their eyes momentarily. The bright light at the end focuses more on the dangers of driving, where this is the wake up before a crash into oncoming traffic.

Research of Sleep Science:

Sleep, or the lack there of, can be the cause of numerous physical and mental health conditions ranging from diabetes and heart conditions to depression and anxiety. There is so much science and research on sleep – conditions that cause difficulties sleeping and conditions resulting from difficulties sleeping. It is incredibly important for adults to get seven to nine hours of sleep each night, so that our bodies can heal and reenergize for the day. Without proper sleep, adults can experience side effects such as poor memeory, mood changes, weaker immunity, and decreased productivity. The science behind this can be pretty easily understood, in that if our bodies can’t reenergize properly, our brains can’t function to their fullest abilities as it can’t remove toxins in the brain, and therefore we do less, move less, and get less out of our days.

Artist Work on Sleep

Nicholas Bruno is an artist who suffers from sleep paralysis, which is a condition that leaves the person stuck between sleeping and waking. They experience dream like states while they are awake, but can not move. Bruno depicts his personal dream states from this condition in his photography. He describes his work as an outlet to allow him to deal with his condition.

https://www.nicolasbrunophotography.com/