Michael McLaughlin had just finished working a 12-hour night shift and was on his way to pick up his fiancee on the morning of June 18.

He was tired and the drive along Route 54 in Nesquehoning was lulling.His eyelids grew heavy as he fought the urge to sleep.Slowly, his head dipped and McLaughlin dozed off, his hands still on the wheel.The Ford Escape he was driving inched toward the double yellow line, and crossed it moving directly into the path of an oncoming tractor-trailer.The rig driver swerved in an attempt to avert a head-on collision, but the two collided.McLaughlin had to be extricated from his vehicle and was flown to St. Luke's University Hospital - Bethlehem.He suffered a severe concussion, fractured a vertebrae in his neck, his tibia in his leg and ulna in his arm. Multiple surgeries were needed to repair his injuries. He spent 14 days in the hospital as a result of the crash.To date, McLaughlin said he has no recollection of the crash or the days that followed.Since then, he has fought to get back to the man he was before the crash."Up until now, it was a long and uphill battle to get to the physical condition I'm in now for my fiancee, family and I," McLaughlin said. "I couldn't have done it without my fiancee and our families."I'm happy to report that I am feeling the best I have since the accident. I am not 100 percent yet, but I'm almost there," he said.McLaughlin's story is just one of thousands across the country that occur annually; and he hopes it will bring to light a very real problem drowsy driving.McLaughlin felt that now was the best time to shed light on this epidemic because the National Sleep Foundation has declared Nov. 2-9 as Drowsy Driving Prevention Week in the hope of educating the public and reducing the number of fatigue-related crashes.Who's at risk?According to the National Sleep Foundation, sleepiness and driving are a dangerous combination as dangerous as drinking and driving.Sleepiness slows reaction times, decreases awareness of your surroundings, impairs your judgment and increases the risk of dozing off and crashing.Anyone who drives is at risk of drowsy driving one time or another.You may be working late, have a family issue that keeps you up, be taking medication that causes sleepiness, or you just may not have gotten enough sleep the night before.Particularly at risk of drowsy driving are young people, especially males under age 26; shift workers who work long hours, rotating shifts or night shift; commercial drivers; people with undiagnosed or untreated disorders such as sleep apnea; and business travelers who may be jet lagged.Causes for drowsy drivingApproximately 100,000 police-reported crashes annually are a direct result of driver fatigue, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports.As a result, over 1,500 deaths, 71,000 injuries and $12.5 billion in monetary losses due to drowsy driving has been reported each year. Additional crashes related to drowsy driving probably occur but it is not pinpointed as the cause of the crash, the NHTSA added.In McLaughlin's case, he and the driver both sustained injuries that required medical attention.He said that since his accident he has learned shift workers, like himself, are particularly vulnerable to fatigue and shift work disorder.The disorder, which affects people who work nights and swing shifts, affects a person's circadian rhythm internal sleep clock and causes sleep confusion."I was getting poor sleep during the day after work," McLaughlin said. "I would constantly wake up after only three or four hours of sleep. Sometimes I wouldn't even be able to fall asleep when I got home. I worked night shift for the last three years and could never get used to the schedule."He feels that this was the root of the problem that caused him to crash that fateful day this past June.In addition, the daylight saving time change in the spring has also been known to be a cause for drowsy driving.According to the National Road Safety Foundation, when daylight saving time starts in the spring, which pushes the clocks ahead one hour, many drivers find themselves drowsy in the mornings immediately following because of the change.Good news for drivers though, this weekend marked the end of daylight saving time in Pennsylvania, meaning everyone gained an hour.Combating fatigueTo combat drowsy driving, the National Sleep Foundation recommends:• Getting at least seven to nine hours of sleep helps maintain proper alertness during the day.• Schedule breaks if you are traveling long distances. Take breaks every 100 miles or two hours during long trips.• If you are traveling a long distance, try to have someone with you. Talking will help keep you awake.• Avoid alcohol and medications that will sedate you.• If you start to feel tired, pull over and rest for a while. If possible, take a short nap. It will refresh you and allow you to focus.• Drink a caffeinated beverage such as coffee or soda.Educating the publicMcLaughlin now wants to educate people on the importance of proper sleep and the effects of drowsy driving has on the person, family and friends; as well as other drivers and their families."It's important for people to learn that proper sleep is of the utmost importance to living a healthy and safe life," McLaughlin said."I was given a second chance at life, and I have a new outlook on it. I want to share my story and help spread the knowledge I have gained from this tragic and preventable incident."McLaughlin concluded, "No one should ever have to go through what I had to go through, or any injuries for that matter, nor pay the ultimate price of losing their life or taking someone else's."Are you at risk?Before you get behind the wheel, are you:• Sleep-deprived or fatigued (six hours of sleep or less triples your risk)• Suffering from sleep loss (insomnia), poor quality sleep, or a sleep debt• Driving long distances without proper rest breaks• Driving through the night, mid-afternoon or when you would normally be asleep• Taking sedating medications (antidepressants, cold tablets, antihistamines)• Working more than 60 hours a week (increases your risk by 40 percent)• Working more than one job and your main job involves shift work• Drinking even small amounts of alcohol• Driving alone or on a long, rural, dark or boring roadIf you answered yes to any of the above points, you may be at risk for drowsy driving.Warning signsHere are some signs that should tell you to stop and rest:• Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, or heavy eyelids• Daydreaming; wandering/disconnected thoughts• Trouble remembering the last few miles driven; missing exits or traffic signs• Yawning repeatedly or rubbing your eyes• Trouble keeping your head up• Drifting from your lane, tailgating, or hitting a shoulder rumble strip• Feeling restless and irritableSource: National Sleep Foundation