Your driving is affected by your physical and mental health. To obtain a driver license, you must be in good health. If you have health problems that are serious and long-term in nature, they will likely come to the attention of the DMV. More often, health problems are short term, like suffering from colds, headaches or flu. You should remember that any time you are not feeling well, your driving is likely to be different. You may be less alert and less responsive than normal.

• Sleep related crashes are most common in young people - especially men, who can feel they can push themselves harder.
• Adults with young children, especially new mothers, often have not had a full night's sleep, which could lead to drowsy driving any time of day.
• Shift workers are more likely than those who work a regular daytime schedule to drive to or from work drowsy at least a few days a month.
• People with sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, narcolepsy and insomnia are also at greater risk for sleep-related crashes.

• Get at least six hours of good sleep the night before a trip.
• Stop, pull over to a safe place and take a nap if you become sleepy while driving and are unable to switch drivers.
• Travel at times when you are normally awake. Our bodies want to rest between midnight and 6 a.m. and then again between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Try to avoid being on the road at these times.
• Travel with an awake passenger who can keep a conversation going.
• Take a break every two hours or every 150 miles, sooner if you become sleepy. Taking a short walk or stretching will help increase the blood flow and help keep you awake.
• Drink a caffeinated beverage and wait about 30 minutes for it to enter the bloodstream. But remember, caffeine will help keep you awake but not always alert.

1. Physical - Distractions that cause the driver to take his or her hands off the wheel or eyes off the road such as tuning a radio or dialing a cell phone.
2. Mental - Activities that take the driver's mind off the road such as having a conversation or thinking about an emotional event.
3. Combination - Some activities take your hands, eyes and mind off the task at hand such as reading a map while driving.

• Pre-program your favorite radio stations for easy access and make CDs easy to reach.
• Keep your stereo at a volume low enough so you can hear things outside of your vehicle such as a siren, horn honking, screeching of tires or others things that would lead you to react safely to an emergency or hazard.
• Designate a front-seat passenger to serve as a "co-pilot," rather than fumble with maps or navigation systems. If you are driving alone, map out destinations in advance.
• Teach children the importance of good behavior while in a vehicle. Do not underestimate how distracting it can be to tend to them in the car.
• Do your personal grooming at home, not in the car.
• Pets should be in a carrier.

• Use your cell phone only if it is absolutely necessary.
• If you must use your phone, do so at a safe time and place.
• Ask a passenger in the car to place the call for you, and, if possible, speak in your place.
• Don't feel like you must answer the phone when it rings. Let someone leave a message and you can return the call when stopped at a safe location.
• Secure your phone in the car so that it does not become a projectile in a crash.
• Drivers less than 18 years of age are not permitted to use a mobile telephone or other additional technology associated with a mobile telephone while operating a motor vehicle on a public street or highway or public vehicular area while the vehicle is in motion. Exceptions: calling 911 in an emergency, parent or legal guardian or spouse.

Fatigue:

Careful planning can help to make sure you do not drive when you are too tired. A surprising number of serious crashes occur because a driver falls asleep at the wheel.

Medications:

Prescriptions and over-the-counter medications can affect your driving. Before you take any medication, find out how it will affect you. Try to do as little driving as possible while taking any type of medication. If you must drive, be especially careful. You may not be as alert as usual.

Alcohol:

• About 38 percent of all traffic fatalities involve alcohol.
• Alcohol will first affect your judgement - you may think you can drive safely when you cannot.
• The amount of alcohol in a one-ounce shot of whiskey, threeÐounce glass of wine and 12-ounce bottle of beer is the same.
• Black coffee, fresh air and cold showers DO NOT help someone to become more sober - only time will help.

Young Drivers:

Why do young drivers have such high crash rates? On the whole, these drivers are very healthy. Their vision is good, and their reflexes are excellent. Yet, they are inexperienced drivers. Regardless of how old a beginning driver is, it takes years to become an experienced driver. During the time available, a driver education course can teach only the most basic skills. Most of the learning must take place on the highway.

Mature Drivers:

People age at different rates, and some people in their seventies are more alert than others in their thirties and forties. Nevertheless, as we become older we tend to lose some of our ability to react quickly to driving problems. Our vision, especially our night vision, might become worse. We might have difficulty hearing and become more likely to develop medical problems.

Whenever possible, If you are an older driver:

• drive on familiar roads and streets;
• drive short distances;
• change your driving habits to fit your abilities; and avoid heavy and fastÐmoving traffic.