About two dozen members of the tour, some still wearing pajama bottoms, began transferring backpacks and laptops from the wrecked bus into two other buses parked outside a restaurant. They declined to speak to reporters.
The accident apparently happened at 0815. I looks to me like this driver was driving through the night with his passengers and fell asleep at the wheel, causing the accident. A similar accident happened to a church bus near Memphis, TN a few years ago with many fatalities.
I've had a few incidents in my life when I've almost fallen asleep at the wheel. Although none resulted in an accident, I've learned from those experiences how easily any could have. I deal with this in three ways: 1) I try not to drive under circumstances where it looks like I might fall asleep at the wheel, 2) I keep a bottle of NoDoz in my glove compartment and take a couple of tablets when I think I might have occasion to fall asleep at the wheel and, more important, 3) if I feel it happening, I get off the road at the safest possible point, park, pull the keys out of the ignition, push my seat back, and get the sleep I need before getting back on the road.
this is what i've done a couple of times... i once tried to force myself to stay awake as i was driving from San Francisco to the South Bay on Hwy. 101--it's only an hour away... i was hallucinating... started seeing all kinds of weird stuff on the sides of the road... my friend noticed and took over the driving... one other time i was coming home from Santa Cruz on Hwy. 17... again, i tried forcing myself to keep my eyes open... and again i began hallucinating about where i was... pulled over at a coffee shop... now i just automatically pull over... has not happened much in the last twenty years... i try to make sure i get enough sleep if have to drive...
Years ago I worked for a well known touring rock band. We had a bus driver who was notorious for nodding out at the wheel. I had to keep a volunteer up front to watch him until I could get a replacement driver flown in. Pretty scary stuff. When you get in your bunk for sleep you are at the mercy of the driver. Back then almost all drove double shifts. There were no log books and no enforceble sanctions.
Too bad Tim Kaine closed the rest areas. Maybe the driver could have gotten a nap.
I’ve dozed off at the wheel only once years ago. Hubby was asleep and I was very sleepy. I turned on the radio for noise...no good. I rolled down the window for fresh air, but my eyes were practically crossing from trying to keep them open.
I was on a straight stretch outside Amarillo and I wanted to make it there before I stopped. One minute I was awake and driving on my side of the road. The next I was dozing and heading for the ditch on the other side of the road. I’m just thankful that I woke up before I reached it, and that there was no other traffic at that particular time at that time of the morning.
It scared me so badly that it woke me up. I couldn’t have gone to sleep for a while, even if I’d wanted to sleep!
That’s scary stuff! Glad you didn’t get hurt. Stay Safe! Anyone, if able should get tested for sleep apnea if they fall asleep at the wheel randomly. (If the result of long trips-—please take safety precautions)
What about slugging Mountain Dew? I had a glass of that once and I didn’t sleep for half the night. Nearly made me crazy.