November 7 marked the final day of Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, and Michigan advocates hope the message reaches far beyond this campaign.
The Don’t Drive Drowsy Foundation and Start School Later are urging Michigan parents, teachers, and policymakers to take a closer look at start times, teen sleep, and road safety. Katherine Nitz with Start School Later says major medical groups recommend that high schools start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. to align with teens’ natural sleep cycles.
“They need that early morning sleep in order to learn and to grow,” Nitz said. “So a teenager waking up at 6 a.m. is the equivalent of an adult waking up at 4 a.m.”
Research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows delaying high school start times can reduce teen driver crash rates. Nitz says the connection between early school schedules and teen car crashes is often overlooked.
“So you have least experienced drivers who are still sleepy, their bodies really aren’t awake to learn let alone to be operating an automobile. And so the results are devastating.”
This year, the groups are also working with transportation agencies in 30 states, including Michigan, to display prevention messages on highway signs.
But not everyone supports the shift. Some argue later start times could disrupt bus routes and after-school activities, as well as create scheduling headaches for families and districts alike.
