It doesn’t matter if you drive a 2016 Lexus IS, one of our pre-owned Lexus vehicles, or another automobile, being drowsy behind the wheel of any car puts you, other drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, animals, and physical property at risk.

According to the Drowsy Driving Consensus Panel, you are too sleep-deprived to drive if you’ve gotten less than two hours of sleep in the last 24 hours. While two hours of sleep was the panel’s minimum requirement to avoid being sleepy behind the wheel, the panel conceded that most healthy adults would be considered impaired even if they got three to five hours of sleep in the preceding 24 hours. More than 25 percent of adult Americans say they don’t get the right amount of sleep most of the time. Only one-third of them claim they get enough sleep on a consistent basis.

Insufficient sleep has a direct, negative impact on how you perform behind the wheel. A lack of sleep slows your reaction time, for example. It also makes it more likely that you’ll become distracted while you’re driving. Too little sleep impairs your ability to remember things as well as your visual perception of the things around you and your vehicle. Even when your eyes are open, sleep deprivation jeopardizes your awareness of a given situation and slows your cognitive processes.

Everyone at our Lexus dealership near Ponte Vedra, FL knows that it can be difficult to fall asleep sometimes even when you know you’ll need plenty of sleep to get through the next day. Here are some tips you can use if you’re struggling to fall asleep:

  • Create a dark, quiet, comfortable sleeping environment
  • Go to bed and wake up at the same times every day
  • Follow a calming routine before you go to bed
  • Add an exercise regime to your daily routine, but don’t work out in the hours immediately before your bedtime
  • Don’t nap during the day

If you’re well rested and ready to take your next Lexus vehicle for a test drive give us a call, contact us online or via text, or visit Lexus of Jacksonville to schedule one today.