falling asleep while driving can be fatal...
#16
Forum Administrator
iTrader: (2)
Very sorry to hear this for both you and your GF's family.
#17
Lexus Champion
So incredibly sorry to hear such sad news Bit. I pray for strength and comfort for your family in such a horrible time as this.
I remember during my college days, once I drove a total of 15 hours up and down Florida in the span of a day with two friends. On the last leg of the trip, all I remembered was suddenly waking up. I traversed the entire three lane highway from the left lane and ended up in the farthest one right. Of course my two friends were sleeping and didn't notice a thing. It was the single scariest driving moment I've had in the 12 years I've been driving.
I remember during my college days, once I drove a total of 15 hours up and down Florida in the span of a day with two friends. On the last leg of the trip, all I remembered was suddenly waking up. I traversed the entire three lane highway from the left lane and ended up in the farthest one right. Of course my two friends were sleeping and didn't notice a thing. It was the single scariest driving moment I've had in the 12 years I've been driving.
#18
Lexus Fanatic
So incredibly sorry for you and your girlfriend. What a terrible thing to have to endure. My thoughts are with you.
It can be scary. I remember one time not all that long ago I got in the car late to go home and felt fine, and about half way home all of a sudden extreme exhaustion just hit me and it took every ounce I had just to stay awake. At that point you’re faced with a dilemma, what do you do?! Do you stop and get a room just 5 miles from your home? Do you stop and take a nap? Or do you press on? I pressed on but it was pretty scary.
It can be scary. I remember one time not all that long ago I got in the car late to go home and felt fine, and about half way home all of a sudden extreme exhaustion just hit me and it took every ounce I had just to stay awake. At that point you’re faced with a dilemma, what do you do?! Do you stop and get a room just 5 miles from your home? Do you stop and take a nap? Or do you press on? I pressed on but it was pretty scary.
Last edited by SW17LS; 02-03-18 at 07:39 AM.
#19
Lexus Champion
Two years ago we were brinhing my late sister's CR-V that she'd given me back to IL from IA. I was driving the Honda and my wife was following in our Audi. We were on heavily travelled I-80 in western IL doing 70mph. I looked in the rear view mirror and out of the blue the Audi just veered off the road and into the ditch doing 70. A helpless and frightening feeling to say the least. With all of the traffic (a lot of trucks). I had to slow down and pull off on to the shoulder. By the time I got out of the car, she was able to drive out of the ditch and on to the shoulder and get the car stopped.
She'd fallen asleep (it was 2:00 PM) and fortunately the tossing of the car woke her up. Although we were less the an hour from home we pulled off at the next town and stayed in a hotel overnight. It can happen so easily and quickly.
She'd fallen asleep (it was 2:00 PM) and fortunately the tossing of the car woke her up. Although we were less the an hour from home we pulled off at the next town and stayed in a hotel overnight. It can happen so easily and quickly.
#20
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (20)
that is sad my condolences.
i remember one time i drove cross country , i was only 2 hours away after staying up for two days. thought i could save money and time by not sleeping. but every time i blinked, i have driven 2-3 miles down the freeway and that literally scared me enough to stop and get a room. you can be very dangerous behind the wheels even when you're completely sober. be safe everyone .
i remember one time i drove cross country , i was only 2 hours away after staying up for two days. thought i could save money and time by not sleeping. but every time i blinked, i have driven 2-3 miles down the freeway and that literally scared me enough to stop and get a room. you can be very dangerous behind the wheels even when you're completely sober. be safe everyone .
#21
Pole Position
He was taken too soon.
My condolences.
My condolences.
#23
All I can add is to tell her that a lot of folks she's never met (or never will) on this board are thinking of her and offering some silent prayers. In time, the pain will recede.
#24
Lexus Fanatic
I remember a few years ago I was going to take a long drive from the East Coast down South after staying with a friend and I was not able to fall asleep the night before. I planned to leave early that morning but did not have to so I just decided to stay another day and get a better nights rest. I knew it would be very risky and dangerous to make a 12 hour trip without getting enough sleep the night before, many people won't understand if you say you need more rest before a long road trip but only you know what is best for you and it is not worth the risk to drive tired.
There were a couple times when I would go to the beach to go fishing or party and would just crash in my car and I never got any sleep, driving home from the beach late at night was a little nerve racking but I would drink a coke and sit up more to make sure I did not doze off. I remember working 3rd shift at a plant that had a weight room, after the shift I would work out for a hour or so before driving home and there was 1 or 2 times I just went from being awake to very tired within a matter of seconds, the so tired you are dizzy, luckily my place was not that far and I got off that awful 3rd shift.
There were a couple times when I would go to the beach to go fishing or party and would just crash in my car and I never got any sleep, driving home from the beach late at night was a little nerve racking but I would drink a coke and sit up more to make sure I did not doze off. I remember working 3rd shift at a plant that had a weight room, after the shift I would work out for a hour or so before driving home and there was 1 or 2 times I just went from being awake to very tired within a matter of seconds, the so tired you are dizzy, luckily my place was not that far and I got off that awful 3rd shift.
Last edited by UDel; 02-03-18 at 12:44 PM.
#26
Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 12,057
Likes: 0
Received 74 Likes
on
45 Posts
That's really sad. I also thought the 17 toyotas and the safety systems standard. I myself have had a few close encounters being extremely tired at the wheel. My trick is to blast the radio and open the window. The fresh air and the wind usually does the trick. My uncle, while driving from SF to LA, must have been 15+ years ago, also fell asleep and is lucky to be a live. Many months of therapy.
#27
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (20)
thanks for all the condolences team... the funeral was tough but tons of love and support there helped, but now it's harder, particularly for my girlfriend, as you can imagine. her son would call her every day, typically with something funny to cheer her up.
i know i said before about not wanting to analyze his crash (thanks for respecting that), but it does seem all '17 corollas do have the full safety suite so i am wondering if he turned lane departure alert/assist turned off, or whether he veered and darted across the lanes at a significant angle - he hit the right guard rail, then a bridge barrier, then over that, down into a ditch and tree - seems he must have done more than just drift over into the shoulder, if he just grazed the guard rail, perhaps he would have 'bounced' back onto the highway... no speculation will bring him back, but it's still hard not knowing what happened. we're waiting for the police report, and i believe they did interview a witness, so maybe we will learn in time.
i know i said before about not wanting to analyze his crash (thanks for respecting that), but it does seem all '17 corollas do have the full safety suite so i am wondering if he turned lane departure alert/assist turned off, or whether he veered and darted across the lanes at a significant angle - he hit the right guard rail, then a bridge barrier, then over that, down into a ditch and tree - seems he must have done more than just drift over into the shoulder, if he just grazed the guard rail, perhaps he would have 'bounced' back onto the highway... no speculation will bring him back, but it's still hard not knowing what happened. we're waiting for the police report, and i believe they did interview a witness, so maybe we will learn in time.
#28
Lexus Champion
Very sorry to hear of this. Please accept my condolences.
#29
Lexus Fanatic
I'm thinking about you both, be there for each other...and don't hesitate to reach out and talk to somebody about it, a counselor or support group or a therapist.
i know i said before about not wanting to analyze his crash (thanks for respecting that), but it does seem all '17 corollas do have the full safety suite so i am wondering if he turned lane departure alert/assist turned off, or whether he veered and darted across the lanes at a significant angle - he hit the right guard rail, then a bridge barrier, then over that, down into a ditch and tree - seems he must have done more than just drift over into the shoulder, if he just grazed the guard rail, perhaps he would have 'bounced' back onto the highway... no speculation will bring him back, but it's still hard not knowing what happened. we're waiting for the police report, and i believe they did interview a witness, so maybe we will learn in time.
I don't think that particular system would reliably stop this sort of accident from happening.
#30
Lexus Fanatic
Agreed...particularly if one had tire-failure, especially on a front wheel.
Bit, while respecting your request not to keep delving into the cause of the crash, I still think it's very important that the police or fire department report if he was belted-in properly or not....and/or if the airbag went off. The 2017 Corolla was supposedly past the time they had those defective Takada air-bag sensors, but, who knows?......