The Washington State Patrol would like to remind drivers of the dangers of driving while drowsy.

According to research released last year, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found one in four motorists (28 percent) reported being so tired that they had a hard time keeping their eyes open while driving in the past 30 days. Drivers 19-24 years old were most likely to report driving dangerously drowsy at 33 percent while oldest drivers (over 75 years old) and youngest (ages 16-18) were least likely to report drowsy driving.

Driving drowsy can have a tremendous impact on not only the driver but others who are traveling on the highways. Last year, according to the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission, there were seven deaths related to drowsy driving in Washington State.

The following are simple tips to help staying awake while driving:

• Get a good night’s sleep before hitting the highway.

• Don’t be in a hurry to arrive to your destination.

• Take a break every two hours or 100 miles to help get refreshed.

• Use the buddy system to keep you awake and share driving duties.

• Avoid alcohol and medication that may cause drowsiness or have side effects.

• Don’t drive when you would normally be sleeping.

The WSP is proud to be a part on the 2014 Washington State Drowsy Driving Prevention and Awareness Week, Nov. 2-10.

For more information on drowsy driving and how to prevent it, visit: www.sleepfoundation.org, www.drowsydriving.org, www.aaafoundation.org, or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.