Campaign vs drowsy driving launched

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December 18, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Motorists deprived of sleep should not drive to avoid traffic accidents, according to a campaign launched by a medical group and state agencies.

In the “Drowsy Driving Prevention” campaign, the Philippine Society of Sleep Medicine (PSSM) partnered with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Department of Transportation.

Drivers are encouraged to pull over and take a rest when feeling sleepy, especially during the holiday season since there will be “Christmas parties, traffic and long-haul travels going back to the provinces,” PSSM president Jimmy Chang said yesterday.

Chang warned of the dangers of “microsleep” or brief episodes of being unresponsive for around three to 15 seconds while eyes are wide open.

Microsleeping motorists are driving with a blindfold, Chang said in his lecture during the launch.

Frequent yawning, blinking, trouble focusing or heavy eyelids, missing road signs, zoning out and daydreaming are red flags that can be spotted among sleepy drivers, he noted.

“Dangerous consequences are delayed reaction time, similar to drunk driving, lane drifting or complete loss of vehicle control, failure to brake or respond to hazards,” he pointed out.

The PSSM came up with the campaign following May’s fatal road crash at the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, wherein a passenger bus killed 12 people, injured 27 and destroyed four vehicles.

The bus driver had admitted to sleeping at the wheel, based on previous reports.

MMDA deputy chairman Frisco San Juan, for his part, admitted to driving while sleep-deprived in the past and forgetting how he drove home.