Drive Alert Master

You know how sometimes people grow on you?

This device grew on me.

I was planning to mock it, but as I read the copy on the website, suddenly I recalled a sad story that appeared in the Charlottesville Daily Progress a few years ago.

It seemed the chief resident in general surgery at the University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, in his determination to be back for 6 a.m. rounds after the holiday break, drove straight through the night from his home in Atlanta, Georgia, where he'd been celebrating with his family and fiancée.

He almost made it.

About two miles from the hospital - after driving hundreds of miles and many hours without sleep - he apparently fell asleep behind the wheel of his car.

He plowed into the back of a truck and was killed instantly.

So that's why I'm gonna buy one of these ($19.95) as soon as I finish this post.

How many of us, driving somewhere, get drowsy, open the windows, turn up the music, sing, drink coffee, and still are in no condition to be on the road?

I've done it far too many times.

I have no right to put others at risk, much less myself, because of my determination to get where I'm going and my denial.

Driving tired is no different from driving drunk.

That's the long and the short of it.

I have contempt and hatred for drunk drivers; why not for myself when I drive when I'm sleepy?

It starts today.

When I'm driving and this thing goes off, I'm stopping and taking a nap.

End of discussion.

Here's what the website says:

20% Of All Automobile Accidents Are Caused By Sleep Deprivation

Avoid them with the Drive Alert

It works like a splash of cold water in the middle of the night.

At the first sign of drowsiness the Drive Alert will jolt your senses with a LOUD beep.

Just how important is it to have this simple safety device?

We've all done it, often times unknowingly.

You get behind the wheel after taking seemingly harmless cold medication or head home after a long day at work.

Up to this point you've probably been among the lucky ones who make it home without incident.

But it only takes one time to fall asleep at the wheel and become a tragic statistic.

You're behind the wheel late at night after a long day.

Your eyes begin to grow heavy as oncoming headlights lull you into a state of drowsiness.

And then without warning you fall asleep at the wheel.

Luckily this scenario doesn't have to end in tragedy as so often happens.

That's because the Drive Alert will help keep you awake until you arrive safely at your destination.

Drive Alert's ergonomic design is comfortable, easy to use and operates with low battery consumption.

It's also popular with truck drivers who spend many long hours on our nation's highways.

Just turn it on, adjust the wake-up angle switch and place it behind your ear.

When you begin to doze off and your head slumps forward the Drive Alert will emit a LOUD, powerful BEEPING sound to wake you up.

Using the Drive Alert could save the lives of you and your loved ones.

And it may be the best safety device your car never had.

Includes one 1.5 Volt DC x (LR44) battery.