Sleepy Driver Dozes Off and Collides With Pole on El Camino Real

The following warning signs indicate that it’s time to stop driving & find a safe place to pull over to address your condition:

A 42-year San Mateo woman was lucky she escaped uninjured after dozing off and colliding with a pole in the 500 block of El Camino Real on Tuesday.

Belmont police say the woman was traveling in the northbound lane of traffic just north of the Caltrain parking at about 3:00 p.m. when her Volvo SUV veered off the road and struck the pole. Officers say the SUV sustained major damage, but the woman, whose name has not been released, was checked at the scene by Belmont paramedics and found to be uninjured.

The driver was apparently fatigued and may have fallen asleep according to police. Traffic in the area was reduced to one lane for approximately one hour while police investigated the incident.

No other vehicles were involved and drugs or alcohol were not a factor, police say.

The Belmont Police Department is taking this opportunity to remind the motoring public of the dangers of driving while fatigued.

“Sleepiness slows reaction time, decreases awareness, impairs judgment and increases your risk of crashing” said Belmont Police Chief Dan DeSmidt.

“It was fortunate that no other vehicles were involved and the driver was unhurt” Chief DeSmidt added.

The following warning signs indicate that it’s time to stop driving & find a safe place to pull over to address your condition:

•        Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking and/or heavy eyelids

•        Difficulty keeping reveries or daydreams at bay

•        Trouble keeping your head up

•        Drifting from your lane, swerving, tailgating and/or hitting rumble strips

•        Inability to clearly remember the last few miles driven

•        Missing exits or traffic signs

•        Yawning repeatedly

•        Feeling restless, irritable, or aggressive