The dangers of drowsy driving

Posted in Accident & Injury on February 20, 2018

Have you ever driven while you were really tired?

Most people will answer yes to this question.

Despite how commonly it occurs, drowsy driving is not safe. In fact, recent reports show that drowsy driving is actually much more dangerous than previously thought.

According to research carried out by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, drowsy driving was a factor in 8.8 to 9.5 percent of all crashes studied – and 10.6 to 10.8 percent of accidents that resulted in significant injury or property damage.

Previous government statistics show that only 1 to 2 percent of crashes are caused by drowsy driving. The new research suggests that drowsy driving is much more dangerous than previously thought.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 846 individuals were killed in accidents caused by drowsy driving in 2014. Approximately 37,000 injury crashes occur every year in the U.S. as the result of drowsy driving.

How does sleepiness affect driver safety?

When an individual has been awake for 20 or more hours, his or her level of driver impairment is equal to that of someone driving with a .08 blood alcohol content level. That is enough to warrant drunk driving charges in Ohio.

The driver’s reflexes, response time, and data processing skilled are slower.

What can fatigued drivers to stay awake while driving? Getting more sleep is the obvious answer. But what if that’s not possible?

Experts say that a quick, 10-minute nap can help drivers stay alert. Even if a nap isn’t possible, pulling over and resting for a while can help.

Drinking coffee or an energy drink can also help, but probably not enough to stay completely alert. It is recommended to drink caffeine and take a 20-minute nap.

Most importantly, drivers should focus on getting enough sleep at night. Most adults need at least 7 hours of sleep every night.

Free consultation: If you have been injured in an accident caused by a drowsy driver, contact the law firm of Elk & Elk at 1-800-ELK-OHIO.