Drowsy Driving

There are many contributing factors to motor vehicle accidents these days.  One of the least recognized or talked about factors is drowsy or fatigued drivers.  Drowsiness or fatigue affects almost everyone at sometime in his or her life.  Although everyone is affected by it, there are no standardized tests or criteria for determining the sleepiness of a driver.  Drowsiness or fatigue can be just as dangerous as a drunk driver.  Drowsy drivers tend to drift from their lane of travel, tailgate and miss traffic control signs, have difficulty focusing on the task of driving, can't remember the last few miles they have driven, and will eventually close their eyes for short period of time.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that approximately 100,000 police reported accidents annually (about 1.5% of all reported accidents) involve a drowsy or fatigued driver as the contributing factor to the accident.  NHTSA estimates 4% of all fatal accidents or about 1,500 people die each year as a result of drowsy driving.  At least 71,000 people are injured in fall-asleep accidents each year.

Drowsiness or fatigue may play a role or be a lesser factor in many more accidents.  It is hard to determine if the drivers were drowsy at the time of the accident unless they disclose that information.

There are many things that can be done to help reduce the amount of drowsy drivers.  A few of them are getting a good night sleep, share the driving time on long trips, avoid alcohol or medication, and stop the vehicle when you start getting drowsy.

In today's busy world, people tend to push their bodies harder than they should.  It seems everyone is in a hurry to get somewhere or to do something.  The problem is that the body is not getting enough rest and this could become a traffic hazard that could harm themselves and others.

< Back