One of the hardest things for drivers is gauging how tired they really are. Often on our morning commutes or on long car trips we find ourselves yawning or nodding our heads. When this happens, we try to shake it off and keep going. While we may see it as a normal part of our driving experience, the problem with drowsy driving is that it greatly affects our response time and overall driving ability.
This Psychology Today article explains, “The initial phase of sleep, Stage 1, is actually a transitional period between sleep and waking. You can be in Stage 1 sleep and feel as though you’ve been awake. But during this phase, brain waves are slowing, and the body is relaxing in preparation for deeper sleep.”
The number one reason why people end up driving drowsy is because they aren’t getting enough sleep at night. If you are consistently sleeping 6-8 hours a night, you’ll greatly decrease your chances of drowsy driving and falling asleep at the wheel.
Although it may not seem like driving while tired is a big deal, drowsy driving accounts for a shocking number of accidents each year:
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conservatively estimates that 100,000 police-reported crashes are the direct result of driver fatigue each year. This results in an estimated 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries, and $12.5 billion in monetary losses. These figures may be the tip of the iceberg, since currently it is difficult to attribute crashes to sleepiness.
The next time you find yourself getting drowsy while driving, take a break. Pull over somewhere safe to take a short nap or walk around for a while, get some coffee and then get back on the road.
If you’ve been a victim of an accident due to drowsy driving, a skilled car accident attorney at Lorenzo & Lorenzo can help you successfully navigate your case.
