Drowsy Driving Similar to Drunk Driving
Every motorist out there recognizes that driving drunk is utterly unsafe and that drunk drivers make our roads exceptionally dangerous. What most of us fail to understand, however, is that drowsy drivers experience impairments that are similar to those that drunk drivers experience, and drowsy drivers can be just as dangerous. If a drowsy driver leaves you injured, reach out to an experienced Clearwater car accident attorney today.
Considering Drowsy Driving
Drowsy driving is more difficult to track than drunk driving, but a variety of important studies conclude that drowsy drivers make our roadways less safe for all of us. Consider the following information shared by the National Sleep Foundation:
- The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reports that those who sleep only 6 to 7 hours a night are twice as likely as those who sleep 8 hours a night to be involved in dangerous traffic accidents. Further, those who sleep fewer than 5 hours a night are at 4 to 5 times greater risk.
- An Australian study found that being awake for 18 hours straight led to impairment that mimicked a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05 percent and that being awake for 24 hours straight mimicked a BAC of 0.08 percent (which is the threshold for drunk driving in the State of Florida and every other state).
- Fatigue is closely associated with lapses in attention, and because driving safely requires our strict attention, it can contribute to life-threatening traffic accidents.
Impairments Caused by Exhaustion
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shares that we all need adequate sleep in order to think and perform safely. Failing to get enough sleep can leave motorists with all of the following negative effects:
- Lack of alertness
- Diminished coordination
- Impaired judgment
- Increased reaction times
These amount to cognitive impairments, and it is not difficult to extrapolate exactly how dangerous any one of them can be behind the wheel of a car or truck. Further, they all mirror the effects of inebriation, which is why drunk drivers are prone to weaving in and out of their lanes and to other erratic behaviors behind the wheel.
A Note about Truck Drivers
Because the massive semis that roam our roadways are involved in some of the deadliest accidents out there, it’s important to consider the danger posed by drowsy truck drivers. Truck drivers are professional drivers who must adhere to more rigid safety rules and restrictions, including restrictions related to the number of hours they can spend behind the wheel. In other words, the law mandates that drowsy truckers stay off of our roads. The fast-paced nature of the industry, however, coaxes some truckers to dangerously push the legal boundaries and to engage in drowsy driving in the process.
Consult with an Experienced Clearwater Car Accident Attorney Today
If a drowsy driver leaves you injured, the accomplished Clearwater car accident attorneys at Tragos, Sartes & Tragos are committed to skillfully advocating for your rights and for the compensation you need to reach your most complete recovery. For more information about how we can help, please don’t wait to contact us online or call us at (727) 441-9030 today.