Drowsy Driving

In the United States, 250,000 drivers get behind wheel fatigued, every day. Moreover, in a recent poll conducted by the Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School, it was shown that 54% of all adult drivers had driven while drowsy, while another 28% admitted to actually falling asleep behind the wheel. Of course this is extremely dangerous. Fatalities as a result of driving while fatigued are common and often the norm.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, driving while drowsy is responsible for nearly 100,000 crashes, resulting in 1,550 deaths and 40,000 injuries annually. Drivers need to be aware that driving while tired is in some cases worse than driving under the influence. When someone is functioning on improper sleep their judgment and memory is severely impaired. They are dangerous behind the wheel.

Accidents typically occur in the early morning hours, which of course suggest that these individuals are driving after staying up all night. It also often the case that these individuals are impaired by alcohol as well as sleep deprivation. Indeed, the mix of alcohol and sleep deprivation is a deadly combination. The best way to avoid this situation is to abstain completely. Never jump behind the wheel while intoxicated on anything, including a lack of sleep.

If you or a loved one have been victimized by a driver operating a motor vehicle while deprived of sleep, then you may be entitled to compensation for damages. As previously mentioned, driving while tired is as dangerous as driving under the influence. Shift workers and individuals with sleep disorders are particularly prone to these types of accidents. Drinking a few cups of coffee may mitigate the effects initially, but nothing can actually substitute for getting the adequate sleep your body needs.