On those long summer road trips, whoever is driving often feels compelled to power through any fatigue, down another coffee and drive an extra few hours in the name of making good time. However, these drivers are creating a serious accident risk by driving drowsy.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), sleepy drivers cause over 100,000 accidents and 1,550 deaths every year. Due to inconsistent reporting practices across the states, these figures are conservative estimates. Here are some important things to know about drowsy driving.
- The demographics most likely to cause a sleep-related accident are young males aged 29 and under, shift workers who work odd hours and people with undiagnosed sleep disorders like sleep apnea or narcolepsy.
- The amount of sleep you get can affect your mood and focus the following day. Experts recommend between eight and nine hours of sleep for young adults and between seven and nine hours for older adults.
- Nearly 11 million drivers admitted that they crashed or nearly crashed their cars because they were too tired to drive.
- If you drive after being awake for more than 17 hours, your performance is equal to that of a driver with a blood alcohol concentration of .05 percent.
You might cost yourself some time by calling it a night early, but you might save lives. If a drowsy driver caused a fatal car accident that killed a loved one, call us today to set up a free consultation.
“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” – Psalm 4:8
The Law Office of Stanley A. Davis – Nashville car accident lawyer