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Drowsy Drivers

Drowsy Driving is Extremely Dangerous

December 12, 2019 / wpengine

Many people who would never consider driving under the influence of alcohol think nothing of getting behind the wheel when they’ve had too little sleep. The fact is, however, that drowsy driving can be just as dangerous as driving while impaired. If you think about how you react to stressful situations when you’re tired or how well you make decisions when you’re tired, you’ll have a pretty good idea about how significantly lack of sleep can affect you – including your ability to drive safely. If a fatigued driver leaves you injured in an accident, consult with an experienced Boise car accident lawyer today.

The Statistics

The statistics bear out exactly how dangerous drowsy driving can be. The National Safety Council reports that fatigued driving is but another form of impaired driving, and they share statistics to back up this claim, including:

  • The greater a driver’s fatigue, the longer the driver’s reaction time, the less accurate the driver’s ability to recognize road hazards, and the less well the driver pays attention to the road in general.
  • Drowsy drivers are three times more likely to be involved in car accidents.
  • A driver who hasn’t slept for more than 20 consecutive hours is as impaired as a driver who has a blood alcohol content that’s over the legal limit.

Many drivers who are otherwise quite conscientious simply do not recognize the danger inherent to driving with too little sleep. Some drowsy drivers can even cycle in and out of micro-sleep, which means that they pay no attention to their driving for short bursts of time – and that’s terrifying

The Warning Signs

There are specific warning signs related to drowsy driving that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) share, including:

  • Frequent yawning or blinking
  • Failing to remember the last few miles you drove
  • Missing a familiar exit or turn
  • Drifting out of your lane
  • Hitting a rumble strip (or any other marker) on the side of the road

From the outside, a fatigued driver can look a lot like an impaired driver – and you should be on the lookout for both. If you notice that you’re experiencing any of the effects listed above, it’s time to get off the road and get some sleep.

CDC also reports that, of the 150,000 drivers questioned in a survey, a full 4 percent reported having fallen asleep behind the wheel in the previous 30 days. Exhausted drivers are out there, and they put all of us at risk of being seriously injured in dangerous traffic accidents.

If a Fatigued Driver Leaves You Injured, Consult with an Experienced Boise Car Accident Lawyer Today

Drowsy drivers are dangerous drivers, and if one leaves you injured, attorney Joe Frick at Joe Frick Law, PLLC, in Boise, has the experience, dedication, and skill to help guide your case toward its most positive resolution. Our firm is on your side, so please don’t hesitate to contact or call us at 208-401-9311 today.