Are you someone who is constantly exhausted? How often do you get behind the wheel while yawning or feeling generally sleepy?
Drowsy driving is a form of distracted driving. If you are feeling tired or sleepy when getting behind the wheel, you are that much more likely to get into an accident.
A recent study conducted by the N.S.F. highlighted just how risky drowsy driving can be. At least one out of seven drivers surveyed admitted that they had nodded off while operating a motor vehicle at least one or more times during a one-year period.
It gets worse– one out of ten drivers admitted that during the same period of time, they had not just nodded off but fallen asleep totally while behind the wheel. While not every drowsy driver getting behind the wheel is going to cause an accident, driving drowsy is setting yourself up to potentially do so.
Today we’re talking about our top tips for avoiding distracted driving in general and drowsy driving in particular. The more that you know on a given subject, the better informed you will be– whether that means doing what you can to wake up before going on the road, pulling over to take a nap at a hotel, or identifying that someone coming at you on the road is potentially asleep at the wheel and taking evasive action.
As any experienced car accident attorney can tell you, car accidents are no laughing matter. When one in six fatal crashes are due to a drowsy driver, those are the types of numbers to sit up and start paying attention to.
Not all fatal wrecks are caused by intoxication or texting while driving, although they can be contributing factors. Tired drivers are more likely to have slower reaction times than well-rested drivers. Of course, drowsy drivers are also constantly running the risk of falling asleep while operating their motor vehicle.
With a slower reaction time and the potential to totally fall asleep or nod off behind the wheel, disastrous accidents are more likely to happen. All it takes is a few seconds of unconsciousness or faded attention for an accident to occur.
Pull over or do not get behind the wheel if you are:
- Yawning a lot, feeling too tired to function.
- Have a long way to drive but have time to rest at a hotel.
- Having a tough time focusing.
- Seeing your reaction time be really slow.
- Feeling like you may fall asleep at any moment.
- Blinking a lot and having trouble staying awake.
- Barely noticing vehicles around you or drawing honks.
- So tired you are seeing things.
If you are feeling tired, you have options. Ideally, you don’t get behind the wheel. But if you feel you must, have a passenger drive. Take a quick nap if you can. Check into a hotel overnight after a few hours of driving. Pull into a parking lot and take a nap every so often. Drink a caffeinated beverage, such as a Red Bull or a coffee or espresso. Do what you have to in order to either rest up or stay awake!
Have you been in an accident caused by drowsy driving? If so, contact The Law Offices of Payas, Payas, and Payas today and get the legal counsel you need.
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