June is known as National Safety Month. During this month, it’s important to be aware of one of the largest causes of personal injury—auto accidents. Statistics show that 1.3 million people die in road crashes each year, an average of 3,287 deaths a day. Many causes contribute to this horrifying statistic—alcohol, texting while driving, etc. A lesser known cause? Driving while drowsy.
Research
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety finds that drowsy driving contributes to 10% of all motor vehicle related crashes. This came as shocking news as federal agencies estimated this percentage to be 1-2%.
AAA released a video showing drivers falling asleep behind the wheel for only a few seconds. Some drivers veered out of their lanes and off the road, while others crossed into oncoming traffic.
Prevention
Getting a good night’s rest seems like obvious advice, but it’s surprisingly ignored. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cite that 35% of U.S. drivers get less than the recommended minimum of seven hours of sleep a night. According to the AAA Director of Traffic Safety Advocacy and Research, “…missing just two to three hours of sleep can more than quadruple your risk for a crash, which is the equivalent of driving drunk.” Forgoing a few hours of sleep each day is not as harmless as it seems; it can put you and others in danger.
Tips
AAA recommends:
- Drive during normal awake hours.
- Don’t rely on your body for warning signs of fatigue.
- Take breaks every two hours or 100 miles.
- Drive with an alert passenger and take turns driving.
- Don’t take medications that cause drowsiness or other impairment before driving.
Have You Been Injured?
Unfortunately, your safe driving doesn’t affect others’ recklessness. Have you been injured in an auto accident because of a “drowsy driver”? Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer has represented hundreds of auto accident victims and fought for their compensation. Contact us today for a free consultation.
