Driving while sleep deprived happens far more often than drivers want to admit. When clocks move ahead an hour for Daylight Saving Time each March, people lose an hour of sleep and face darker mornings. This sudden shift can disrupt sleep schedules and leave many drivers feeling more tired than usual, which may lead to an increase in drowsy driving on the road. Research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reveals how dangerous drowsy driving really is. Previous Foundation research points directly to sleep loss as a key culprit in drowsy driving accidents.
If you or a loved one was injured in a collision caused by a drowsy driver, a local car accident attorney can review your case and explain your legal rights. Never accept a settlement offer from the at-fault driver’s insurance company until you know the true value of your injury claim.
Drowsy Driving Accident Statistics
Drowsy driving is a serious safety concern that contributes to thousands of crashes and deaths each year in the United States.
- Approximately 18 percent of all traffic fatalities between 2017 and 2021 involved a drowsy driver, accounting for nearly 30,000 deaths.
- Drowsy drivers are estimated to have caused accidents that resulted in the loss of 6,725 people in 2021 alone.
Previous Foundation research found that drivers often underestimate their drowsiness, putting themselves and others at risk.
How Drowsy Driving Impairs Drivers and Causes Drowsy Driving Accidents
Tired drivers are a serious safety risk because fatigue slows reaction time and makes it harder to focus. When a driver is sleep deprived, their ability to focus on the road can be similar to someone who has been drinking alcohol. Fatigued drivers may drift between lanes, miss traffic signals, or fail to notice sudden stops ahead. In some cases, they may even fall asleep for a few seconds, which can be enough time for a serious crash to occur.
- Reduced alertness: Fatigue makes it harder to react to hazards in a timely manner. Experts explain that six hours or less of sleep increases a driver’s risk of crashing.
- Impaired judgment: Sleep deprivation increases the risk of making poor decisions on the road, leading to crashes. Losing four or more hours of sleep can affect a driver’s ability to function about as much as being legally drunk.
- Microsleeps: An exhausted driver can experience momentary lapses in consciousness, causing a loss of control of the vehicle and inability to respond to dangers on the road.
Prevent Drowsy Driving Accidents with These Safety Tips
These safety tips from AAA can help you prevent a drowsy driving accident:
- Don’t get behind the wheel unless you have had at least seven hours of sleep. Especially if you are taking a long drive.
- Try to avoid driving overnight or whenever you are normally sleeping.
- If you’re taking a road trip, plan safe places to take breaks every two hours or 100 miles. Get out of the car, stretch your legs, and get fresh air.
- Avoid heavy meals before driving because eating a large meal can make you feel tired and sluggish.
- Avoid alcohol and drugs. As we know, both can seriously impair the ability to drive safely on their own, but they can also amplify drowsiness.
- Listen to your body. If you start to feel tired or your eyelids are getting heavy, pull over and take a 20-30 minute cat nap.
- Travel with an alert passenger and take turns driving, if possible. Sharing the driving can help you stay awake and alert.
Seek the Help of a Car Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one was injured in a collision because of the negligence of another, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal rights. Let an experienced car accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a lawyer. Call the personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! Since 1979, our personal injury law firm, Tario & Associates, P.S., has been dedicated to fighting for the rights of people injured throughout Washington State, with local offices in Bellingham and Mount Vernon to serve residents of Whatcom, Skagit, Island, and Snohomish counties. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
