{"id":7049,"date":"2022-11-07T17:40:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-08T01:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tariolaw.com\/?p=7049"},"modified":"2023-09-15T08:59:01","modified_gmt":"2023-09-15T15:59:01","slug":"its-drowsy-driving-prevention-week-reduce-drowsy-driving-accidents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tariolaw.com\/its-drowsy-driving-prevention-week-reduce-drowsy-driving-accidents\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s Drowsy Driving Prevention Week \u2013 Reduce Drowsy Driving Accidents"},"content":{"rendered":"
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Sponsored by the National Sleep Foundation<\/a>, Drowsy Driving Prevention Week\u00ae takes place the first full week of November each year, following the end of Daylight Savings Time. This year the event falls on the week of November 6-13, 2022.<\/p>\n

The National Sleep Foundation launched Drowsy Driving Prevention Week\u00ae 15 years ago to encourage drivers to prioritize sleep and to only drive when they are alert and refreshed. This year, the organization\u2019s goal is to \u201c\u2026help people get the sleep they need and reduce the number of drivers who choose to drive while sleep deprived<\/a>.\u201d This is an important safety message because if everyone drove alert, thousands of drowsy driving accidents – and resulting injuries and fatalities – could be prevented each year.<\/p>\n

If you or a loved one was injured because of a drowsy driver, contact an experienced, local car accident lawyer as soon as possible. The injury attorney can assess your accident and injuries and discuss next steps to seek compensation for your losses.<\/p>\n

What is drowsy driving?<\/strong><\/p>\n

By definition, drowsy driving is the act of operating a motor vehicle while sleepy or sleep deprived. Drowsy driving is most commonly caused by a simple lack of sleep but it can also be caused by medications that make people drowsy or an untreated sleep disorder. Late-night and third-shift workers are particularly at risk for drowsy driving accidents but sleep deprived parents, drivers taking long road trips, or people experiencing extreme stress are also at risk. Females in their teens or early twenties have the highest rates of drowsy driving accidents.<\/p>\n

Drowsy driving accidents statistics<\/strong><\/h2>\n

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drowsy driving is responsible for an estimated 100,000 crashes each year; resulting in more than 71,000 injuries, 1,550 deaths (NSC), and $12.5 million in damages. In addition, a study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that sleepiness was a contributing factor in up to 9.5 percent of all motor vehicle accidents and 10.8 percent of collisions where an airbag was deployed, and\/or where there was injury or significant property damage.<\/p>\n

Drowsy driving increases the risk of a crash<\/strong><\/h3>\n

One of the biggest challenges to reducing drowsy driving crashes is that many drivers don\u2019t understand the true dangers of drowsy driving.<\/p>\n

Similar to when a person drives under the influence of drugs or alcohol, motor skills become seriously impaired when driving without enough rest. In fact, driving after more than 20 hours without sleep is estimated to be the equivalent of driving with a BAC of 0.08 percent (NSC). Drivers of all ages are capable of causing a drowsy driving accident; 1 in 25 drivers have admitted to falling asleep behind the wheel (CDC) and approximately 24 percent of drivers have admitted to driving while being so tired that they struggled to keep their eyes open, at least once in the past 30 days (AAA Foundation).<\/p>\n

Why does drowsy driving increase the risk of accidents?<\/strong><\/p>\n

When the human body is seriously fatigued, it doesn\u2019t function at its best. Below are some of the main effects of drowsy driving that can lead to serious crashes:<\/p>\n