At Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas we have written many blog posts about the seriousness of drowsy driving and we will continue to do so for one very important reason: It is such a dangerous activity and so many people do it. We find that time and time again, people are injured in drowsy driving car accidents and are shocked to learn just how common they are.
Keep reading to find out about the shocking findings in a recent study. If you have been injured in an accident, or have lost a loved one in an accident, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation as soon as possible.
The Findings of a Recent Survey Are More Than Frightening
The study in question was completed by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. It found that the number of people who openly admit to having driven while drowsy is steadily increasing. Consider that there were more than 30,000 fatal motor vehicle accidents last year, and about one in five involved a driver who was driving while drowsy.
Experts in health and safety recommend that the average person gets at least seven hours of sleep each night. Doing so helps them function well and improves wellbeing. Studies have shown that with each hour of sleep a person loses, the risk they run of being in an accident increases. Not convinced? Consider the following specific, sobering statistics:
- A person who has only slept five or six hours is twice as likely to get into a motor vehicle accident compared to a person who has slept for seven hours.
- When a person drives after only four to five hours of sleep, they are four times more likely to get into an accident compared to a person with seven hours of sleep.
- A person who drivers with less than five hours of sleep is at the same level of risk as they would be if they were legally drunk.
- There is no excuse for this – just a ten or twenty minute nap could significantly reduce the chances of causing an accident due to being drowsy.
Finally, the study found that one in three Americans regularly gets behind the wheel after not having slept enough.
How to Protect Yourself from Being in a Drowsy Driving Accident
The best thing you can do is to ensure that you are getting enough sleep before getting behind the wheel. If possible, do not drive during the hours that people are most often overtired. This includes morning commute hours as well as late night hours.
No matter what you do, you cannot prevent 100% of accidents. If you are involved in an accident, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 right away. We can provide a free, same-day, confidential legal consultation to let you know what your legal options are.
