The Dangers of Drowsy Driving

We’ve all heard stories about people falling asleep at the wheel, and the often tragic results. But driving while tired can greatly increase the chances of an accident as well. According to the CDC, driving while fatigued can drastically slow driver reaction times for sudden braking or steering, and make it harder for the driver to pay attention to their surroundings.

How Many Crashes are Caused by Tired Drivers?

It is estimated that up to 6,000 fatal car accidents a year can be caused by fatigued drivers. A study even shows that driving while fatigued can even impair you as much as drinking and driving! After 17-19 hours without sleep, the study concluded performance levels as being equivalent or worse than individuals who had a blood alcohol concentration of .05%.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, here are some telltale signs that you may be too fatigued to drive safely:

• Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, or heavy eyelids
• Daydreaming or wandering thoughts
• Trouble remembering the last few miles driven; missing exits or traffic signs
• Yawning repeatedly or rubbing your eyes
• Trouble keeping your head up
• Drifting from your lane, tailgating, or hitting a shoulder rumble strip
• Feeling restless and irritable

What to do if you’re driving and feeling drowsy:

• If possible, take a rest before you get on the road. A 15-20 minute nap is ideal, but longer than that can make you sleepier.
• Avoid heavy meals, as a full stomach will most likely make you drowsy
• Travel at times of the day you are usually awake
• Consume caffeine (the equivalent of 2 cups of coffee is ideal). For non-coffee drinkers, caffeine can also be found in sodas, gum, tablets, and tea as well. Remember, it takes about 30 minutes to enter the bloodstream, so if possible, take caffeine before getting on the road.
• If the drive is long, schedule regular breaks

Contact an Experienced St. Petersburg Car Accident Lawyer at Jones Law Group

Have you or a loved one been injured in a car accident? Contact an experienced St. Petersburg car accident attorney at Jones Law Group today. When you contact our office we will immediately set an appointment where you will meet your attorney and be provided with his/her contact information. If you do not have transportation or you cannot drive, your attorney will travel to meet you and discuss your case with you.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car crash, you should immediately call an experienced personal injury attorney in St. Petersburg at Jones Law Group at (727) 571-1333 during regular business hours or (727) 753-8657 on weekends or after regular business hours. We will evaluate your case for free and you will never pay us a dime unless we recover compensation for your injuries.

Jones Law Group
5622 Central Avenue
St. Pete, FL 33707

https://www.jlgtampabay.com/home/personal-injury/

https://www.cdc.gov/features/dsdrowsydriving/index.html/

https://newsroom.aaa.com/2016/12/missing-1-2-hours-sleep-doubles-crash-risk/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1739867/pdf/v057p00649.pdf