Alaskan drivers may want to learn more about the dangers of drowsy driving since many car accidents each year are associated with tired drivers.
Unfortunately, there is no test to determine if someone is too sleepy to drive safely.
It is difficult to measure accidents related to drowsy drivers as it is highly under reported. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates more than 100,000 crashes each year are a result of drivers experiencing fatigue and roughly 6,000 are fatal. These accidents account for a significant number of fatalities and injuries as well as high financial costs. Accidents including drivers suffering fatigue are most common among shift workers, people with children and adults under age 30.
The effects of drowsy driving are much like those of drunk driving.
Being sleepy impairs reflexes, vision and more. The National Sleep Foundation has education programs that make people more aware of the dangers of driving while tired. Some car companies add technology in vehicles that alert people when they are driving drowsy. Road infrastructure, like rumble strips, are also used to help alert people when they drift off the road.
The best way to avoid driving drowsy is to simply not do it.
If you find yourself tired, yawning, blinking frequently or drifting from your lane, pull over to rest or change drivers. If you suspect someone else is driving while tired, contact the local police agency to report the driver.
People suffering injuries in automobile accidents involving drowsy drivers may seek compensation for their injuries. Personal injury lawyers often help secure reimbursement for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering in these instances.
Contact Merdes Law Office, P.C. to meet with our highly experienced Alaskan personal injury attorney to discuss your case: 907.452.5400 or visit www.merdes.com. And while we hope you never need us… We’re here if you do.
Source: CDC, “Drowsy Driving: Asleep at the Wheel“
