Drowsy driving is a serious problem in New York and all over the country that occurs when a driver operates a vehicle without having gotten enough sleep beforehand. The combination of fatigue and driving can lead to terrible catastrophes. Approximately one in every 10 truck driving crashes is a result of the truck driver’s own actions and being negligent when it comes to their personal sleep health.
What does the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration say?
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, drowsiness and sleep deprivation is one of the leading causes of vehicular accidents. A study conducted by the NHTSA shows that 100,000 accidents are caused by drowsy drivers who doze off while they’re driving. Additionally, this study indicates that drowsy driving can cause upwards of 40,000 accident-related injuries and up to approximately 1,500 deaths each year.
Other studies
The Harvard School of Medicine conducted a separate study on the subject. The figures they pulled in for the study indicated that approximately 250,000 people fall asleep while driving, and about half of those people admit to driving while feeling tired. This is an especially relevant concern for truck drivers traveling long distances.
Other studies have shown that driving while drowsy is nearly identical to driving while under the influence of alcohol. This is demonstrated when an individual who has operated a vehicle for 17 or more hours makes similar driving mistakes that a driver would make with a blood alcohol content level of 0.08 or more.
Preventing drowsy driving
Fortunately, the solution to drowsy driving is relatively simple. Truck drivers can pull off to the side of the road and take a nap before they get to the next destination.
It’s tempting to keep driving to save time. However, saving time is not worth getting into motor vehicle accidents. If you have recently got into a car accident due to another person’s drowsiness, an attorney may be able to help you.
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