Drowsy Drivers Kill Themselves And Others
Drowsy Drivers Kill
For experienced Tennessee automobile accident attorney’s it’s no mystery when we hear of a one car accident simply leaving the highway and crashing into a ditch, crossing the median or ramming into another vehicle which was clearly visible. When the toxicology tests come back negative for alcohol or drugs, we right away know to investigate the victim’s sleep cycle in the 24 hours prior to the accident.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates conservatively that each year drowsy driving “is responsible for at least 100,000 automobile crashes, 71,000 injuries, and 1,550 fatalities.” But among all the major factors that cause or contribute to crashes, like speeding, alcohol use, and weather situations, drowsiness is the most difficult for police and other crash investigators to detect and quantify.
Sleepiness and driving is a dangerous combination. Most people are aware of the dangers of drinking and driving but don’t realize that drowsy driving can be just as fatal. Like alcohol, sleepiness slows reaction time, decreases awareness, impairs judgment and increases your risk of crashing.
It’s nearly impossible to determine with certainty the cause of a fatal crash where drowsy driving is suspected. However, there are a number of clues at a crash scene that tell investigators that the person fell asleep at the wheel. For example, drowsy driving accidents usually involve only one vehicle where the driver is alone and the injuries tend to be serious or fatal. Also, skid marks or evidence of other evasive maneuvers are usually absent from the drowsy driving crash scene.
Unlike alcohol-related crashes, no blood, breath, or other objective test for sleepiness behind the wheel currently exists that investigators could give to a driver at the scene of a crash. This makes police training in identifying drowsiness as a crash factor very difficult.
There are many underlying causes of sleepiness, fatigue and drowsy driving. Including sleep loss from restriction or too little sleep, interruption or fragmented sleep; chronic sleep debt; circadian factors associated with driving patterns or work schedules; undiagnosed or untreated sleep disorders; time spent on a task; the use of sedating medications; and the consumption of alcohol when already tired. These factors have cumulative effects and a combination of any of these can greatly increase one’s risk for a fatigue-related crash.
Sleepiness or Fatigue Causes the Following:
* Impaired reaction time, judgment and vision
* Problems with information processing and short-term memory
* Decreased performance, vigilance and motivation
* Increased moodiness and aggressive behaviors
We all are responsible for driving, walking, and biking safely on our Nation’s roads. Drivers and pedestrians have the responsibility to always be alert and obey the traffic rules. If you are sleepy and nodding off you owe it to yourself and your family, as well as the other drivers on the road to find a safe place and pull over and nap. Take a half an hour or so and save your life. If you notice a driver acting erratically contact the Tennessee Highway Patrol by calling *847, reporting them may save their life and the lives of others.
If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee automobile accident by a drowsy driver contact the experienced Tennessee automobile accident attorney’s at Phillip Miller & Associates and take advantage of our free consultation so you can understand your rights and remedies
Phillip Miller is a Tennessee Accident Attorney specializing in
Phillip has an AVVO rating of 10.0 (Superb), has been designated as a “Superlawyer”, and is the President Elect of the Tennessee Association for Justice.
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