Each year, over 100,000 reported accidents in the U.S. are caused by fatigued drivers.
Driving while overly tired, otherwise known as drowsy driving, is extremely dangerous, but far too common. Get the facts about drowsy driving and learn how you can avoid falling victim.
People are always on the move and often times these hectic schedules lead to sleep deprivation. When the day starts to fill-up, people tend to cut down on the hours they sleep. Many people do not realize when they get behind the wheel, but driving while tired can have the same fatal consequences as driving while intoxicated.
According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 100,000 crashes reported to the police are the result of driver fatigue. They estimate this results in 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries, and $12.5 billion in monetary losses. Since drowsiness is hard to identify after a crash has occurred, it is possible many more accidents go unreported.
60% of drivers admit to having driven while drowsy, and a shocking 37% say they have actually fallen asleep while at the wheel. Adults between the ages of 18-29 are much more likely to drive while drowsy.
Don’t be a statistic! 4 tips for avoiding drowsy driving.
1. Get the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep each night.
2. If you feel you’re going to fall asleep, pull off the road and take a quick, 20-minute nap at a rest stop.
3. Take a break from driving every 2 hours, or after 100 miles of driving.
4. If you’re on a long road trip, bring along a second driver to take shifts.
If you’re too tired, don’t get behind the wheel!
Sources:
http://drowsydriving.org/about/facts-and-stats/
