How Dangerous is Drowsy Driving?

While drowsy driving may seem innocent, it’s actually very dangerous. Many people lose their lives each year because of tired drivers.

In fact, 697 people died as a result of drowsy driving accidents in 2019.

Read on to learn more about the dangers of driving while you’re tired.

Microsleeps Have the Potential to Cause Significant Harm

When a person nods off for merely a few seconds, this is referred to as a microsleep. If you happen to endure a microsleep while behind the wheel, it’s not hard for your vehicle to run off the road or hit another vehicle or object. When crashes of this nature occur, they tend to be severe because they usually happen at high speeds.

Statistics Regarding Drowsy Driving

Studies have shown that about 21% of deadly car accidents involve someone driving when they’re too tired.

As you know, drunk driving is extremely dangerous. With that in mind, sleep deprivation has the potential to cause mental impairment that can easily be compared to drunkenness. In fact, if you stay up for 24 hours without sleeping, the effects are comparable to a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.10%, which is well over the 0.08% legal limit.

When sleep deprivation causes impairment, you are less attentive to your surroundings, and you can become distracted much more easily. In addition, your reaction times are slowed, and your decision-making skills are diminished. These impacts can make it more challenging to avoid hazards in the road as well as lead to taking more unnecessary risks.

If Someone’s Drowsy Driving Hurt You, We Want to Help

If you’ve been injured in a car accident as a result of a drowsy driver, we want to do everything we can to see that you receive the compensation you deserve. We want nothing more than help you achieve justice.

Call our firm today at (512) 400-3278 or fill out the online contact form to learn more about your options.