Why Drowsy Driving is Just as Dangerous as Drunk Driving
We are told to get a good night’s sleep regularly to function at our best, but 33% of Americans do not make the cut when it comes to appropriate sleep patterns. One-third of Americans get well below the seven hours of sleep each night and as a result, are chronically fatigued during the day. Fatigue can affect many functions of life from work to relationships, as wells as our motor skills. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) says that lack of sleep causes:
- Inability to focus
- Falling asleep randomly and without warning
- Decreased accuracy with problem-solving
- Uncontrollable emotional highs and lows
- Difficulty coping and adjusting to change
- Reduced ability to properly react to situations and slowed reaction time
- Taking longer to finish tasks
Certainly, a person who has these symptoms will have a much more difficult time doing many things well, including driving. Drowsy drivers cause 7% of all motor vehicle crashes in the country. It is also responsible for approximately 16% of all fatal traffic accidents across the country. Drowsy driving is reckless behavior. If you were hit by a drowsy driver in an Arizona car accident and sustained injuries, you deserve compensation to help you with your costs. The Arizona automobile accident injury attorneys at ELG can help you seek justice. We are dedicated to being outstanding supporters for our clients and we will fight on your behalf so that you win your case and obtain a fair settlement.
What Are the Statistics Explaining the Dangers Of Driving While Drowsy?
Statistics and studies confirm the fact that drowsy driving is extremely unsafe. A study examining statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found the following alarming results:
- Drivers that sleep less than four hours each night are 15 times more likely to cause a crash versus motorists who get the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep each night.
- Drivers that sleep less than four hours a night are 3.4 times more likely to cause a single-vehicle accident than those who get seven to nine hours of sleep a night.
- Drivers that sleep less than four hours each night are just as dangerous as a driver with a .12 blood alcohol content (BAC) which is 1.5 times higher than the legal limit.
- Drivers who slept five hours each night were 1.9 times more likely to get into a crash than those that slept seven to nine hours each night.
- Drivers that slept 6 hours each night were 1.3 times more likely to get into a crash than those that slept seven to nine hours each night.
- Drivers who were on the road for three hours straight and took no breaks also showed an increased risk of an accident.
Get the Legal Help You Need After an Arizona Car Accident
The Phoenix serious injury attorneys at ELG will discuss your accident with you during a free consultation and determine the most effective way to move forward in order to pursue compensation. Call the Arizona personal injury lawyers at ELG today at (623) 877-3600 to schedule your free consultation at either of our two locations in Mesa or in Phoenix.
