Our Coral Springs car accident attorneys recently told you about Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, which took place from November 6th through the 12th. Awareness of drowsy driving should never end though. As we recently set our clocks back for Daylight Saving Time, the risks for car accidents increased. A majority of car accidents occur during the evening hours. Nighttime accidents happen because people fail to adjust their driving skills, fail to recognize driving hazards and they’re more likely to be sleepy during this time.
As we recently blogged, more than 95 percent of drivers find drowsy driving to be an unacceptable driving habit, but nearly a third of drivers admit to doing it themselves, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Driving at night provides enough strain on our eyes, but when drivers are sleepy, the risks for a car accident in Coral Springs increases.
Drowsy driving car accidents account for nearly 20 percent of all fatal accidents on our roadways. They also account for more than 10 percent of all injury accidents.
“Drowsy driving kills, just as sure as drunk, drugged and distracted driving does,” said AAA Foundation President and CEO Peter Kissinger. “Drivers have a tendency to underestimate the impact being tired has on their driving ability.”
Just as the number of drunk-driving accidents increases during evening hours, so does the number of drowsy driving car accidents. Sometimes sleep pulls in drivers and there’s virtually nothing you can do about it. For this reason, it is important to stay off of the roadway during times when you’d normally be sleeping. If you’ll be venturing out on a long road trip, be sure to get plenty of sleep before you head out. The worst thing a driver can do is push though the sleepiness while they’re behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.
Drivers are urged to pull over and rest if they are having trouble keeping their eyes open, yawning excessively, daydreaming a lot, having a hard time keeping their eyes open, swerving in and out of lanes, or having a hard time remembering the last few miles traveled.
2010 drowsy driving statistics:
-Drivers who are accompanied by a passenger are half as likely to be involved in a drowsy driving-related accident.
-Nearly 70 percent of drowsy driving accidents involved male drivers.
-Most drowsy driving accidents occur at night.
-Drivers age 16- to 24-years-old are most likely to be involved in a drowsy driving accident.
-More than half of drivers who have admitted to having fallen asleep while driving say they did it on a high-speed divided highway.
-Men are more likely to fall asleep at the wheel than women.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a drowsy driving car accident in Lake Worth, Hollywood, Sunrise, St. Lucie or the surrounding areas, contact a personal injury lawyer at Freeman, Mallard, Sharp & Gonzalez, LLC. Call 1-800-561-7777 for a free consultation with an experienced attorney today.
More Blog Entries:
Gas Tanker Slams into Guard Rail During Trucking Accident in Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog, November 8, 2011
Car Accidents in Port St. Lucie and Elsewhere Cost About $300 Billion Annually, Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog, November 5, 2011