Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog
According to a recently-released study published in the Journal of Safety Research, young drivers aren’t likely to recognize the risks and the dangers that are associated with driving while they’re sleep deprived.
Officials with the National Safety Council (NSC) conducted the study and concluded that driving without enough sleep is just as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol. Unfortunately, attitudes towards each of these behaviors are vastly different, especially among young drivers.
Officials believe that there are thousands killed in drowsy driving car accidents in Quincy and elsewhere every year. The true number may never be known because drivers are not likely to admit to an officer that they were feeling sleepy when the accident happened. As a matter of fact, officials estimate that about 100,000 accidents are caused every year by fatigued drivers. The most recent statistics from DrowsyDriving.org conclude that nearly 60 percent of those who are involved in these kinds of accidents are under the age of 25.
According to the recent study from the NSC:
-Young drivers are some of the most likely to be involved in a sleep-deprived car accident.
-Among drivers who take long road trips, drivers under the age of 30-years-old are most likely to drive without enough sleep than any other age group.
-Some of the driving errors that are made by a driver who is sleep-deprived are awfully similar to the driving errors that are made by a driver who has been drinking.
“Drunk driving is universally viewed as dangerous, but young people especially don’t understand the very serious risks associated with drowsy and distracted driving,” said Janet Froetscher, National Safety Council’s presidents and CEO.
The truth of the matter is that all drivers need to be aware of the risks that are associated with driving while drowsy.
The recent study looked at how drivers of different ages saw drowsy driving and compared those perspectives to their perspectives on drunk driving. Researchers had no difficulty in figuring that young drivers saw sleepy driving as acceptable and understandable, while they saw drinking and driving as a definite no!
Tips to Avoid Drowsy Driving:
-Make sure you’re getting at least 8 hours of sleep every night.
-Drive with a friend and switch spots when you start to feel tired.
-Schedule regular rest stops to get out and stretch. You should stop every 100 miles or at least once every 2 hours.
-Never drink alcohol or take any sleep-inducing medications before drinking.
What a driver should never do is try to power through the sleepiness. That is one of the worst mistakes you can make. Caffeine will only work for so long, as will loud music and open windows too. If you feel drowsy behind the wheel it’s critical for you to stop driving. You should either switch spots with a passenger or just pull over in a safe area and get some rest!
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a car accident in Quincy or elsewhere in the state, contact Injury Lawyer Jeffrey S. Glassman to schedule a free and confidential consultation. Call 877-617-5333.
More Blog Entries:
Teen Car Accidents in Massachusetts: A Look at Generation Y?, Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, July 1, 2012
Risks of Car Accidents in Boston Reduced with Advancing Technology, Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, June 29, 2012