Recent research studies have indicated that drowsy driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. Being tired behind the wheel might seem like a minor issue that can be addressed with coffee or other stimulants. But being tired behind the wheel consistently can actually lead to devastating car accidents.
The societal costs associated with drowsy driving are around $109 billion every single year. That’s according to research from the Governor’s Highway Safety Association and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It’s also estimated that this figure could be even higher, but because it doesn’t include property damage cost.
The Centers for Disease Control shares additional data about how much sleep people get per day, showing that this is a significant problem in the United States. 83.6 million individuals in the U.S. get less than 7 hours of sleep each day.
Thinking about all of these statistics and contacts, it’s perhaps not so surprising that up to 5000 individuals are killed in Florida drowsy driving related accidents every single year.
A new research study by State Farm has a plan to address the severity and prevalence of these kinds of accidents. Their most recent study looks at the impact of drowsiness on driving and the best ways to address the situation.
Given that severe injuries or fatalities are so common with drowsy driving accidents, it is no surprise that the federal government is initiating a quest to deal with these situations.
Also Read: Should Truckers Have to Comply with Sleep Apnea Regulations?
Aside from the injured accident victims, there are countrywide costs in terms of lost productivity from car and truck accidents. Many of these drowsy driving accidents could have been prevented if the person at the wheel had decided to stop driving or to take a break.
The majority of accidents associated with drowsy driving are underreported, meaning that it’s difficult to get an accurate scope on the true situation.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash data taken from reported accidents between 2009 and 2013 revealed that 7% of all crashes involved drowsy driving.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has become a leader in research studies on car crashes and drowsy driving in the past several years. Report identified that there were several key groups at the highest level of risk for drowsy driving.
These include:
New parents
First responders
Law enforcement officers
Young adults and teens
Shift and night workers
Truck drivers
Any individuals suffering from a sleep disorder
Drowsy driving, argues the report, needs to be treated much like any other kind of impaired driving behavior. In fact, it could be just as dangerous as driving while distracted, drunk or drugged. There were several different commonalities associated with drowsy driving accidents.
These included:
Lack of evidence that the party attempted to brake inside the vehicle.
These accidents were more likely to result in serious injuries or fatalities.
They frequently occur on high speed roads.
Involve single or multiple vehicle accidents
Frequently happen in later evening, the mid afternoon or the early morning hours.
Usually involve a driver travelling alone.
Some of the most effective counter measures that could help to address this issue include education, legislation, infrastructure engineering in vehicle technology and enforcement. In multiyear safety campaign, addressing drowsy driving was recently unveiled by the National Highway Traffic Administration.
The next step in the initiative is to evaluate potential laws that could address driver fatigue. The report also recommends changes that would help to support teen drivers specifically, such as later start times for school and nighttime driver restrictions. Drowsy driving can lead to devastating accidents from which a victim may never fully recover.
Those individuals who do survive an accident like this may be eligible to recover compensation by filing a personal injury lawsuit.
Consult An Expert Daytona Beach Car Accident Attorney Today
Filing a personal injury lawsuit is something that should be done under the guidance of an experienced personal injury attorney in Florida.
Reach out to a personal injury attorney today to learn more about whether or not you will be able to file a lawsuit and what the next steps involved are.
Getting help immediately may allow you to begin recovering compensation sooner rather than later so that you can focus on recovery.
Learn more about another government initiative to prevent accidents: http://www.eltonlaw.com/cameras-inside-trucks-could-preventing-trucking-accidents/
Related Posts:
First Self-Driving Vehicle Fatality in Florida
Should Truckers Have to Comply with Sleep Apnea Regulations?
New Study Says Florida is Relatively Safe for Older Drivers
Crash Avoidance Systems Help Prevent Serious Trucking Accidents
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