According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drowsy driving costs the United States $109 million in societal costs each year—and that total does not include costs associated with property damage.
Drowsy driving is a form of impaired driving, and it’s just as dangerous as driving drunk or drugged.
The dangers of drowsy driving go far beyond falling asleep at the wheel. Drowsiness has a serious effect on your alertness as a driver. It can affect your reaction time, and it can impair your decision-making skills and judgment. All of this adds up to an increased risk of crashing.
In fact, according to the NHSTA’s “National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Study,” drowsy drivers are twice as likely as alert drivers to make performance errors when involved in a crash situation.
You don’t need to fall asleep at the wheel to cause a wreck: just being tired is a dangerous risk factor. In fact, if you haven’t slept in eighteen hours, it’s just as dangerous as driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05 percent. If you haven’t slept in twenty-one hours, you’re basically driving with a BAC of 0.08 percent, the legal limit in most states. If you haven’t slept in twenty-four hours, you might as well be driving with a BAC of 0.10 percent—above the legal limit.
When commercial truckers drive drowsy, it presents a serious risk to everyone on the road. Commercial truckers work long hours, and they’re under a lot of pressure, which puts them at risk for not getting enough sleep. Drivers should be well-rested and alert when they get behind the wheel, otherwise semi-truck accidents can easily happen.
If you have been in a car accident and been injured because of someone else who may have been driving while drowsy, you could be entitled to compensation. Our attorneys have the experience you need on your side.
Call Barros, McNamara, Malkiewicz & Taylor at 302-734-8400 or fill out the form on our website to get started right away.
