Experts have long warned about the dangers and prevalence of drowsy driving. A study now confirms what those experts have been telling us all along – that drowsy driving is far more common than most of us realize.
The survey, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found that 4.2 percent of all surveyed drivers admitted to having fallen asleep behind the wheel at least once during the preceding 30 days. The study, which questioned 147,076 drivers, also concluded that men were more likely to drive drowsy than women and that older drivers were less likely than their younger counterparts to drive while fatigued.
The survey was part of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System during 2009–2010, which surveyed adults in 19 states and the District of Columbia. The survey also found that both sleeping for less than six hours the night before and snoring were independent risk factors for drowsy driving. Snoring is often a symptom of an underlying sleep disorder, such as sleep apnea, which can lead to fatigued driving.
The American Automobile Association, estimates that fatigued driving is a contributing factor in one out of every eight car accidents and one out of every six fatal accidents. Precise statistics regarding the prevalence of drowsy driving are difficult to come by because drivers are often hesitant to admit, or even unaware, that they nodded off behind the wheel right before an accident. In addition, state reporting practices vary widely, making it virtually impossible to compile nationwide data.
Experts do know, however, how dangerous nodding off while behind the wheel is to everyone on the roadways. An AAA study concluded that a driver who has had only five to six hours of sleep, instead of the recommended eight or more, has a crash risk twice as high. A driver who has slept for less than five hours raises his or her crash risk four to five times that of the eight-hour sleeper. Moreover, an Australian study found that a driver who has been awake for 18 hours has an impairment level equal to that of a driver with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05. After 24 hours without sleep, a driver has an impairment level equal to a BAC of 0.10 – above the presumptive level for drunken driving.
A drowsy driver can cause catastrophic injuries to others on the roadway, up to and including death. If you have been injured by a drowsy driver, or have lost a loved one as a result of a fatigued driver, contact the New York/New Jersey car accident attorneys at Ginarte Gonzalez & Winograd L.L.P., to find out what legal options you may have. You can fill out our online contact form.