Did you get a poor night’s sleep? If so, you are not alone. Many people in Louisiana may not sleep well on any given night. Nevertheless, we must go about our day, as tired as we are. However, some people in Louisiana may make the risky decision to drive while fatigued, leading to a drowsy driving accident.
The statistics
Drowsy driving is a serious problem across the U.S. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 6,000 fatal motor vehicle collisions occur each year due to drowsy driving. In addition, in one survey around one out of 25 adult respondents reported that they had fallen asleep behind the wheel in the past 30 days. Those who snore or sleep six hours or less daily are more likely to fall asleep behind the wheel.
What effect does drowsiness have on one’s driving ability?
Even if you do not fall entirely asleep while driving, drowsy driving can still negatively affect your ability to operate your motor vehicle safely. Drowsy drivers may be less attentive than fully rested drivers. Drowsiness also slows a driver’s reaction time and affects their capacity to make decisions. In addition to simply not getting enough sleep, commercial drivers, shift workers and those with untreated sleep disorders may wind up causing drowsy driving crashes.
Learn more about car accidents in Louisiana
If you are yawning, blinking, have problems remembering your trip or drift between lanes, you may be too drowsy to drive. Unfortunately, some people will ignore these signs of drowsiness and will cause a drowsy driving accident. Those in Louisiana who want to learn more about car accidents may find our firm’s website to be a useful resource.