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The dangers posed by drowsy drivers

On Behalf of | Jul 1, 2019 | Auto Accidents |

We here at Raymond E. Frost & Associates often hear from clients that they were unaware just how many risks they can encounter on the road. Much attention is paid to drunk drivers, so much so that many now think twice before getting behind the wheel after drinking. Yet there are plenty of other dangerous drivers out there other than those driving while drunk. You may find that the driver who hit you was not totally in control of all of their faculties, yet not due to alcohol. 

Like many, you may be unaware just how dangerous drowsy driving can be. A person who has gone multiple hours without sleep could experience fatigue that impairs their reaction times in much the same way that alcohol inhibits one’s driving abilities. The trouble is that few consider this to be a serious problem, as evidenced by the statistics that show how many people actually drive while drowsy. Study data shared by the National Safety Council shows that as many as 50 percent of American adults admit to driving while fatigued or drowsy (with 40 percent admitting to falling asleep behind the wheel at some time in their lives). This could potentially make the odds of you encountering a drowsy driver on the road greater than one who is drunk. 

Yet how are you to know if the driver that hit you was literally asleep at the wheel (after all, a collision will usually wake them back up)? Look for subtle hints that they may have been drowsy. The most obvious is the time of day (drowsy driving accidents often occur at night). Bloodshot eyes or comments about working odd hours might also indicate drowsiness. You can learn more about identifying drowsy drivers by continuing to browse through our site. 

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