Drowsy driving is a serious problem here in Orlando, it is the cause of thousands of car accidents every year. It often has devastating results, the danger and risk of drowsy driving have become alarming.
What is drowsy driving?
We all have busy lives, it can be difficult to get the sleep we need. We have become a community that is fatigued and tired, when combined with driving it can be deadly. Drowsy Driving can occur for several reasons, untreated sleep disorders, certain medications, drinking alcohol, shift work, and just not getting enough sleep.
Drowsy driving is responsible for over 6,000 fatal car accident each year and $12.5 billion in monetary losses!
Drowsy driving has become a growing problem in Central Florida. It can dangerously affect the safety of a driver, passengers in their vehicle, and other drivers on the road.
“60% of adult drivers – about 168 million people – say they have driven a vehicle while feeling drowsy in the past year, and more than one-third, (37% or 103 million people), have actually fallen asleep at the wheel! In fact, of those who have nodded off, 13% say they have done so at least once a month. Four percent – approximately eleven million drivers – admit they have had an accident or near accident because they dozed off or were too tired to drive”, according to Drowsy Driving, National Sleep Foundation.
DID YOU KNOW?
100,000 crashes each year are caused by fatigued drivers
55% of drowsy driving crashes are caused by drivers less than 25 years old
Being awake for 18 hours is equal to a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08%, which is legally drunk and leaves you at equal risk for a crash
Research shows those who drive drowsy are less able to pay attention to the road, significantly slowing down the reaction time, taking more time to steer suddenly and braking. It also affects the ability for the driver to make good decisions.
If you or a loved have been involved in a vehicle accident, contact attorney James P. Kelley. As one of Orlando’s top personal injury attorneys, we are dedicated to aggressively pursuing your case.