Avoiding Auto Accidents

Drowsy or sleepy drivers pose almost as big a threat as drunk drivers. In most cases, many drivers can't even tell when they are getting sleepy.Unfortunately, when drowsy drivers cause accidents that result in serious or fatal injuries, they may face personal injury or wrongful death claims from victims and their families. To avoid this, the best strategy is to recognize the dangers of drowsy driving and take precautions to stay safe on the road.

The Statistics of Drowsy Driving

A recent study by the National Sleep Foundation found that 60 percent of adult drivers admit driving while feeling sleepy in the past year, and 37 percent admit to falling asleep while driving. Among those drivers who admit they have fallen asleep, 13 percent of them say they have done so at least once a month! An estimated 4 percent say they've either had an accident or almost had an accident because they drove while being sleepy or fallen asleep while driving. Drowsy drivers account for approximately 100,000 car accidents a year in the United States.

Drowsy Driving Laws

While the laws regarding drowsy driving vary from state to state, more states are taking notice of drowsy drivers and stiffening their laws and penalties. If a drowsy driver is involved in an accident that results in a death, that driver could face charges from manslaughter to negligent homicide or vehicular homicide, depending on the laws of the state in which the accident occurred. These charges would be in addition to any civil claims filed against the driver by victims.

Additionally, the U.S. Department of Transportation issued new regulations in 2005 that address commercial truck drivers. Truckers are now prohibited from driving more than 11 hours at a stretch, working longer than 14 hours a day, and driving more than 60 hours in a seven-day period or 70 hours in an eight-day period. It is also required that truckers have at least 10 hours off between shifts and have a 34-hour time frame to recover from cumulative fatigue.

Tips for Staying Awake

There are some simple rules you can follow to avoid becoming a drowsy driver:

Get enough sleep. Make sure you get a good night's sleep before starting on a trip and drive during the times you are normally awake. Stop at night and sleep - don't drive straight through the night.

Take a Break. If you're on a long trip, you should stop approximately every two hours or 100 miles for a break. Get out and walk around, get something to eat or drink. If you feel sleepy stop sooner rather than later.

Talk. If you're traveling with passengers, talk to each other to help maintain an awareness of your level of drowsiness. Because it's very difficult to know when you are getting drowsy, have your passenger tell you if they think you are sleepy. Listen to them and pull over.

These simple safety tips can help drivers avoid unnecessary auto accidents.