During the holiday season, many Americans make long journeys by car to visit friends or relatives. A dataset published by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics found that American drivers drove, on average, over 2x more miles on the road compared to drivers in European nations. Despite drunk driving deaths falling in recent years, another phenomenon is hazardous during the holidays – fatigued driving. Fatigued, or drowsy, driving refers to operating a vehicle after being awake for at least 20 hours. If you plan to drive on the highways extensively this Christmas, here is the information you should keep in mind.
Drowsy Driving Facts
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 100,000 drowsy driving-related accidents are reported to the government by local enforcement agencies. This number is undoubtedly higher as the reasoning behind a crash is not always known. The damages from these crashes exceed 100 billion dollars annually. But why is driving while drowsy so dangerous?
Fatigued driving can be compared to driving with a blood alcohol concentration of .08%, the legal limit in the State of Florida. Even before reaching 20 hours, the time recognized as the beginning of “fatigued driving,” drowsy drivers suffer from reduced reaction times, lapses in memory, and poor judgment. One simple mistake can lead to a massive accident, loss of life, or severe injuries.
Drowsy drivers are prone to drifting from side to side within their lane, involuntarily head bobbing, and drifting off to sleep for short moments in time. If you notice these behaviors in yourself or the driver of your vehicle, you should pull over and find an alternative solution to your transportation needs. If you notice another driver on the road driving erratically, maintain a safe distance and inform law enforcement if concerned.
Insurance and Drowsy Driving
An individual’s insurance company is liable for losses and injuries sustained by the other party if fatigue is a contributing factor. Suffering injuries from a fatigued driver allows you to sue for damages if it is possible to prove negligence on the part of the other party. An experienced attorney who has taken up many personal injury and car accident cases will know what information or proof will help corroborate your story. Often, a police officer on the scene will note possible “driver fatigue.” However, this is only sometimes the case. There are still many types of proof available to prove that the driver was drowsy, such as witness testimony, videos, or cell phone data showing the amount of travel done before the accident.
Drowsy Driving During The Holidays
The absolute best way to stay safe and protected from drowsy drivers is to only drive during daylight hours, especially during holidays. Along with drowsy drivers, holidays also bring out more drunk drivers and tourist drivers, leading to a higher prevalence of dangerous accidents. Many of our tips that apply to the Florida tourist season also apply to the Christmas holidays.
If you did suffer at the hands of a drowsy driver, make sure to receive immediate care and representation. The Sarasota-based law firm of Probinsky & Cole has a team of dedicated auto accident attorneys with the experience you need to guide you through the legal process following a car crash. While proving drowsiness or fatigue can be challenging, our attorneys understand how to move forward by collecting essential evidence and asking the right questions. Given how serious fatigued driving can be, you don’t want to take a chance at not being adequately represented. Call today for a consultation.
