The holiday season is a busy season on Mississippi roads and elsewhere. While winter weather is certainly one thing that drivers must watch out for, there is something else that we all need to be aware of both during holiday travel season and all year long – the dangers of drowsy driving. A recent drowsy driving accident happened in Mississippi when the driver of a tractor trailer fell asleep and drifted onto the shoulder, where it struck an abandoned vehicle. The truck flipped over, and luckily the driver was not hurt.
It’s no secret that Americans are tired, and many of us try to squeeze so many things into each day that we end up sleeping a lot less than we need to. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take much of a sleep deficit to dramatically increase your accident risk. Drowsy driving is so dangerous that it has been the focus of a lot of research. Approximately forty thousand people get hurt in drowsy driving accidents each year, and fifteen thousand people die. Some of that research has shown that getting fewer than seven hours of sleep before driving increases crash risk significantly. Drivers who sleep only five or six hours before driving have twice the risk of drivers who get seven hours of sleep of more. Drivers who sleep fewer than five hours have the same accident risk as drivers who drink alcohol before driving. These are frightening statistics, given that if we are honest with ourselves, we can admit that many of us get far less sleep than that on far more nights than we would like to admit.
The reason that lack of sleep increases accident risk is that it affects the body in many of the same ways that drinking alcohol does. It decreases a driver’s overall awareness of their surroundings and their behavior; it impairs judgment, and it slows down reaction time.
Approximately one out of every five deadly crashes involves a drowsy driver. Half of the tired drivers who were involved in accidents just blacked out – they did not exhibit any signs of tiredness before falling asleep. Drivers can decrease the risk that they will be involved in a drowsy driving accident by getting adequate rest, traveling at times when you would normally be awake, and taking plenty of breaks to move around and give your eyes a break from focusing on the road. Choosing light meals and snacks instead of heavy, fatty foods while you are on the road can also help you stay awake. Some people think that coffee and energy drinks can help you stay awake during a drive, but those quick fix strategies don’t work for long and can trick them into thinking that they are more alert than they are, increasing accident risk even more.
Barrett Law PLLC: Compassionate Counsel for Mississippi Automobile Accident Victims
Automobile accidents caused by drowsy drivers can cause severe injuries, death, and a large amount of property damage. If you got hurt in a drowsy driving wreck or someone that you love died in a drowsy driving accident, you might be able to recover financially for your injury or your loss. To learn more about how to pursue a claim for damages, please call the knowledgeable Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney at Barrett Law PLLC today, at 1 (800) 707-9577 to arrange your free, initial consultation.
