Drowsy Driving – A Major Cause of Auto Accidents

Research has shown that driving while drowsy significantly increases the risks of auto accidents.   Drowsy drivers not only put themselves in danger when they are behind the wheel, they also place the other vehicles on the road in harm’s way.  Some have even suggested that driving while drowsy impairs the driver’s judgment almost as severely as driving under the influence of alcohol.

According to the study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 80 percent of auto accidents and 65 percent of near-accidents had to do with some type of driver distraction that occurred within three seconds before the event.  The findings of the study indicated that drowsiness was a main cause of driver distraction.  Researchers discovered that when people drive while they are extremely tired, they increase their risk of being involved in a car accident by four to six times.  It was also found that drowsiness was a contributing factor in 22 to 24 percent of the auto accidents and near-accidents.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has stated that drowsy driving could be greatly under-reported in police crash investigations.  Drivers who are drowsy have a difficult time focusing their vision and concentrating on the road.  An overly-tired driver will often miss traffic signals and drift in and out of lanes, which can lead to a serious car accident.

The study also found that other driver distractions were common causes of auto accidents.  For example, using a cell phone or reaching for an object in the vehicle while driving increased the risk of crashes.  Talking on a cell phone caused almost the same amount of accidents, as was caused by dialing on a cell phone.

Contact Vujasinovic & Beckcom P.L.L.C. for advice regarding your accident case at (877) 724-7800 or (713) 224-7800,  if you have been injured in an accident caused by another driver who was drowsy.

The article, Drowsy Drivers Significantly Increase the Risk of Auto Accidents, has more information on this subject.