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Don't Make Driving More Dangerous: Hang-up the Phone and Get Some Sleep
Many drivers unwittingly put themselves and others on the road at risk for motor vehicle accidents by engaging in distracted driving or by getting behind the wheel while tired.
February 10, 2011 /Telecommunications PR News/ -- Americans love cars and the freedom that they provide. From SUVs and mini-vans to smart cars and hybrids, we love vehicles of all shapes and sizes. This love doesn't come unattached. Driving comes with the responsibility of keeping yourself, passengers and other people on the road safe. Many drivers, however, unwittingly put themselves and others at an increased risk of a motor vehicle accident by allowing themselves to be distracted while driving or by getting behind the wheel while tired.
The Dangers of Distracted Driving
The U.S. government defines distracted driving as "any non-driving activity a person engages in that has the potential to distract him or her from the primary task of driving and increase the risk of crashing." Within that broad definition, the government establishes three main types of distractions:
- Visual -- anything that takes a driver's eyes off the road
- Manual -- anything that causes a driver to remove one or both hands from the steering wheel
- Cognitive -- anything that takes a driver's mind or focus off the act of driving
Within these three categories are many activities that are distractions:
- Talking with passengers
- Changing the radio station
- Eating and drinking
- Talking on a cell phone
- Checking e-mail
- Sending a text message
- Checking a GPS or map
- Daydreaming
- Driving when dealing with strong emotions
How Big is the Distracted Driving Issue?
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics indicate that distracted driving is a major concern:
- More than 16 people are killed and 1,300 more people are injured every day on America's roadways as a result of distracted drivers.
- In 2008 nearly 6,000 people were killed and 500,000 more were injured because of distracted driving.
- Nearly 20 percent of all car crashes in 2008 involved distracted driving.
Laws against sending text messages or e-mails while driving are currently being passed throughout the U.S. Text messaging is considered one of the most dangerous distractions for drivers, as text messaging actually involves all three of the types of distractions (visual, manual and cognitive).
Currently there are no explicit laws banning texting while driving in Indiana for drivers over the age of 18. As of now the only bans on cell phone use while driving effect drivers under the age of 18. There is a push from groups, including Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), for Indiana to pass a law banning texting while driving for all drivers.
Drowsy Driving: the "Hidden" Concern
Currently, most of the safe driving efforts are focused on distracted driving, text messaging in particular. There is an elephant in the room, however, that many are either only paying lip service to or ignoring while focusing on distracted driving: drowsy driving.
Drowsy driving is just as dangerous as distracted driving to the safety of those on America's roads. The NHTSA estimates that 100,000 police-reported accidents were the result of driver fatigue, and the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) considers this estimate to be conservative. Based on NHTSA numbers, it is further estimated that over 1,500 deaths and 71,000 injuries resulted from drowsy driving.
Even though the drowsy driving car accident numbers are not getting as much publicity as distracted driving statistics, they reveal a situation that is every bit as dangerous as distracted driving. All Americans need to be aware of the dangers and the prevalence of drowsy driving. NSF numbers indicate that 60 percent of Americans have admitted to driving when drowsy, and 37 percent admitted to falling asleep at the wheel within the past year.
The Dangers of Sleepy Driving
It may seem that at times drowsy driving is simply unavoidable -- working late, a restless night of sleep or wanting to arrive at your destination before calling it a day. But it is at times like these that all Americans need to realize the risk to themselves and others on the roads and discontinue driving until they have gotten an appropriate amount of sleep.
Dr. Michael Breus notes that the effects of being tired are similar to the effects of alcohol, including:
- Slow reaction time
- Decreased awareness
- Impaired judgment
Causes of Drowsy Driving
While there may be as many causes of drowsy driving as there are drowsy drivers, the NSF notes that the main causes of sleepy driving are:
- Chronic sleep debt
- Sleep loss from restriction, interruption or fragmentation
- Use of sedating medications
- Drinking alcohol when already tired
- Circadian factors associated with work schedules (deviations from the body's natural sleep rhythm)
Signs of Drowsy Driving
The NSF notes that one of the big dangers associated with drowsy driving is that many people are unable "to tell if or when they are about to fall asleep." Because of this unawareness, drivers need to be aware of the warning signs that indicate they should pull over and rest. According to the NSF those warning signs are:
- Yawning repeatedly
- Rubbing your eyes
- Tailgating, drifting to another lane, the shoulder or rumble strip
- Trouble keeping head up
- Difficulty focusing
- Frequent blinking or heavy eyelids
- Daydreaming or wandering/disconnected thoughts
If you start to notice these symptoms while driving, or if you notice them in a driver that you are riding with, it is time to pull off the road. Your safety and the safety of other motorists may depend upon it.
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a distracted or drowsy driver, speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. A lawyer can advise you of your legal options and work to advance your interests.
Article provided by Doehrman Chamberlain
Visit us at www.tortslaw.com
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