Dangers of Drowsy Driving
If you are like most drivers, you have had this experience: you get in your car, tired from a long day of work or school. You take all the familiar streets home. Your mind wanders a bit, and suddenly you realize that several miles of driving went by without your notice. It can be a strange, disorienting feeling. It’s also something that should be taken as a serious warning sign, because this is a symptom of driving while fatigued. Many Americans are unaware of the great risk of drowsy driving, but it is actually one of the biggest dangers for drivers and others on the road.
Statistics Related to Drowsy Driving
You might be wondering just how dangerous it is to drive while you are tired. It is difficult to establish hard numbers on this, since sometimes there is no way to know after an accident if a driver was sleepy or not. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) put together estimates on accidents caused by drowsy driving. They believe:
- Drowsy drivers cause at least 100,000 accidents a year in the U.S.
- This results in 71,000 preventable injuries and 1,500 preventable deaths
- These accidents cost $12.5 billion to those involved
Most experts consider the NHTSA statistics to be somewhat conservative, but most agree that these accidents are likely responsible for thousands of deaths, tens of thousands of injuries, and billions of dollars in damage that could have been prevented if drivers did not get behind the wheel when drowsy.
Contact Us
If you were injured by a drowsy driver, contact the Wausau auto accident lawyers of Habush Habush & Rottier S.C. at 800-242-2874 today.
